Identify one or two situations or people you encounter regularly who irritate you. Even if you usually conceal your anger toward them, it’s still an opportunity for practice. From now on, whenever you encounter these situations or individuals, put yourself on "perfection-of-patience alert." This isn’t easy. Our conditioned responses are so powerful that, before even realizing it, we slip into habitual patterns of behavior. If it helps, create some external cue as a reminder – for example, if you suffer from road rage, put a post-it note on the dashboard of your car. Try to be aware before the encounter occurs that you are entering a psychological danger zone, potentially harmful to your inner peace.

* As you make contact with the anger-creating person or situation, try to be mindful that you now have a fantastic opportunity to practice patience. While interacting, as much as possible think, "By practicing patience may I achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings."

* If time permits, you can follow your bodhichitta thought with the reminder that the person or people who cause you aggravation, or who are behind the aggravating situation, are just like you in wanting happiness and wishing to avoid dissatisfaction.

* If you have further time, you can recollect the four immeasurables . . . four powerful lines in which we recall the true causes of happiness and of suffering….

  • May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness.
  • May all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering.
  • May all beings never be parted from the happiness that is without suffering – great nirvana, liberation.
  • May all beings abide in peace and equanimity, their minds free from attachment, aversion, and indifference.

If you succeed in not feeling as angry as usual, congratulate yourself and recollect how fortunate you are to have this treasure of a person or situation to offer you an opportunity for the perfection of patience. If you don’t succeed, perhaps reflect on the advantages of practicing patience, and the disadvantages of not practicing patience, to strengthen your resolve for the next encounter.

— David Michie in Enlightenment to Go