In short: Khanti is patience or forbearance: the ability to bear pain, insult or delay without anger. It is one of the ten perfections and is praised in the Dhammapada as the highest austerity.
Forms
- Patience with pain and discomfort.
- Patience with others' faults.
- Patience with the slow pace of practice.
In the Buddha’s words
Patient acceptance is the ultimate fervor.
Dhp 184, translated by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0)
Practise
Pause and breathe when irritation arises. See patience in Buddhism, the simile of the saw and the ten perfections.
Common misunderstandings
- Patience is not passivity. It lets you act without anger.
- It is not suppression. You feel the irritation and do not feed it.
- It is trainable. Small daily delays are good practice.
Try this: in the next queue or traffic jam, breathe slowly and soften your face.
Glossary: Buddhist terms · Pali pronunciation
Questions people ask
What does khanti mean?
Khanti is patience or forbearance: the ability to bear pain, insult or delay without anger. It is one of the ten perfections and is praised in the Dhammapada as the highest austerity.
How do I practise khanti?
Pause and breathe when irritation arises.