Verse 27 teaches us to be patient without hostility. It reads:
To bodhisattvas who want a wealth of virtue
Verse 26, translated by Thubten Chodron
Those who harm are like a precious treasure.
Therefore towards all cultivate patience
Without hostility—
This is the practice of bodhisattvas
Verse 27 reminds us of the vital importance of patience, another of the six paramitas. (You can read my introductory post on the paramita of patience here.) The Dalai Lama says, “Patience is the main practice of a bodhisattva.” We can’t really do anything without the virtue of patience.
So why does this require us to see those who harm us as precious treasures? Thubten Chodron explains, “Patience is the ability to endure suffering or harm without getting upset and hostile, and it is an excellent way to create a wealth of virtue…We can’t practice patience with people who are nice and kind. So, the people who harm us become like a precious treasure.”
When we feel harmed or slighted, we find an opportunity to practice patience, and therefore cultivate it. So when faced with those moments, we can try to find a reason to be thankful!
But it’s not just patience we’re trying to cultivate. Specifically, it’s patience without hostility. In other words, it’s not the kind of patience that comes through gritted teeth and mumbling. (Though sometimes we begin there.)
Dilgo Khyentse says, “There is no peace for a person whose mind is filled with anger or hatred.” So we want our minds to be filled with love instead. (But since love can take a while to reach, a worthy first goal is neutrality. Just try to release the hostility first.)
When you encounter harm or difficulty this week, can you see it as an opportunity to cultivate patience without hostility?
