Paramita – Patience 2

Last Wednesday evening I opened my computer to login as administrator for our Zoom Meditation Group and my screen would not display anything. After some time pressing buttons, I decided to restart my computer. Unfortunately, the problem was that a software update was being installed in the background and I had to wait (not so patiently) while the computer reset itself. At 7:00 the computer was still working on it and, in the background, People was texting to see if I wanted someone else to take over the meeting. Well, at 7:01, my screen finally came on and I logged in to start our meeting, a little late, but present.

I can imagine that many of you would have been anxious; anticipating being late to a meeting you were hosting, going through options of what to do if the computer did not come on in time, wondering what people would think of you, and finally starting the meeting in a state of agitation and confusion. Well, that is exactly what happened to me.

Fortunately, most people thought I was just testing their “patience,” as that is the virtue we are focusing on in this section.

And, there were other minds present, more settled and clearer than mine, with someone suggesting that we all just take a few deep breaths and settle in before we begin (read, “before Ken begins”). While I took a few breaths, I allowed my mind to let go of the story lines I had created during the “computer crisis,” and accepted the agitation I felt. That allowed me to relax into the present moment and continue to lead practice with some sense of calm and clarity.

For me, this was actually a very short version of our Compassionate Presence to Feelings practice. After some time working with this practice, it can be done with eyes open during your daily life, in almost any situation, even very stressful ones.

There are Four Principles of this Practice:

1. Notice the feeling, just as it is present in your state of mind or in the body.
   
2. Allow it to be as it is, giving it all the space it needs to find its own place and settle.
   
3. Rest with, or within, the feeling with a sense of welcoming compassion.
   
4. Let things Be, with a sense of spaciousness and acceptance.