Equanimity

Equanimity for Life: Understanding life is both/and tragic and beautiful, we aim to feel, to know, to care and to appreciate ourselves fully.
The current understanding and definition of equanimity is an even-minded mental state or disposition toward our present-time experience. Like mindfulness, equanimity can only occur within present-time experience. Emotional Intelligence is a bi-product of mindfulness, the same distinction can be made about mindfulness and equanimity. Equanimity is a bi-product of mindfulness practice, and can therefore have trait-like qualities. It can be understood as a state of mind that cannot be swayed by biases and preferences. Here we use the term even-mindedness in its common definition as a state of being calm, stable and composed. Equanimity also involves a level of impartiality. This allows us to experience unpleasant thoughts, feelings and emotions without suppressing, indulging, denying, judging, or resisting them.

Transcript

In bringing to mind the full range of our experience of life, Developing a sense of kindness for yourself, May I be at ease, May I be at ease in this life, In this moment just as it is. Recognizing that life is not always easy, There are challenges, Uncertainties and confrontations that we will continue to face. And may I learn to care about any struggles, Pains, Losses that I continue to experience. I care about you. May I be at ease and may I learn to care about any of the fear, Suffering and confusion in my life. Acknowledging that also in life there is joy and goodness, Pleasantness, Much to be appreciated and to be recognized. Knowing this deeply, May I also learn to cultivate this attitude of gratitude. May I learn to appreciate myself in the joyous and contented moments of my life. May I be at ease. May I learn to care about my struggles. May I learn to appreciate the joys and the good things in my life. And may I acknowledge and understand that these experiences will come and go just as the in and out breath does here in this particular moment. So for the next two minutes cultivating this, I care about you and I appreciate you. I care about you and I appreciate you. I care about you and I appreciate you. Thank you. Allowing these phrases to come and go as the in and out breath does in a slow and steady rhythm here for the next two minutes. And as we cultivate this quality of friendliness, Kindness and ease of may I be at ease with things just as they are. Cultivating this quality of compassion and care for things as they become difficult, Painful and challenging. Cultivating this attitude of gratitude for that which is good and joyous and understanding that these experiences will come and go as they always have. Understanding this through the lens of acceptance and equanimity for things just as they are. Continuing the rest of the practice with these phrases of I see you and I feel you. I care about you and I appreciate you. And I understand that my happiness and my joy and my sense of freedom is dependent upon my actions, Not my wishes. It's what I do that matters, Not what I wish for or what I want. I see you and I feel you. I care about you and I appreciate you. And I understand that my happiness and my contentment and my sense of meaning and purpose solely depends on my actions, Not on my wishes. I see you and I feel you. I care about you and I appreciate you. And I understand that my happiness and my contentment and my sense of meaning and purpose solely depends on my actions, Not on my wishes. I see you and I feel you. I care about you and I appreciate you. And I understand that my happiness and my contentment and my sense of meaning and purpose solely depends on my actions, Not on my wishes. Thank you again for your practice. I hope you continue to find these practices useful and take them with you into the rest of your life and to enjoy the contents of this course for as long as you find them useful. Thank you and we'll see you soon. Take care.

Reviews

Outstanding. Loved the pauses. Thanks.