Upekkhā Bhāvanā

Daily, we grieve on painful encounters; we exhilarate with pleasurable encounters. In contrast, equanimity is one’s neutral stance in facing both good and bad experiences of life. One who develops equanimity will not grieve in pain and will not elate in gain but experience life with neutrality and calmness. It is a must for human beings to face eight vicissitudes (ups and downs) of life or atṭha loka Dhamma. By practicing equanimity, one develops the mind and face vicissitudes of life with a neutral attitude. Concentration that develops through practicing equanimity is known as upekkhā ceto vimutti (equanimity based mental-emancipation). Upekkhā meditation may be practiced as appamāna (infinite) or mahaggatha (great). By practicing insight through upekkhā ceto vimutti, one may develop the ability to eradicate taints. Given below is the way to contemplate on equanimity.

 

1. May I not be overjoyed by gain, may I not be saddened by loss; may I not be overjoyed by praise, may I not be saddened by blame; may I not be overjoyed by fame, may I not be saddened by disrepute; may I not be overjoyed by physical pleasure, may I not be saddened by physical pain, may I not be overjoyed by mental pleasures, may I not be saddened by mental suffering; and may I live in peace.
2. As I wish for myself… (Apply the same pattern as mentioned in the mettā meditation) may all beings not be overjoyed by gain, not be saddened by loss; not be overjoyed by praise, not be saddened by blame; not be overjoyed by fame, not be saddened by disrepute; not be overjoyed by physical pleasure, not be saddened by physical pain, may I not be overjoyed by mental pleasures, may I not be saddened by mental suffering; and may I live in peace.

 

In the same way as we have discussed for mettā, muditā and karunā meditations, upekkhā meditation can be developed as mahaggata (great) and appamāna (infinite) following the same approach.