The Art of Patience

INSIGHTS OF THE WISE working. The 70 passengers in that coach became upset. Without considering the consequences, they pulled the emergency chain, forcing the train to stop and return to the previous station, Tilak Bridge. The passengers got down onto the platform and began arguing with the railway officials. They demanded that the faulty coach be removed and replaced with a working one. The officials, however, explained that it was not possible to do so immediately, as no replacement was available nearby. The argument led nowhere. Eventually, the train resumed its journey with the same defective coach. However, due to this unnecessary commotion, the Rajdhani Express was delayed by five hours. The disruption also caused a “rail jam” between Tilak Bridge and New Delhi Station, delaying five other trains as well. Two passengers who needed to reach Calcutta on time were so frustrated that they left the train and rushed to Palam Airport to catch an evening flight instead. This incident shows the difference between maturity and immaturity of mind. The whole problem came from immaturity. Had those seventy passengers been people of mature judgment, neither this disruption nor the suffering of hundreds of others would have occurred. So what is maturity? It is the ability to accept a reality that cannot be changed. When faced with such situations, immature people protest loudly, while mature people adapt