Swami ji said…
“Who has the patience? Not me!” “I can’t wait that long!” Such words, filled with restlessness and agitation, have become the language of our times. We want everything — ‘जल्द से जल्द’. And, in this haste, we seldom pause to say…“I’m grateful to God.” “He has always done what’s best for me.” “हम क्या ‘नीली छतरीवाले’ को ‘शुक्रिया’ कहना भूल जाते हैं — वो हर चीज़ के लिए जो वो हमें देते हैं क्योंकि हमारा ध्यान तब तक दूसरी चीज़ को पाने में लग जाता है…”
Gratitude is quickly forgotten. The mind races ahead, chasing the next desire. If this scenario feels familiar – then, it is time to stop, to restrain ourselves and to free the mind from this ungrateful, impatient disposition towards our Creator and direct ourselves to be patient. Impatience has become the order of the day – and if we could have our way – we would love to have, possess and acquire – all that we have set our heart at. The problem today is that -” हमें सब कुछ उसी क्षण…तभी के तभी चाहिए…” ” “We want it now. This very instant…” – is the present mindset. Our impulses rise and fall faster than our breath. Spontaneous choices – made without thought, become habits. We rush through life, measuring happiness with speed — forgetting that divine timing is never hurried, yet always perfect.
Those who walk the spiritual path slowly begin to understand that patience – ‘सब्र’ is not inaction — it is faith in motion. To wait calmly is to trust God’s rhythm. To accept delay without complaint is to acknowledge His higher wisdom. How beautiful will life be – “अगर हम ईश्वर का ‘शुक्र’ करें जब वो हमें कुछ भी देते हैं – और ‘सब्र’ करें जब वो हमें अपनी मांगी हुई चीज़ नहीं देते हैं…”
The spiritual seeker has to learn to be grateful when God gives and be patient when God withholds. He has to respect the truth that God gives us everything at the right time. There is no such thing as late or early. Everything we have been given has been given to us at the right time.Even problems come to us at the ‘right’ time and go away at the ‘right’ time. Our wishing them away early is purely a waste of time and effort.
Often times, this same very impatience is triggered when we see other people succeed in their ways. We ask God – “Why are we not being rewarded immediately? Why is it taking so much time?” It is very important to take a step back at such times and count one’s blessings. It is important to remember that God gives everyone what they deserve in their time.
Patience must not be considered a great uphill endeavour. Yes, controlling one’s frustrations, not giving into one’s impulses, these do require resilience and strength. But this same very patience – having faith in God and His plans; having faith in one’s actions – makes one peaceful in heart and mind. Such a person is no longer afflicted with anxiety about the future. He is able to rejoice in what he has ‘today’ and is content in doing his best ‘today’. He does not live life only in ‘expectation’. He is happy and finds joy in what he has ‘now’ and is unbothered by what fruits his labour brings.
While it might seem difficult to understand, but, such an attitude – unburdened by a constant urge to be rewarded, to be recognised for one’s actions – is what is needed to achieve true success in life. Such an attitude makes one averse to pain and risk. When one is unmotivated by the fruits of one’s actions – and instead trusts God to do the right thing for him – such an individual is not afraid to try what might seem impossible to others. For such a person is rarely disappointed, develops an ability to be focussed on the task at hand and does it to the best of his ability and is able to sustain painstaking endeavours as he is not looking for immediate reward.
Always remember – Life is beautiful when we live it in a state of thankfulness, all the time, irrespective of what it brings to us on a daily basis. Once we wear a garb of gratitude – it shouldn’t matter to us – whether it is severe hardship or a joyful development- that finds its way to us. Days of difficulties – will come to an end one day – and, similarly, every day cannot give us a reason to celebrate. We just have to be patient, but, unfortunately that is one quality that is fast fading from our lives- as our constant yearning for everything under the Sun is making us impatient.
We should remain so busy counting our blessings, placing complete trust in His timing and planning – that ‘ impatience’ finds it difficult to overcome the stoic ‘patience’ in us – as we understand –
” ‘सब्र’ का फल मीठा होता है…”
Dedicated to Swamiji Ajay Jain ji 