I know I have mentioned my need to understand and even master the art of being patient. It would seem to be that patience is as much a part of any craft as is technique and technology and in a way, of far more value. As a beginning potter, I had less than zero patience and I find now 20 years later, though I am certainly far more patient than I was, it is never enough and in somewhat short supply. When you think about it, we all probably wait away a third of our lives and another third sleeping. This is not to say that while waiting, valuable pursuits are not achieved.
Last week, my patience wore thread bare waiting on pots to dry and to get a bisque fired. Today, I am at the upper temperature range of a glaze firing and as I find myself checking the kiln every 10 minutes or so, I realize, I am no more patient than I was many years ago. I am sure once the kiln is off, I will try to tear down what remains of my pottery patience waiting to crack open the kiln and get the pots unloaded. As the quote goes; “endurance is patience concentrated………………..”
Last week, my patience wore thread bare waiting on pots to dry and to get a bisque fired. Today, I am at the upper temperature range of a glaze firing and as I find myself checking the kiln every 10 minutes or so, I realize, I am no more patient than I was many years ago. I am sure once the kiln is off, I will try to tear down what remains of my pottery patience waiting to crack open the kiln and get the pots unloaded. As the quote goes; “endurance is patience concentrated………………..”
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Patience. You can't "master it." My late Zen teacher, Dainin Katagiri Roshi used to say the trick is not to use time, but to let time use you. From Dogen Zenji's Uji, Being Time:
ReplyDeleteThe way the self arrays itself is the form of the entire world. See each
thing in this entire world as a moment of time.
Things do not hinder one another, just as moments do not hinder one
another. The way-seeking mind arises in this moment. A way-seeking moment
arises in this mind. It is the same with practice and with attaining the way.
Thus the self setting itself out in array sees itself. This is the
understanding that the self is time.
Hi Lee,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment and for visiting my blog.
From your post, I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes;
"All know the way, few actually walk it."
BODHIDHARMA