RIGHT INTENTION
Cultivating Equanimity
|
Whatever you intend,
whatever you plan, and whatever you have a tendency toward, that will
become the basis on which your mind is established. (SN 12.40) Develop
meditation on equanimity, for when you develop meditation on equanimity,
all aversion is abandoned. (MN 62)
The manifestation of equanimity is the subsiding of attraction and
aversion. (Vm 9.93) Having smelled an odor with the nose, one is neither
glad-minded nor sad-minded but abides with equanimity, mindful and
fully aware. (AN 6.1)
|
|
|
|
Equanimity, the
fourth brahma-vihara, or sublime way of abiding, is defined here in
terms of its manifestation—how it presents itself in experience.
Equanimity manifests as the absence of the two extremes of attraction
(greed) and aversion (hatred), which so often rule the mind. Equanimity
is the still center point on a continuum between the two, where the mind
neither draws toward nor tilts away from an object.
|
|
|
Equanimity can
be practiced with any of the sense modalities, and here we are invited
to engage with the practice in the sensory realm of smelling odors.
Practice lingering in the presence of an obviously pleasant or an
intensely unpleasant odor and see if you can manifest the attitude of
equanimity. You can experience pleasure and displeasure and not
automatically want more or less of it. See what this feels like, and
then sustain the non-reactive attitude toward feeling tones.
|
|
Tomorrow: Refraining from Frivolous Speech
One week from today: Cultivating Lovingkindness
Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media
#DhammaWheel
Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.
No comments:
Post a Comment