This 16-minute guided practice with Heather Fenton begins with mindfulness of breath in the body and then shifts into a contemplation of patience (khanti). We refine patience on the cushion by allowing the breath to be as it is, receiving it fully, neither ‘leaning forward’ in anticipation of the next breath nor ‘falling back’ into dullness, distinterest or distraction.
The perfection of patience is a steady attendance to and acceptance of what is. Off cushion, when we are not in meditation, we can notice and make an effort to reduce our reactivity — craving, aversion and confusion.
Traditionally listed sixth of ten ‘perfections’, Patience is in the eighth position for the 100 Days of Care program as we follow the example of Thanissaro Bhikkhu in re-organizing our contemplation of the perfections.
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