In Buddhist thought, equanimity is one of the four transcendent virtues developed through meditation practice. (The others are kindness, compassion, and sympathetic joy.) These qualities of mind and heart help us cultivate positive behaviors and minimize harmful ones.
Buddhist scholar Gil Fronsdal points out that there are two Pali words translated to equanimity.
The first is upekkha, meaning “to look over.” Meditating, we cultivate the observing part of our minds. Each time we “catch ourselves” being lost in thought and come back to our focus, we are flexing our ability to let go of thoughts and judgments and return to the present moment.
The second word often translated as equanimity is tatramajjhattata, a compound made of simple Pali words. Tatra, meaning “there,” sometimes refers to “all these things.” Majjha means “middle,” and tata means “to stand or to pose.” Put together, the word becomes “to stand in the middle of all this.”
We stand strong in the eye of the hurricane of our lives waiting for the storms to subside. Since all things arise, abide, and dissolve, we know change is inevitable. That allows us to fully connect with but is happening around us.
“Practice sitting like a mountain sometime,” advises Buddhist teacher Sharon Salzberg, “allowing all images and feelings and sensations to come and go, as you reside in steadfastness, watching it all arise and pass away.”
Salzberg suggests that we experiment with these ideas. “Breathe life into them, see how they affect our minds and hearts, and see where they take us.”
In your journal:
- journaling is another way of spending time with the observing part of our mind. Write about what’s going on in your life without judgment or problem-solving.
- What storms surround you?
- What might it mean to “sit like a mountain”?