English

The Heart of Compassion and Patience

The Essential Pillars of Practice

and Patience (Endurance), known together as Ci Ren, represent the profound union of a benevolent heart and the strength of endurance. These are the fundamental conditions that every practitioner must cultivate on the path to . Compassion and Wisdom (Prajna) serve as the great root and foundation of all the Buddha’s teachings. Furthermore, the perfection of Patience (Endurance) is one of the Six Perfections, which are the essential practices for all Bodhisattvas. It is the vital key that allows a practitioner to complete these perfections and successfully attain Buddhahood.

Only those who possess true compassion can genuinely enter into the profound and authentic meaning of the Buddha’s teachings. Compassion is something that is inherently present within your own true self. However, because of the pollution of confusion, this original nature has been obscured and covered up. If you engage in diligent practice to sweep away and purify this confusion, your inherent compassion will naturally manifest. At that moment, the practitioner’s hearts and actions, as well as their very temperament, will be transformed.

The True Meaning of Patience

When you are misunderstood, or when others infringe upon your Body, Speech, and Mind, or perhaps when they speak untruths or slander you, how should you respond? A true practitioner is one who can view all beings with compassion and Wisdom (Prajna). You must be able to face these challenges while keeping your mind unmoved, passing through these difficult days with inner peace. Even if you are suffering physically, when you face and process these events, you must do so without resentment or regret. You must not retaliate or counter-attack to harm the other person. By maintaining your meditative concentration and keeping your heart still, you are truly practising the perfection of Patience (Endurance). This is the essential requirement for any practitioner who wishes to complete the Six Perfections and attain Buddhahood.

Avoiding the Trap of Suppressed Anger

It is important to understand that Patience (Endurance) is not merely about suppressing your anger or swallowing your grievances. When of rage, displeasure, or a sense of injustice—these forms of emotion—arise within you, you are no longer practising the perfection of Patience (Endurance). If you merely suppress these emotions, they will accumulate over time, eventually leading to an outburst of emotion and dissatisfaction, much like a volcanic eruption. In such a situation, the one who suffers the most harm is you. This is precisely how one burns down the forest of merit that has been cultivated over time.

This accumulation of negativity may happen gradually over many days and months, or it may occur because you find yourself unable to endure a situation in the present moment, leading to actions that harm yourself or others. For a practitioner, this is an inappropriate path. If you are truly practising the perfection of Patience (Endurance), you will not allow your mind to fluctuate, nor will you accumulate negative emotions. By viewing all beings through the lens of compassion and Wisdom (Prajna), the suffering you experience will not affect the stability of your heart. On the contrary, this practice will allow you to elevate the quality of your spirit. This is the mark of a true practitioner.