RIGHT INTENTION
Cultivating Equanimity
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Whatever you intend,
whatever you plan, and whatever you have a tendency toward, that will
become the basis upon 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 purpose of equanimity is warding off attachment. (Vm 9.97) When a
person seeing a form with the eye is not attached to pleasing forms and
not repelled by unpleasing forms, they have established mindfulness and
dwell with an unlimited mind. For a person whose mindfulness is
developed and practiced, the eye does not struggle to reach pleasing
forms, and unpleasing forms are not considered repulsive. (SN 35.274)
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Equanimity is
the antidote to aversion. Just as we can develop an aversive tendency
through practice and habit, we can develop equanimity as a primary
character trait and latent tendency. We can practice this at the level
of primary sensory contact, such as described here using visual
information. Practice just seeing what is there, without attachment or
aversion; gaze upon your visual sphere with equanimity.
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When you are
looking at something using your eyes, notice when this is accompanied by
a subtle “I don’t like this” or “This is not good.” When you are aware
of this happening, try replacing the aversion with an attitude of
equanimity: “This is the way this is. I don’t need to judge it or
disapprove of it. Let it be.” In this way the eye is not struggling
against unpleasing forms and is thus not attached to their being
different than they are.
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Tomorrow: Refraining from Frivolous Speech
One week from today: Cultivating Lovingkindness
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