Patience?

“There is a story about the Tibetan monk Patrul Rinpoche in which he wanders somewhere in Tibet and comes across a monk in a meditation cave. Patrul Rinpoche asked him how long he had been in retreat. The monk replied that it had been so many years that he had lost track. Patrul Rinpoche was impressed and asked him, “What has your main practice been all these years?” The monk said, “Patience.” But Patrul Rinpoche mischievously pretended he did not hear the monk’s answer and asked again, “What did you say?” So, the monk answered more loudly, “Patience.” Patrul Rinpoche pretended several times that he did not hear and kept repeating the question, receiving the same answer louder and louder each time. Finally, the monk got irritated and shouted, “I’ve told you many times, my practice has been patience! Are you deaf?!” Then Patrul Rinpoche said, “The patience you’ve been practicing must be an interesting version of patience!” Of course, in this way Patrul Rinpoche was able to teach the monk that he had more homework to do. This anecdote illustrates what a powerful obstacle it can be to intellectualize bodhicitta or cherish a thought of having achieved something. All spiritual people should be careful of this. It happens at all levels of practice.”

Excerpt From
Into the Haunted Ground
Anam Thubten
https://books.apple.com/us/book/into-the-haunted-ground/id1589552479

“Waiting for the Model”, oil on canvas, painting by Seamus Berkeley