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Are there any Sifre Musar that give advice on how to become more patient? If so, can you bring a few points on how to do so? Please cite sources.

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I take it I shouldn't bring Rambam's general instruction on how to attain any specific character trait? You know, going extreme, then finding a middle ground? – HodofHod Jan 25 '12 at 4:34
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Yes, I have such a sefer right here, I'll get it for you in a moment.... Just wait. – avi Jan 25 '12 at 14:19
Hacham Gavriel, are you referring to the ability to accept unfortunate circumstances? There are many sifrei mussar like chovos halevavos that contain chapters on bitachon. (Of course Cheshbon haNefesh actually called this trait savlanus.) The way you aquire a trait is through constant review and implementation. – YDK Jan 26 '12 at 6:48
@YDK I am aware of that section and am very found of it, but I don't feel that I grasp what he is saying most of the time (even with Mefarshim). – Hacham Gabriel Jan 26 '12 at 13:34

1 Answer

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I suggest Gateway to Happiness By Rabbi Zelig Pliskin

The lesson in patience which I still recall - 25 years after having last read - it is the following:

Imagine you're standing in line. A long slow moving line. Seemingly impossible not to become impatient when standing on line. Right? You simply stand there impatiently wishing it would speed up.

Now imagine that it's a line to the crematorium! Suddenly you're praying that the line will take forever. You'll even let people push in ahead of you if they so wish. Oh! So it is possible not to be impatient when standing in a slow moving line.

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Conclusion: it's our perspective that makes us impatient - and we do control it.

This is one of the rare occasions when he uses gruesome examples, but it sure is effective. Gateway to Happiness is a book worth reading. So are his other books.

Disclaimer: I have no connection to Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, though I have met him and thanked him for his advice.

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I'm 99% sure I own this book. Thanks. – Hacham Gabriel Mar 22 '12 at 13:05
Odd that he'd pick a crematorium as his example. A crematorium is (typically) used to incinerate already dead people (or things). A better example might be a gas chamber or guillotine. – msh210♦ Mar 22 '12 at 14:33
Correct - I was thinking of gas chambers and wrote crematorium. – Danny Schoemann Apr 3 '12 at 9:04

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