Treasure Hidden in Plain Sight

The last week I spent in Lisbon and visited a couple of Zenbuddhist classes. A sentence that came up in all of them was: "You can win a thousand battles, but the most important one is the one you have with or against yourself. Even if you win a thousand, it's not worth anything if you don’t win that one." How often do we rush through life, feeling victorious in small achievements, only to lose the internal battle of peace and presence?

In Buddhism, they speak of a practice called Kshanti—patience. Patience is one of the six qualities of the Bodhisattva, and though it seems simple, it’s incredibly profound. It’s a treasure hidden in plain sight. To be patient also means to relax, which can be a revelation in itself. In relaxing, we release the need to control, to rush, to win the thousand battles, and instead, we become present in the one battle that matters—within.

Throughout our day, we are given countless opportunities to practice patience. Whether it’s waiting for something, navigating a difficult situation, or even showing patience with ourselves. Patience is so subtle that we often overlook it, yet it has the power to transform our experiences completely.

Remember that wherever you go there you are and this practice of Kshanti is right there alongside with you.