patience and the ripening of karma
The following passage from Indestructible Truth (page 341) by Reginald A. Ray, PhD.
I read this at an especially poignant time, where although I feel more faith and trust than ever in my spiritual practice, my life seems to be getting more difficult be with.
I came to this passage earlier this week just before going to bed, not knowing what to expect as it is my first pass of this book. I immediately felt seen, and able to rest into a deeper sense of being okay with things as they are...
"The second type of patience involves forbearing in the face of the hardships of spiritual practice, hardships that come in many forms.
Having made a commitment to the dharma, we might feel tremendous pain at not having the time or energy to study or practice as we feel we need to. Or we might feel desolation at not being able to be with our teacher.
In addition, practice often accelerates the ripening of karma, and our lives may suddenly become far more painful and difficult than before. Our practice may become a source of ridicule from others or, conversely, a resource that makes others attempt to feed off us.
Patience is being willing to live with these situations, knowing that this is how the spiritual path is and it cannot be otherwise."