Whether I feel joy or suffering (“the two”), this slogan encourages me to just experience what’s happening in the moment (“be patient”), rather than become caught up in my habitual patterns of grasping what I like and pushing away what I don’t like.

I can view whatever happens as a result of all that has come before (karma in Buddhist terms), so there is no need to take it personally either with guilt or pride. I can allow things to unfold at their own pace, rather than jumping into my habitual reactions. Patience is learned at the pace of life.

I also think it’s important to recognize my habitual reactions to joyful situations as much as painful ones. While of course I want to experience joy, I also want to remember that it can lead to habitual reactions of craving and clinging.

The next three slogans are also related to this topic, providing details about how to cultivate this patience.