Equanimity (Pāl.: Upekkhā ; Sans.: Upekṣā)

The word ‘Upekkhā’, meaning ‘Equanimity’, is widely misinterpreted by non-Buddhists but also by the Buddhists them selves. In the Theravāda’s canonical texts (tipiṭaka), Upekkhā has been translated into English version as ‘Dispassion’,’Indifference’ or ‘Aloofness’. They are easily misinterpreted or mispresented by the undiscerning ones or the not so well-instructed ones. If ‘Dispassion’ is interpreted as ‘Emotionless’ or ‘Lack of Emotions or Absence of Emotions’’, it has been misunderstood from Buddhist perspective. If ‘Indifference’ is interpreted as ‘ Lack of Concern or Absence of Concern ’ towards the sufferings or anguish of others, this is also a miscomprehension. If ‘Aloofness’ is interpreted as ‘ Lack of Sympathy or Absence of Sympathy’, it is another misunderstanding. Upekkhā is not unconcern, emotional coldness or suppression, escapism, inactions, passivity in the face of adversities or unfavourable conditions. Gotama Buddha preaches not only Equanimity but also Lovingkindness (Mettā). Compassion (Karuṇā) and Appreciative Joy (Muditā). The last three virtues are exercised with the support of the wisdom of Upekkhā. Loving-kindness, Compassion and Appreciative Joy make one altruistic, humane, caring, benevolent, generous, empathic and helpful. Upekkhā is foremost as it prevents grasping upon these positive beneficial virtues and purifies them.

In Buddhist perspective, the state of Upekkhā is a profound state of Insight (Vipassanā) or Wisdom (Paññā) which supports Right Mindfulness (Sammā Sati). It is the state of Equanimity of non-attachment to the agreebles or the pleasant stimuli and non-aversion towards the disagreebles or the unpleasant stimuli. Non-attachment is not an abandonment of what we like. It is the non-grasping or non-clinging upon the pleasant objects while perceiving, acquiring, possessing or experiencing them. Attachment will arouse either greed which defiles the human consciousness. Likewise, aversion will evoke hatred which sullies the consciousness. Attachment or aversion is the cause of suffering or anguish. Non-grasping upon agreeable or pleasant objects destroys greed. Non-grasping upon disagreables or unpleasant objects annihilates hatred. Therefore, grasping has to be abandoned to terminate suffering. Upekkhā arising from wisdom of insight eliminates grasping upon the five aggregates as This is I; This is Mine; This belongs to me. Annihilation of grasping purifies the consciousness.

When a sense faculty meets a corresponding objects of perception, the non-grasping mind remains equanimous and undefiled. It is delivered because of non-attachment and non-aversion which is upekkhā.

The equanimous mind is also a mind of equilibrium. A mind is equilibrium when it is neither mentally depressed by adversity nor mentally exalted by favourable conditions. It is a state of emotional moderation or stability in which the mind is completely unperturbed or appeased. Being completely unperturbed or appeased does not imply that all sense activities cease. The power of Upekkhā is that the mind is completely stilled or silenced amid the performance of all mundane daily activities. This is the perfect state of Buddhist wisdom known technically as Nibbānic. Only a perfect Upekkhā engenders Nibbānic mind – pure consciousness of an Arahant, Paccekabuddha, Bodhisattva and Buddha. Of course, these four Buddhist saints differ in their variable degrees of self-enlightenment.

 When the minds of lay Buddhists are absolutely tamed or appeased, their minds are completely silenced or unconditioned. This silenced or unconditioned mind is the state of Equanimity. This equinimous state is the enlightened state of the man perfected or the Man of Perfection.

Upekkhā is one of the sublime or highest virtue of the four Sublime or Boundless States (Brahma-vihāras). These four sublime or highest virtues are Loving-kindness (Mettā), Compassion (Karuṇā), Appreciative Joy (Muditā) and Equanimity (Upekkhā). If Upekkhā is not supported by Lovingkindness, Compassion and Appreciative Joy which are exercised without grasping or clinging or non-discriminatively or boundlessly, that is not a genuine Upekkhā. The acid test for Upekkhā is that it must be rooted in mental purity in which the illusive egoistic self is annihilated through wisdom. The equanimous person is diligently energetic. The Buddha says, “Those, who are at peace, are abundant in energy.”. The equanimous person acts selflessly or willessly in all activities. When one acts selflessly or willessly, one’s energy is not dispersed and dissipated easily and gives one enormous power to focus and work altruistically. Therefore, such person is abundant in energy. Furthermore, his altruistic energy is powered by great compassion supported by wisdom. Upekkhā can only be perfectly exercised if and only if the wisdom of Selflessness or Insubstantiality (Anattā) is developed through Insight (Vipassanā) into the Insubstantiality of the five aggregates. The Wisdom of Selflessness or Insubstantiality in terms of Dependent Co-arising (Paṭiccasamuppāda) leads to the absolute mental appeasement which appeases all volitional activities (saṅkhārā) and stops all new kammic formations.