Ven. Matthieu Ricard explores the profound dimensions of patience in the King of Samādhi Sūtra —from enduring hardship to accepting ultimate reality— as a path to dissolving the ego and cultivating universal compassion.
Photo by MChe Lee.
We were greatly honored to have the esteemed Buddhist monk, Venerable Matthieu Ricard as our featured speaker during the inaugural event of this year’s Teachings on Sutra series. Matthieu offered a moving and insightful teaching on “Acceptance of the Profound Dharma” in celebration of Chötrul Düchen.
In these teachings, Matthieu brought his wisdom and engaging style to explore the teachings on patience, which are outlined in the ninth chapter of The King of Samādhis Sūtra (Toh 127). This text is frequently cited in later Buddhist writings for its profound statements, especially on the nature of emptiness.
Matthieu shares with us some of the advice he has received from his teachers to illustrate the importance for practitioners—and also the everyday benefits—of understanding and practicing patience, one of the six perfections. The perfection of patience is grounded in an understanding of the Dharma, and particularly in an acceptance of the profound teachings on the ultimate nature of things.
As a focus of our practice it not only allows us to avoid irritation, anger, and depression when we are faced with momentary difficulties, suffering, and harm, but also gives us the mental and emotional spaciousness to see what is really important in our lives. It is not a question of becoming impervious and passive, but of finding the freedom to act positively and with compassionate openness to the needs of others.
The conversation ends with a wide-ranging question and answer session.
Matthieu Ricard is a Buddhist monk, author, translator, and photographer who completed his Ph.D. in cell genetics before moving to the Himalayas in 1972, where he has lived for 45 years studying with Tibetan masters.
