The Third Paramita: Patience | The Six Paramitas

The third paramita is patience, or kshanti. The Mahaprajnaparamita Suha (Sutra of the Perfection of Wisdom) describes the practice of patience as ‘pacified patience.’ This means that when there is patience, the mind will be pacified. Not only will the mind be stable, but the body will also enjoy a sense of well-being. Patience in one’s livelihood will extend to other aspects of one’s life, and vice-versa. Without patience we could not endure the conflicts and obstacles in life. Without a pacified mind and body, we can become very agitated and consumed with internal turmoil. A Chinese proverb says, “When tigers fight, death or great injury will result.” With humans, the conflict is often between the external world and the mind within.

I once watched on TV, an Olympic event between swimmers from Japan, the USA, and the Soviet Union. A Japanese swimmer came in first. When the winner emerged from the pool a reporter asked him, “Did you know that the Soviet swimmer was only a few inches behind you?” The swimmer replied, “l was absorbed in exerting my whole being and skills in swimming. If I had worried about who was next to me, I would have lost.” The reporter said, “You seem very proud and self-confident.” The swimmer replied, “For months I studied these swimmers from videos. By incorporating their skills into my training, I gained confidence in my own abilities. I would not say that I am proud. I am just learning, not competing.”

This story relates to the perfection of patience because the Japanese swimmer’s mind was at peace through his patient learning from his opponents, and his consequent confidence. To learn from one’s opponents, to be confident without arrogance or pride, is the bodhisattva spirit, and worthy of emulation.

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