January 29, 2026
Equanimity, Not Indifference
Equanimity is one of the four brahmaviharas, or sublime states, to cultivate on the path to awakening. Meaning balance developed from wisdom, equanimity might sound like cold comfort or a lukewarm response in the face of hostility, injustice, or suffering. But equanimity doesn’t preclude compassion, and despite common misconception, it doesn’t mean indifference either.
Indifference—being detached or unfeeling—is the near enemy of equanimity, which actually goes hand-in-hand with the other brahmaviharas of compassion, loving-kindness, and sympathetic joy. All four states work together: Equanimity endows perspective and keeps loving-kindness, compassion, and sympathetic joy from turning into their near enemies, while the three other states keep equanimity from slipping into indifference.
With balance and poise, we can cultivate compassion and pursue compassionate action without feeling weighed down or burned out by outcomes. It’s an essential tool for confronting suffering with an open heart and mind.
This week’s Three Teachings dig into this necessary but often misunderstood quality that feels essential now as always. | 
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