Acceptance: the Most Skillful Way to Make Problems Disappear

In reality, most of our emotional problems are nothing more than a failure to accept things as they are — in which case it is patient acceptance, rather than attempting to change externals, that is the solution. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, How to Solve Our Human Problems Patient acceptance is often seen as a weak and passive mind, but actually, nothing could be further than the truth. Patient acceptance is a powerful mind that makes us as strong and stable as a mountain. When a mountain is struck by a thunderstorm, it remains unmoved. In the same way, regardless of what “storms” arise in our daily life, our patience protects our peace of mind. When we lack patience, we are like the pine trees lining the mountain — we are easily disturbed by the challenges we face. On the other hand, when we gain patience, we also gain the ability to remain peaceful, flexible, and clear-headed, no matter what the circumstances. So, just try to imagine feeling peaceful and happy; not just occasionally but all the time. Buddha taught many methods for transforming how we see others, situations and our world so we can accomplish such a profound result. By applying Buddha’s teachings on patience, we learn that we have so much freedom within our mind. By changing our attitude, we change how we see things and this changes how we respond to challenging people and situations. By applying these practical methods we can come to experience a life filled with peace and happiness. If you have any questions please email: [email protected]. [Organizer's description]