Patience

Patience

In psychology and in cognitive neuroscience, patience is studied as a decision-making problem, involving the choice of either a small reward in the short-term, versus a more valuable reward in the long-term.[2]

Patience of human users in the online world has been the subject of much recent scientific research. In a 2012 study[4] involving tens of millions of users who watched videos on the Internet, Krishnan and Sitaraman show that online users lose patience in as little as two seconds while waiting for their chosen video to start playing.[5] The study also shows that users who are connected to the Internet at faster speeds are less patient than their counterparts connected at slower speeds, demonstrating a link between the human expectation of speed and human patience. These and other scientific studies of patience have led many social commentators to conclude that the rapid pace of technology is rewiring humans to be less and less patient.[6][7][8]

Patience and fortitude are prominent themes in Judaism. The Talmud extols patience as an important personal trait. The story of Micah, for example, is that he suffers many challenging conditions and yet endures, saying \"I will wait for the God who saves me.\" Patience in God, it is said, will aid believers in finding the strength to be delivered from the evils that are inherent in the physical life.[9]

In the Hebrew Torah, patience is referred to in several proverbs, such as \"The patient man shows much good sense, but the quick-tempered man displays folly at its height\" (Proverbs 14:29, NAB); \"An ill-tempered man stirs up strife, but a patient man allays discord.\" (Proverbs 15:18, NAB); and \"A patient man is better than a warrior, and he who rules his temper, than he who takes a city.\" (Proverbs 16:32). The emotion is also discussed in other sections, such as Ecclesiastes: \"Better is the patient spirit than the lofty spirit. Do not in spirit become quickly discontented, for discontent lodges in the bosom of a fool.\" (Ecclesiastes 7:8-9, NAB).

In the Christian religion, patience is one of the most valuable virtues of life.[10] Increasing patience is viewed as the work of the Holy Ghost in the Christian who has accepted the gift of salvation. While patience is not one of the traditional biblical three theological virtues nor one of the traditional cardinal virtues, it is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, according to the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Galatians.[11] Patience was included in later formulations of the seven virtues.

In the Christian Bible, patience is referred to in several sections. The Book of Proverbs notes that \"through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone\" (Proverbs 25:14-16, NIV); Ecclesiastes points out that the \"end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride\" (Ecclesiastes 7:7-9, NIV); and 1 Thessalonians states that we should \"be patient with all. See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good for each other and for all\" (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15, NAB). In the Epistle of James, the Bible urges Christians to be patient, and \" see how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,...until it receives the early and the late rains.\" (James 5:7-11, NAB). In Galatians, patience is listed as part of the \"fruit of the Spirit\": \"love, joy, peace,[12] patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law\". (Galatians 5:21-23, NIV). In Timothy, the Bible states that \"Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life\".(1 Timothy 1:15-17 NIV).[13]

In Buddhism, patience (Skt.: kshanti; Pali: khanti) is one of the \"perfections\" (paramitas) that a bodhisattva trains in and practices to realize perfect enlightenment (bodhi). The Buddhist concept of patience is distinct from the English definition of the word. In Buddhism, patience refers to not returning harm, rather than merely enduring a difficult situation. It is the ability to control one's emotions even when being criticized or attacked.[16] In verse 184 of the Dhammapada it is said that 'enduring patience is the highest austerity'.[17]

Patience, in Hindu philosophy, is the cheerful endurance of trying conditions and the consequence of one's action and deeds (karma).[27] It is also the capacity to wait, endure opposites - such as pain and pleasure, cold and heat, sorrows and joys - calmly, without anxiety, and without a desire to seek revenge.[28][29] In interpersonal relationships, virtuous titiksha means that if someone attacks or insults without cause, one must endure it without feeling enmity, anger, resentment or anxiety.[30] The concept of patience is explained as being more than trust, and as a value that reflects the state of one's body and mind.[31] The term pariksaha is sometimes also translated as test or exam, in other contexts. Some of these concepts have been carried into the spiritual understanding of yoga. Sandilya Upanishad of Hinduism identifies ten sources of patience and forbearances: Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya, Daya, Arjava, Kshama, Dhriti, Mitahara and Saucha. In each of these ten forbearances, the virtuous implicit belief is that our current spirit and the future for everyone, including oneself, will be stronger if these forbearances are one's guide. Each source of those ten pariksaha (patience and forbearances) are:[32][33]

