Need for Equanimity.

What is Equanimity?

'The fourth of the Four Immeasurables.

It means to remain free from attachment and aversion in a balanced and benevolvent state of mind'.

-- Quoted from 'Buddha & Love' book by Lama Ole Nydahl.


The Need.

Without equanimity, people cling to what's pleasant and avoid what's unpleasant.

As this develops, people want to take away money from those they consider uglier, and send them away - not caring what happens to them.

This is 'Give me your money and get lost' attitude.

Lack of Equanimity results in elitism, snobism, in competition for resources, and as this race continues - in oppression, social inequalities, in crime, terrorism and wars.

Modern people - as HH Buddha Dalai Lama teaches - should be more responsible and considerate.

Without Responsibility and Equanimity, world will have troubles surviving for future generations.

Equanimity should be practiced along with other of Four Immeasurables, i think, however.


... see also if You wish: Transforming Snobism.

Emptiness, Interdependence, Equanimity & Illusory Nature of Reality.

Interdependence.

Nothing, no being or phenomenon, is inherently independent, existing in isolation.

We, people & societes, phenomena & our tools, are born or created and exist in dependence of others, on causes & conditions.

Therefore we should develop Equanimity, as part of responsible attitude toward everyone.

Without responsibility world won't survive for future generations.

Composite ideas are dependent on our mind, as well as on their parts.

-- Derived from 'How to see yourself as you really are' book by Dalai Lama.


Emptiness.

'Emptiness, clarity and limitlessness are absolute qualities of mind that cannot be separated from one another.

Empty of independent existence, nothing arises by itself, but rather is dependent upon conditions.

Emptiness is the final nature of all uter and inner phenomena and cannot be grasped through concepts.

It's realization is the manifestation of the Truth State.'

-- Quoted from 'Buddha & Love' book by Lama Ole Nydahl.


i experienced that by practicing & thinking on impermanence, emptiness - even sadness, weakness, or other mental difficulties can pass.


Equanimity.

'The fourth of the Four Immeasurables.

It means to remain free from attachment and aversion in a balanced and benevolvent state of mind'.

-- Quoted from 'Buddha & Love' book by Lama Ole Nydahl.

i think i read that equanimity practice at first results in calmness & balance, then develops to great joy.

i read that attachment & aversion are caused by ignorance, and are causes of multitude of other detrimential mind states.

i read that by understanding interdependent nature of beings & phenomena, by understanding & meditating on emptiness - ignorance can be uprooted.

ignorance in this context is not 'knowing not enough' alone, but also 'living with wrong knowledge', as for example ignorance is thinking that things or phenomena are inherently independent, existing in isolation.

It's proven scientificially that by helping others, one's joy & balanced mind state increases. By practicing equanimity, by removing ignorance, attachment & aversion / or in other words: by removing ignorance, craving & hatred / we can be in mind state allowing to truly help ourselves & others.


Illusory Nature of Reality.

With everything being empty, non-permanent, only change is certain.

As we fight for better reality, it might change for better.

With time old reality becomes obsolete truth, leaving many illusions in minds of those who are not following most recent changes.

Reality is not as it appears, as well.

Many things cannot be grasped by unenlightened mind, or are scientifically unproven - for example, Reincarnation.

-- Derived from 'How to see yourself as you really are' book by Dalai Lama, as well as from other sources.


Links:
- Delusion & Illusion in Zen Buddhism.