Equanimity meditation.
So let's begin by finding a comfortable posture,
Allowing the body to find support from the surface beneath you and for the breath to find a soothing rhythm.
Mindfully acknowledging what's here right now,
Inviting a sense of relaxation in the body and connecting with the atmosphere of equanimity.
The words that have become known as the serenity prayer may give you a sense of equanimity.
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.
The courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.
Also metaphors can help you to connect with the quality of equanimity,
Such as a stable solid mountain or a tranquil mirror-like lake or the attitude of the horse whisperer and I'll bring in somebody to mind who is more or less neutral to you.
A passerby whom you accidentally met in the street and visualizing this person in front of you,
Realizing he or she is vulnerable to aging,
Disease,
Loss and death,
Like any human being and sending this person a wish of equanimity.
For example,
May you accept things as they are,
May you feel calm and balanced amidst life's ups and downs,
May you live in peace with impermanence and unpredictability and if you wish you may turn to other people who you consider neutral or have very neutral relationship with and then sending a wish of equanimity towards yourself.
May I feel calm and balanced in the midst of life's turmoil,
May I accept what comes and what goes,
May I find harmony in joy and sadness,
Health and illness,
Success and failure,
May I accept loss and be open to outcome,
May I feel at ease with impermanence,
With aging,
With loss and death,
May I accept I cannot change the past,
Have little control over the present,
Cannot predict the future,
Can only do what lies within my responsibility.
If you feel very concerned about the behaviors of others,
It may be helpful to realize that all individuals are ultimately responsible for their own actions.
You could reflect a wish as follows,
May I accept I cannot change others but I can offer them kindness and compassion,
May I discern wisely between what is within and what is outside my responsibility,
Between what is helpful and what is harmful.
If you wish,
You can extend the practice to one or more benefactors,
Good friends or loved ones,
Also to some people you have difficult relationship with.
It is not about accepting or condoning their behavior but about realizing they're also vulnerable human beings like you.
A reflection with equanimity could be you are responsible for your own decisions and hear the consequences of your own actions.
I cannot make choices for you but I can wish you discernment and wisdom.
I cannot take away your suffering but I can wish you ease and peace.
A wish in the we form may also connect well.
May we find peace and harmony amidst life's difficulties.
And as with kindness meditation,
You do not have to exclude any human,
Animal or other living creature from the practice of equanimity.
And you can also include groups for people in areas of war and disaster.
Wishes could be may you find calm amidst restlessness,
Ease amidst disease,
Inner peace amidst uncontrollability and unpredictability.
You may conclude with may all beings feel calm amidst life's uncertainties.
May all beings come to terms with impermanence,
Aging and dying.
May all beings accept the comings and goings of life.
May all beings find ease amidst harshness,
Tranquility,
Amidst turmoil,
Balance,
Amidst instability,
Harmony,
Amidst dissonance.
May all beings live in peace with themselves and each other.
May all beings know equanimity's peace of mind and spaciousness of heart.
May they be peace for all.
