There was a person visiting me the other day after looking through some old pictures from when the Ashram was created. He asked me, “Babaji, how did you keep up with some of these people over so many years? You must have lots of patience.”
For me, creating the Ashram was very easy because my mind was focused. Whatever came that was helpful, I had all the patience for. No matter how challenging, no matter how difficult, no matter what it was, because my mind was focused on one thing – to create a place where people could gather in the name of inner search and peace.
It’s the same principle in our life. When we are devoted to a higher vision, we can find that patience to overcome the hurdles that come our way.
The earth, who bears us all, who holds all of the Creation is the ultimate embodiment of patience. Whether someone is sinner or someone is virtuous, without judging, Mother Earth bears us all.
As long as we live in this human body, ups and downs are bound to happen, challenges are bound to arise. Patience is an essential ingredient for a stable, grounded life.
We all experience impatience. Whether sitting in traffic, waiting on news, or facing a tense conversation. What happens to us when we react? A thought or fear arises, and our normal response is to immediately flow towards whatever the mind suggests. The first step in cultivating patience is learning how to catch ourselves before jumping into reactive mode. The very moment we begin to react, we lose the connection with ourselves.
To hold anything, you have to be still, steady, standing in one place. Only then you can lift it and hold it. Our practice of turning inward, learning meditation, and connecting with stillness develops the internal strength needed to remain centered rather than constantly reacting.
Austerity is a powerful ingredient for anyone walking a spiritual path. If we are just running with our mind and doing whatever our mind feels like. Staying grounded requires learning how to hold yourself back from chasing every thought.
Patience requires consistent practice. If you want to work on being more patient, turning your attention to your breath is very helpful.
Watch the breath rise and fill your heart space as you inhale, then descend from your heart to your navel as you exhale.It’s a simple, yet powerful practice. Just doing this several times throughout the day, with full presence, will make a difference in your life.
Patience requires the ability to come back to our Self. When you feel an emotional charge come and the mind begins to race, bring your attention back to your core. Let the breath come. Don’t react right away. This is a beautiful practice to bring into our life. If you find yourself reacting, try to catch yourself. You don’t need to ignore that reaction that arises, but you can address it from a grounded space.
Even one small promise that we can make to our Self can become a great source of energy. And that energy helps to enrich ourselves with patience.
Make a promise to yourself today: “From this day on, I am going to work on my reactive mode.” At first, you may not stop every immediate reaction, but becoming aware of the tendency creates the space needed for patience to grow.
I bow to Mother Earth and to the earth element within us, which holds the seed of patience. May we stay in remembrance of it, awakening and strengthening it daily. As patience grows toward ourselves, we become more patient with others and create harmony wherever we are.
