Seeker Magazine

Patience and Tolerance

Patience does not crimp the flow of events

Patience accepts and tolerates

the different ways we each have

of seeing and acting out life

Tolerance accepts that each of us

is doing what we need to for this moment

Tolerance arises from a state of mental relaxation

that allows us to remain calm

when we see others acting in a way we think should be different

Caring love begets tolerance:

When we care about others, we act for them as a support system

We are not there to make another person's decisions--

unless we are entrusted with others well-being

(such as for a little child or a childish adult)

To do so, robs another of control and ownership of their moment

The mental relaxation of patience

allows us to tolerate differences from ourselves

that we perceive in others:

their age, feelings, opinions, attitudes, religious beliefs,

political positions, appearances, habits, actions, and on and on

We are living in the large fish bowl of the world--

our different perspectives on a given topic

allowing many ideas to float in the brine

With the attitude of caring love, peace, patience, and tolerance

ideas promoting the greatest good

arise to the surface of our consciousness

into clear light

ready to benefit all creation

Patience and Tolerance--

Accepting differences

remaining peaceful

recognizing that each of us

has the right to determine our reality

Caring love--

Being supportive

while not taking away another's right

to determine their reality

Why are we Impatient and Intolerant?

As humans we reach out to others to fill a void in life

We seek to find our completeness in the company of another

or by possession of an object--

as if what another or anything outside of ourselves can offer

will make us happy

We expect a certain behavior from our mate

and are often disappointed

Disillusionment and sadness follow

when our mate does not fulfill our desires

We often keep looking to new people in search of happiness

We become impatient and intolerant

when we realize

the world outside of ourselves cannot give us happiness

But where does happiness lie?

We know happiness exists

because we see happiness in other people

Until we discover that our source of happiness is being carried along

right within us

at every moment of our lives

we will continue to look outside of ourselves

for a source to make us happy

We remain impatient and intolerant with our relationships

and dealings in the world

until we learn to relax into our own internal state of happiness

Happiness--a Quality of our Soul

Happiness is dependent on no outside stimulus

to be felt or attained

Happiness is part of our real nature--

always present

but covered by the disillusionment in mortal life

that an outward quest will give us lasting and fulfilling satisfactions

If we look inwardly

reflecting on an action that we performed out of caring

we will remember that we then felt happy

That is a true experience of happiness in life

If every action performed is done

with the mental attitude of caring

then happiness will naturally be uppermost

in our consciousness

Even acts which seem selfish on the surface

because they are done for ourselves

such as taking good care of our body

by eating properly, bathing, resting, and exercise

are not selfish if our attitude is to preserve our life

This kind of 'selfishness' is right and necessary

So, again, happiness in life is a personal quality

present in all, felt by those who genuinely care for others--

patience and tolerance arising in us

from our relaxed state of mind

Human Love to Perfect Love

Human love becomes perfect love--

the manifestation of the soul's true nature--

by consciously caring and acting

for the highest good of others

Energy used in a positive manner keeps caring and loving feelings

uppermost in our mind

Energy comes to us all the time via food, sunlight, air, and water

And, additionally

if we allow our body to be perfectly still--

sitting, standing, or lying down--

while remaining fully awake--

our mind will follow the lead and calm down, relax

becoming aware of the inner sound of creation

This is the state of meditation--

Union with our Creative Source

This vibratory hum, perceived in our brain

under the top of our skull

underlies all of our changing thoughts

This very peaceful

yet highly energized vibration

is a constant presence that we can attune with

to more fully energize our mental

and physical states of existence

This happens because when we are feeling peaceful, yet energized

we are not putting up negative blocks

to our natural spring of ever-new happiness

that is arising from our own soul

into our body and mind

As the nature of our soul is not limited

by having a physical or mental form

we are drawing from the infinite supply house

of the energy supporting our soul

This intense revitalizing energy carries us along

without any effort on our part

except that we must keep a positive, caring attitude--

avoiding the roadblock of stilted negative, self-defeating attitudes

and their subsequent self-limiting thoughts and actions

We're called to practice every day

Patience show in every way--

Patience that develops attitudes of tolerance

Tolerance for our own shortcomings

Tolerance for other's shortcomings

and the patience to accept them all…

The boon of meditation and positive attitudes--

Calming our mind

Energizing our body--

A fuller experience of happiness arising from within

Swelling out

upon our waking consciousness…

More Susan...