Hi there,
Welcome to The Daily Insight.
My name is Vanessa Loader.
Recently,
While sitting a silent meditation retreat with Jack Kornfield,
Who's been a teacher and mentor of mine,
Several of the people there asked different questions about how to handle suffering,
Whether it's the suffering of the world with climate change or racial inequality and injustice,
Or whether it was the suffering of a woman who volunteers at an animal shelter and finds herself feeling so weighed down and sad about the destiny of the different animals,
Or whether it's having a family member or a loved one who's dealing with an addiction or an illness.
We've all had these circumstances in life that we can't control,
And the key to letting go of control is to practice equanimity,
Which is what we'll be doing today.
Equanimity is a wonderful quality that can bring a spaciousness and balance to your heart.
It allows you to feel the possibility of balance in the midst of life when you recognize that life is not in your control,
And that we're all just a small part of this great dance,
And this meditation is inspired by Jack Kornfield.
So begin by sitting comfortably in a seated position with your eyes closed.
Bring a soft attention to your breath until your body and mind begin to calm,
And reflect on the benefit of a mind that has balance and equanimity.
Sense what a gift it can be to bring a peaceful heart and a joyful heart to the world around you.
Let yourself feel an inner sense of balance and ease as you repeat these phrases.
May I be balanced and at peace.
Imagine that all created things arise and pass away,
Joys,
Sorrows,
Pleasant events,
People,
Buildings,
Animals,
Nations,
Even whole civilizations.
Let yourself rest in the midst of them.
May I learn to see the arising and passing of all nature with equanimity and balance.
May I be open and balanced and peaceful.
Acknowledge that all beings are heirs to their own karma and that their lives arise and pass away following the conditions and deeds created by them.
While you can deeply love and care for others,
In the end,
Their happiness and suffering depend on their thoughts and actions.
To find equanimity with others,
Repeat this phrase,
Your happiness and suffering depend on your thoughts and actions and not my wishes for you.
Your happiness and suffering depend on your thoughts and actions and not my wishes for you.
And now you can wish peace and equanimity for specific people you know and then to those beyond individually or in groups wishing.
May you learn to see the arising and passing of all things with equanimity and balance.
May you have true equanimity.
May you be balanced and peaceful.
Finally,
You can expand your own field of equanimity to the whole world.
May I bring compassion and equanimity to the events of the world.
May I find balance and equanimity and peace amidst it all.
And may I let go of what's not in my control.
I recommend you even have a gesture with the hands of letting go or releasing this burden that you've been carrying.
May I let this go and come back to having a balanced and peaceful heart.
Have a wonderful day.
Namaste.
