THE CULTIVATION OF
EQUANIMITY
Equanimity is varyingly described as:
A calmness of
mind, a state of inner equipoise rooted
in insight that cannot be upset by gain and loss, honor and
dishonor, praise and blame, pleasure and pain, success and failure, and accept
them all with detachment, equally, for
oneself and for others. It is to regard every
sentient being as an equal.
It is a clear-minded tranquil state of mind; not
being overpowered by delusions, mental dullness or
agitation, with composure as one of its significant
characteristic.
It is freedom from all points of
self-reference; it is indifference only to the demands of the
ego-self with its craving for pleasure and position but not to the
well-being of one's fellow human beings.
How do we establish this beautiful mental
state constantly in our consciousness?
The Visuddhimagga provide a brief
description, some overlapping, on the classification of the ten
kinds of Equanimity. In it, we will notice the use of the whole
spectrum of the Buddhist teaching, doctrines and practices in the
cultivation of equanimity.
The Equanimity stated thus are; Equanimity
about Insight, Equanimity about Formation, Equanimity of Energy,
Equanimity as a Feeling, Equanimity as Specific Neutrality,
Equanimity as a Divine Abiding, Equanimity of Jhana, Six Factor
Equanimity, Purification Equanimity and Equanimity as an
Enlightenment Factor.
Equanimity about
Insight
This equanimity arises when we are able to
understand clearly the true nature of reality, i.e. a complete
understanding of the three mark of existence, namely Impermanence,
Suffering and Not-self. The practice of Insight meditation is
usually used to gain an in-depth knowledge into the true nature of
the three marks by contemplation on their characteristics. When a
person sees with insight knowledge the three characteristic, then
there is neutrality in him about further investigating the
impermanence etc., of formations. This
neutrality is called the Equanimity about Insight.
Equanimity about
Formation
This signified the wisdom which looks with
detached indifference upon phenomena that come within our view,
free from clinging. When the Equanimity of Insight is established,
the Equanimity about Formation will also be established as both are
neutrality which comes about through the different functions of
investigation and about clinging on to formation respectively.
Equanimity of
Energy
It is a name for the equanimity otherwise
known as neither over-strenuous nor over-lax energy i.e. the
balanced application of energy by not over exertion or
laxity.
Equanimity as a
Feeling
The feeling named
‘neither-pain-or-pleasure’ and is also called ‘equanimity’ is
indicated as a feeling opposing both pain and pleasure and not the
mere absence of pain and pleasure. It is characterize as
experiencing what is contrary to both the desirable and the
undesirable. This means it is a neutral feeling which is neither
painful nor pleasant.
The neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling is
established in the fourth Jhana when the faculties of bodily pain,
mental grief, bodily bliss (pleasure), and mental joy have all been
abandoned. It can be understood that with the abandoning of these
four faculties, greed and hate are also abandoned, as the
conditions for their arising have been removed. For as pleasure is
a condition for joy, and joy for greed; pain is a condition for
grief and grief for hate; so with the removal of pain, grief, bliss
and joy, both greed and hate are also abandoned and with it, the
root causes of our suffering.
Both Energy (Right Endeavour) and Feeling
are mental factors.
Equanimity as Specific
Neutrality
This is the mental factor responsible for
maintaining balance among the component factors in the beautiful
(Sobhana) state of consciousness. The commentaries define it as the
‘equal efficiency of conascent states’. According to the
Abhidhamma, Specific Neutrality is present in every beautiful state
of consciousness, giving balance and harmony to the virtuous mind.
As a particular mental factor, it can assume different forms in
different context. It appears as five other forms of Equanimity in
the ten kinds of Equanimity; namely in the Six Factored, Divine
Abiding, Purification, Jhana and Enlightenment.
Six Factored Equanimity
The unbiased response, free of attachment
and aversion towards pleasant and unpleasant, desirable or
undesirable sense objects experienced through the six senses doors
without abandoning the natural state of our origin
purity.
The awareness that can guards the sense
doors and prevents a conditional reaction to the feeling that
arises from our sensory experiences is called Mindfulness.
Mindfulness is a non-judgmental awareness of what is happening to
us and inside us during moments of our experiences. The practice of
mindfulness gives us time to examine and recognize the real nature
of our experiences as it arises in our consciousness without
reacting to those experiences based on our existing mental
conditioning. As a result of mindfulness, we are able to respond to
our experiences in a skillful, unbiased, detach way whether objects
are pleasant or unpleasant, desirable or undesirable.
Equanimity as a Divine
Abiding
A good
understanding of the Buddhist interpretation of kamma is essential
for this state of equanimity to be established. The Buddhist
notion of kamma is primarily focused on the cause and effect of
moral actions in this life. The
Blessed One did comments that; ‘there is freewill, there is
retribution’. When we have a deep understand and realization
through meditation that all beings are what they are now due to the
result of their pass actions, words and deeds; we will eventually
come to accept all beings the way they are. This is a socially
directed detached state, a serene neutral state transcending
approval and resentment, a sublime attitude of impartiality which
looks upon all beings equally without preferences or
discrimination.
Equanimity of
Jhana
It is a name
for equanimity producing impartiality towards even the highest
bliss. It watches things as they arise; it sees fairly, see without
partiality, it is a form of Specific Neutrality also present in all
wholesome state of consciousness, in access concentration and also
in the two lower Jhanas. A possessor of the third Jhana is said to
‘dwell in equanimity’ since he possesses equanimity that is clear,
abundant and sound.
Purification
Equanimity
This is the
equanimity which purifies the remaining mental factors which
obstruct the fourth Jhana stage. At this Jhana stage, mindfulness
is also said to be cleared, purified, clarified, by equanimity and
not by anything else. It is to be understood as Specific Neutrality
in meaning.
Equanimity as an Enlightenment
Factor
This is the
balanced frame of mind developed in the practice of the path to
liberation. Equanimity is the last factor in the 7 factors of
enlightenment, essential for the cultivation of enlightenment. The
remaining enlightenment factors are; Mindfulness, Investigation,
Energy, Rapture, Tranquility and Concentration.
Conclusion
True equanimity is the pinnacle of the four
social attitudes that the Buddhist texts call the 'four
immeasurables': boundless loving-kindness, compassion, altruistic
joy, and equanimity. Equanimity does not override and negate the
preceding three, but perfects and consummates them, in turn; loving-kindness, compassion,
altruistic joy also fully pervade
perfect equanimity.
Perfect Equanimity is difficult to
cultivate and even more difficult to established, a possessor of
it, is indeed a noble being when this beautiful mental state become
ever present at every moment of his life.