Yoga and the Power of Patience

My husband turned me on to an NY Times game called Connections in which you have to figure out the common thread among a series of words. Can you figure out what the photos in my newsletter have in common (aside from being some of my favorite photos from this past month)? The answer is down at the bottom.

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As someone who practices yoga, you probably know by now that the main goal of the practice it to make the mind still. I’m sure you’ve experienced by now just how difficult that is. Even for someone like me who has practiced for many years now, my mind frequently experiences states of fidgetiness, jumping from one impulse to another. Even the renowned and respected Buddhist meditation teacher, Pema Chödrön, says her mind can be jumpy at times. The difference, though, between now and when she first started practicing mediation, she says, is that she doesn’t let it bother her much anymore. I find that comforting.

So, what are some of the ingredients that will help bring the mind closer and closer to that still point? The Bhagavad Gita has this to say:

"Through patience and repeated effort, the mind will become stilled in the Self."

And, Swami Rama, who founded the Himalayan Yoga Institute, said:

"The first principle of learning to be still is regular practice,
the second is patience, ….”

Both are suggesting that Patience is a key ingredient in helping the mind reach this lofty goal.

We’ve heard it said that patience is a virtue. And undoubtedly, we all know that practicing patience can be very difficult. It is especially so in times of turbulence, unease, and uncertainty in our lives. Pema Chödrön has this to say:

Patience is not learned in safety. It is not learned when everything is harmonious and going well. When everything is smooth sailing, who needs patience? If you stay in your room with the door locked and the curtains drawn, everything may seem harmonious, but the minute anything doesn’t go your way, you blow up. There is no cultivation of patience when your pattern is to just try to seek harmony and smooth everything out.

One of the best things that yoga and meditation have taught me is to just show up on my yoga mat or meditation cushion, no matter what the outer circumstances are. And I agree with Pema that the best time to practice patience is when things aren’t going so well. When I am in emotional distress, I often sit in meditation to try to move in the direction of resolution. While it more often than not doesn’t result in the relief I am seeking, I am comforted in knowing that at the very least I am doing something productive and potentially helpful with my time and efforts. As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote:

"Make haste slowly. Do not mistake understanding for realization, and do not mistake realization for liberation, but practice all your life. The greatest achievements take the deepest patience and the longest time."

In times of distress, it may take some time for understanding to even surface in our minds. But in my experience, by simply giving things some time and doing things like meditation and yoga to help calm the turbulent mind, understandings do eventually appear. The greatest achievement any of us yogis can hope to accomplish is some mastery over our own reactive minds, so that our actions in the outer world can be of benefit to ourselves and to others. And to reach this level of mastery is going to take some time. So, keep that in mind always.

Pema Chodron said:

Whatever happens in your life, joyful or painful, do not be swept away by reactivity. Be patient with yourself and don’t lose your sense of perspective.

I’ve experienced both incredible joy and devastating sorrow in my own life. I’ve made mistakes that I regret. And I know that I am not alone in this. We all have stories to tell.

I am so grateful to have not only my yoga and meditation practices to anchor me, but also the wisdom of many sages from across the ages to guide me in my actions. I do know the consequences of acting or speaking in haste, which have resulted in me saying or doing the wrong things at times. So, I can definitely appreciate Pema’s guidance in reminding me not to be swept up by the reactivity that can happen when I am experiencing such strong emotions. It is so helpful for me to remember that it’s always better to act and speak from a place of deeper perspective and with a wider lens. From such a place, the seeds of compassion for both ourselves and others can be best watered and nurtured.

Emerson also had this to say:

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. 

Patience is one practice we can bring to our innermost problems and challenges. And Nature provides reminders. Witness the current reports of the Cicadas that are about to emerge en masse after 17 years beneath the soil’s surface. 17 years is a long time for sure, yet Nature knows what it’s doing. Perhaps the best thing we can do as we observe this phenomenon of nature is to remember the lesson – Patience is a virtue and practicing it can be very powerful in helping us to transform the soil of our own lives into something very useful.

May you be happy, …
May you be healthy, …
May you not be swept away by reactivity, …
May you practice Nature’s secret – patience – for the benefit of those nearest and dearest to you, and ultimately All Beings Everywhere.

Aloha and Metta,
Paul Keoni Chun

Iconic Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Clinton Community Garden

The connection? All these wonders came into being through the power of patience practiced by man and nature alike.

Thanks for patiently reading to the end!