The classical literature of Hinduism exists in many Indian languages. For example, Tirukkuṛaḷ written between 200 BC and 400 AD, and sometimes called the Tamil Veda, is one of the most cherished classics on Hinduism written in a South Indian language. It too discusses patience and forbearance, dedicating Chapter 16 of Book 1 to it. Tirukkuṛaḷ suggests patience is necessary for an ethical life and one's long term happiness, even if patience is sometimes difficult in the short term. Some of the verse excerpts from this book are: \"our conduct must always foster forbearance\"; \"one must patiently endure rude remarks, because it delivers us to purity\"; \"if we are unjustly wronged by others, it is best to conquer our hurt with patience, accept suffering, and refrain from unrighteous retaliation\"; \"it is good to patiently endure injuries done to you, but to forget them is even better\"; \"just as the Earth bears those who dig into her, one must with patience bear with those who despise us\", and so on.[34][35][36]

The spiritual teacher Meher Baba stated that \"[O]ne of the first requirements of the [spiritual] aspirant is that he should combine unfailing enthusiasm with unyielding patience....Spiritual effort demands not only physical endurance and courage, but also unshrinking forbearance and unassailable moral courage.\"[37]

I have chosen to speak today about a very pedestrian principle: patience, I hope that I do not empty the Marriott Center by that selection. Perhaps the topic was selfishly selected because of my clear and continuing need to develop further this very important attribute. But my interest in patience is not solely personal; for the necessity of having this intriguing attribute is cited several times in the scriptures, including once by King Benjamin who, when clustering the attributes of sainthood, named patience as a charter member of that cluster (Mosiah 3:19; see also Alma 7:23).

There is also a dimension of patience which links it to a special reverence for life. Patience is a willingness, in a sense, to watch the unfolding purposes of God with a sense of wonder and awe, rather than pacing up and down within the cell of our circumstance. Put another way, too much anxious opening of the oven door and the cake falls instead of rising. So it is with us. If we are always selfishly taking our temperature to see if we are happy, we will not be.

When we are impatient, we are neither reverential nor reflective because we are too self-centered. Whereas faith and patience are companions, so are selfishness and impatience. It is so easy to be confrontive without being informative; so easy to be indignant without being intelligent; so easy to be impulsive without being insightful. It is so easy to command others when we are not in control of ourselves.

Thus, as already indicated, patience is a vital mortal virtue in relation to our faith, our free agency, our attitude toward life, our humility, and our suffering. Moreover, patience will not be an obsolete attribute in the next world.

This inner serenity which the believer knows as he brushes against the veil is cousin to certitude. The peace it brings surpasses our understanding and certainly our capacity to explain. But it requires a patience which stands in stark contrast to the restlessness of the world in which, said Isaiah, the wicked are like the pounding and troubled sea which cannot rest (Isaiah 57:20).

The outlook is bright, but risks remain, and we are far from our goals. The latest employment report reminds us that realized outcomes can diverge from forward projections and underscores the value of patience. As the economy reopens fully and the recovery gathers momentum, it will be important to remain patiently focused on achieving the maximum-employment and inflation outcomes in our guidance.

Any conversation about what patience is and its importance will tend to mention that patience is a virtue. But there's much more to it. Patience is your ability to wait without becoming annoyed, upset, or angry. It's when you exercise self-control rather than lashing out and complaining.

Patience also throws instant gratification out the window. You have the agency to do things that will make it easier for yourself in the short term. Or you can choose to avoid hasty decisions and take actions with long-term benefits. It may require more hard work, but patience pays off, even if it feels difficult in the moment.

How important patience is in life stretches far beyond being nic

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