Patience and Persistence

Being patient is an art, and being persistent is a kind of hope.

Influenced by today’s instant culture, modern people tend to expect instant results in anything they do. Practitioners want to have attainment in this life, scholars want to become instant laureates in their fields, and entrepreneurs want to gain a huge fortune overnight. As the saying goes,

“A flower picked before its time is not fragrant, and a fruit so picked is not sweet.”

Regardless of what we set out to do, without deep cultivation and planning, and long-term nurturing and development, nothing can be done well.

The twigs from a one-year-old tree can only be used for firewood, wood from a ten-year old tree can be used for chairs, but only the timber from a hundred year-old tree can be used for beams and pillars. Before rice is fully cooked, we should not open the pot, and before an egg is properly hatched, we should not crack the shell. Being able to pass the test of time, and being patient and persistent are the foundations of success.

Being patient is an art, and being persistent is a kind of hope. Having patience and persistence can help us understand what we study, achieve in our practice, and appreciate life. There are numerous examples of ancient scholars who easily spent a decade studying for just one national examination and persisted in their endeavors until they achieved success.

Renowned calligrapher Wang Xizhi practiced his calligraphy by a pond,  using tank after tank of water for ink, and over time became one of the few calligraphy masters in Chinese history.

It is only when we are patient and persistent that we are able to plant deep roots; with deep roots, we are then able to grow thick branches and lush leaves.

In this world, as long as we are willing to learn patiently, anything can be accomplished. The world-famous carvings in Dunhuang, in the Gansu province, are the wondrous creation of thousands of artists over the dynasties who spent their lives expressing their wisdom in artwork. If it were not for the patience and persistence of generations of artists, we would not be able to see such brilliant art today.

The importance of patience and persistence to the success of any endeavor cannot be emphasized enough. However, impatience seems to be a common ill among today’s younger generation. The lack of persistence is also revealed in the callousness of today’s youth. It seems that young people do not possess the patience and concentration required for stability in life.

Being physically and mentally unsteady, they change jobs often, and, lacking in perseverance, they cannot settle down in their careers or in a company. How then is it possible for their employers or supervisors to entrust them with responsibility? Without the trust of their superiors, how are they going to succeed?

If a rolling stone gathers no moss, how is it possible for a moving rock to become the cornerstone of an enterprise? We should often ask ourselves, “Am I patient in my studies, my work, and in dealing with others?”

If we lack patience and persistence, then it is like digging a well and giving up just short of its completion. How could we drink the water? Therefore, the secret to success is simply cultivating patience and persistence.

From All in a Thought, written by Venerable Master Hsing Yun.

Image is a partial presentation of Dunhuang cave mural.

More Featured Articles

Life is the most precious thing in the world, so it is imperative that we respect it in all its forms. Not only must we have regard for human life, we must also respect animal life and the life of any organism in our ecosystem. The worst offense a person can ever commit is to violate the life of others, or even to cause harm Read more
To "commit" is to give assurance to others and to make a conscientious effort to deliver a promise. To instill credibility and trustworthiness, we must honor our words. Confucius once said, "One without credibility is like a large vehicle without a brake pedal, or a small carriage without axles. How can one go anywhere?"Living up to one's word is a basic courtesy. In past agricultural Read more
The Buddha often explained emptiness and impermanence by getting people to think about how phenomena arise, change, and decline. Read more
It is enough for most monks to only have the ability to chant and teach the Dharma, and of course I too can chant sutras and teach the Dharma. But only being this kind of monk was not something I was willing to do. I wanted to become a monk who was able to engage in propagating the Dharma in a multifaceted way: There is Read more
Lessen desire and be without any wishes and the body and mind will be at ease.When our desires are balanced and reasonable, we can be content. The Buddha taught that deep wisdom can be found only by following a “middle way” between dualistic extremes. The middle way can always be found by contemplating which side of a dualistic pair is contending for our attention. If Read more
In this modern world, people are constantly saying, "Life is too stressful!" Why are people so stressed out? How can we rid ourselves of stress? Students feel stressed because of heavy schoolwork; parents feel stressed because they have too many chores and family obligations; policemen feel stressed because they have too much work; and workers feel stressed and are unhappy because their work hours are Read more
Our emotions are a very important part of our everyday life, and they star in a leading role on the stage of relationships. The ability to feel and our freedom to act upon these feelings give us both joy and sorrow, and it is imperative that we maintain our emotional well-being to minimize the potential for suffering within relationships. Emotions are the glue that bind Read more
Within the faith of Humanistic Buddhism, there is no opposition between time and space, nor is there any worry about life and death. What we seek to attain in passive terms is the absence of fear, confusion, and degradation, as well as the inability to become broken; in active terms, life can become happier, more peaceful, more tranquil, freer, and more liberated. Read more
In devoting my life to Buddhism, in order to keep Buddhism current with the advances in society, in terms of thoughts, I am always making improvements at every hour and moment; in terms of practice, I am constantly and continuously making adjustments. Even though I know that Buddhism must be reformed, innovation never comes into being in the heat of the moment. My “silent revolution” Read more
Dharma is for people. There is one thing about the Dharma that I am completely sure of: the Dharma is for people. The Buddha’s teachings are not a cold philosophy designed merely to rearrange the concepts in our minds, they are a living act of compassion intended to show us how to open our hearts. I learned this truth just as everyone must learn it—by Read more
The occurrence of a disease is closely related to one’s mental health, physical health, spiritual health, behavior, habits, living environment, and even the society and culture in which one lives.  Harmonizing all of these elements and engaging in specific practices can help to bring about optimum health and prevent illness.  Gaining awareness about the cause of illness and conducting our lives in a manner that Read more
Trees have their roots, and people have their origins. As hu­man beings, we must endeavor to increase joy in the world for the sake of everyone in the world, and we also must ensure that life will sprout flowers and bear fruits as strong and stur­dy as the peach. “Mother” is the source of life for every person, and she is also the harbor on Read more