The Perfection of Patience - The unimpeded weapon of the good I

We should have patience and endurance in our manners and behaviour. For example, when people travel together there are bound to be difficulties as regards seats and sleeping places, the means of transportation and appointments. When a person does not complain and does not criticize, when he has sympathetic understanding and assists others, his fellowmen will approve of him and praise him. When akusala dhammas, including lobha and dosa, arise, patience is lacking, whereas when kusala citta arises we can endure difficult situations.
A person can have patience because his sobhana cetasikas wholesome qualities  accompanying kusala citta) have been developed. There is no person, being or self who is patient.
We can have patience even with regard to our speech. Before we are going to speak we should consider whether what we want to say is beneficial or not. If it is useless speech we should have patience and refrain from that speech. Sati- sampajanna performs its function in such situations and we should investigate whether it has further developed.
We read in the Commentary to the “Basket of Conduct” (Miscellaneous Sayings):

“The perfection of patience should be considered next:

Patience is the unimpeded weapon of the good in the development of noble qualities,

for it dispels anger, the opposite of all such qualities, without residue.

It is the adornment of those capable of vanquishing the foe;

the strength of recluses and brahmins;

a stream of water extinguishing the fire of anger;

the basis for acquiring a good reputation;

a mantra for quelling the poisonous speech of evil people;

the supreme source of constancy in those established in restraint.

Patience is an ocean on account of its depth;

a shore bounding the great ocean of hatred;

a panel closing off the door to the plane of misery;

a staircase ascending to the worlds of the gods and Brahmas;

the ground for the habitation of all noble qualities;

the supreme purification of body, speech and mind.”

 

As we read, patience is “the unimpeded weapon of the good”: akusala can be

destroyed when one is righteous. When patience arises we have no disturbance,

because khanti, patience, cannot harm righteous people. “Patience is the

unimpeded weapon of the good in the development of noble qualities, for it dispels

anger, the opposite of all such qualities, without residue”.