Once again, another facet of Awareness-Being: equanimity.

Equanimity is not new in our meditation practice at all. Shamatha is a primary exercise toward equanimity. The tranquility, serenity, and evenness that slowly establish in meditation are also recognized as having already been present within. As such, equanimity -evenness, impartiality, neutrality- can also be recognized as features or experiences within the ‘natural state.’

What is equanimity in the context of meditation training and our particular approach to meditation as applied in life? It is an evenness, an ease within the mind-emotion complex and therefore the sense of self. It is a middle point that is not pulled toward nor repulsed away from. Consider other “equa” words such as equator, equal, equality. Unbiased, non-bias, free from push and pull. A result of such neutrality is ease, peace, and an increasing quietude in the usually contentious emotion-mind-self.

By bringing forward a focus on equanimity in our sessions, a few experiences and results are possible or probable.

• Noticing the usually not noticed of how one’s perception is pervaded by bias, likes/dislikes, qualifiers and justifications. This is a very important recognition. With it, in any moment in any common situation, we are becoming more aware.
• Evenness, impartiality, or serenity can become an aspiration or intention. Having discovered the opposite with one, one can set the intention of ease, letting be, of pause and simply be.
• On the cushion, one’s mind will open to its natural spaciousness more frequently and, in time, stabilize open, luminous, and gentle, one-pointed and less contrived.
• Off the cushion, a similar gentleness or openness will slowly ensue. If one is passionate pretty much all the time, that will be noticed; and rather than tamping it down forcefully, one will simply pause, feel natural centeredness, and the passion will express more as pure energy.

What about the practice of joy and wishing the abundance or goodness in one’s moment for all beings? Continue, please, with consistency and empathy.