The Art of Endurance and Tolerance

The Blade Upon the Heart

In the Chinese language, the character for endurance is composed of two parts: a knife placed above a heart. This imagery poignantly illustrates the essence of endurance. The knife represents the harsh, material world, while the heart represents our physical body and our spirit. Therefore, to endure is to bear the injuries and challenges that this material world inflicts upon our body and our spirit.

In the Buddha’s teachings, our world is known as the worldly realm. We must recognise that this realm, governed by the seven emotions and the Five Desires, is filled with endless temptations, fluctuations, and disturbances. To navigate this, we require the skill of Patience (Endurance), which is a vital component of the six perfections practised by Bodhisattvas. Patience (Endurance) can be a cause sown within the karmic conditions and the causes and effects, or it can be a result. Although we may experience physical pain, a wise person faces these challenges with a vast compassion, transforming a crisis into a turning point. They use the energy of these karmic conditions to dissolve karma, realise their true nature, and advance upon the Buddha’s path.

The Silent Toll of Resentment

In the world of the spirit, when we feel forced to tolerate something but harbour resentment, anger, or unspoken grievances, we are creating a negative energy. This is not true Patience (Endurance). If this negative energy accumulates over the short or long term, it can lead to several harmful consequences: the body’s cells may undergo malignant changes, our very appearance may change, and we may inadvertently summon our karmic creditors, who are drawn to the negative energy we emit. These experiences form painful imprints within our consciousness.

If such deep-seated, indelible trauma remains at the moment of death, the spirit may be drawn toward the darkness or the path of animals and snakes. One may even become a karmic creditor or a spiritual attachment to others, perpetuating the cycle of suffering in the six realms of existence. This is how the spirit wanders, trapped in the abyss of reincarnated suffering.

The Immortal’s Vow of Compassion

The world often uses the word endurance to describe the act of suppressing negative experiences, which only generates more negative energy. However, in the Buddha’s teachings, Patience (Endurance) means something entirely different: it is the use of a compassionate heart to embrace others, resolve the conflict, and transform negative energy into a positive force. The story of the Patient Immortal is a perfect example of this.

The Patient Immortal was meditating under a tree when his dignity attracted the attention of King Kali’s officials and palace maids. They gathered around him to listen to sutras and hear the Dharma. When King Kali discovered this, he was consumed by rage. He was furious that his subjects had left his side without permission to listen to a monk. In his anger, he subjected the Patient Immortal to a brutal execution, slicing the flesh from his body piece by piece until he died. Yet, the Patient Immortal did not harbour a single thought of hatred or anger. Instead, he made a vow: "When I attain Buddhahood, the first person I will save shall be this King!"

The Path of Constant Purification

The Patient Immortal was none other than Shakyamuni Buddha in a past life. The King Kali, after Shakyamuni Buddha attained Buddhahood, became the first person to be saved and to attain awakening—the Venerable Kaundinya. He is listed as the first among the holy assembly in the Infinite Life Sutra. Originally, Shakyamuni Buddha was destined to descend from the Tushita Heaven to attain Buddhahood after Maitreya Bodhisattva. However, because of this profound act of Patience (Endurance), his Dharma affinity shifted, and he attained Buddhahood before Maitreya.

Some of you, the students of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, may have heard this story before, while others are hearing it for the first time. In our practice, constant habituation—purification, and then more purification—is a key method of diligent practice. Do not underestimate the power of this repeated exposure. Its subtle, transformative effect often becomes the key to achieving great cultivation when we least expect it. Within our monastic community, we place great importance on studying the teachings and listening to the sutras. We must be especially vigilant when we are alone, where others cannot see us. Do not neglect the importance of Patience (Endurance) simply because you think no one is watching, for that is when we are most likely to create negative karma.

The True Skill of the Awakened

Those who have realised their true nature are capable of true Patience (Endurance). They can take responsibility directly, and their compassionate nature has already become a part of them. They naturally practise Patience (Endurance) without the conscious thought of enduring—they endure without the thought of enduring, and they do not endure while still enduring. Afterward, they remain calm and at peace, living fully in the present moment. This is the true skill of Patience (Endurance).

To all students of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre: you are practising in a high-quality environment, and you should treat one another with harmony. Even when the "self," personal ego, and selfishness manifest and cause friction or disagreements, do not let the fire of anger arise, for it will burn down your forest of merit. That would be a great pity! Instead, take a step back, think of the other person, and be compassionate and tolerant. By enduring and tolerating, you learn and grow together. To help others succeed is to help yourself succeed. If you can maintain such a mind-capacity, and if your skill in Patience (Endurance) is achieved through this, you will have taken a giant step toward awakening. The other person is your true spiritual friend and fellow practitioner, providing you with the very conditions needed to grow.

In a single shift of thought, the wisdom of Patience (Endurance) is achieved. All students should learn this. Namo Amituofo.