Patience is one of the most important spiritual virtues, emphasized by all the religious paths as the key to inner peace. But one of the reasons patience is so valued is that it doesn't always come naturally. Especially in the 21st century, when we are used to getting what we want as soon as we want it, it can be difficult to develop the steady calm necessary to negotiate our lives. Shugen Sensei discusses the importance of patience in practicing the precepts and living a true life, citing patience as the key ingredient to remaining true to ourselves and others. The practice of patience will lead us to compassion and the blossoming of our inner illumination.