The ABCs: E is for (Radical) Equanimity
Keep Calm and Carry On
In many spiritual traditions, there is a practice in which a selected scriptural passage becomes the theme for the week. At Radical Spirituality, we do the same thing, but in a radical way.
Each Sunday, I offer The ABC’s of Radical Spirituality, a single, simple word distilled from the common principles of all the world’s faith and wisdom teachings that serves as the exploration for the week. They are the roots of Radical Spirituality. And because I am that person, the words are in alphabetical order. We start with A and go to Z.
It’s a simple practice to get to the roots of what matters on our spiritual path. The best part is that you will get out of it what you put into it. If you just keep the word on a sticky-note on your computer, it will still work it’s magic. But to dig deeper, delve in, dive in, and see what you find.
E is for (Radical) Equanimity
"Let the wave of memory, the storm of desire, the fire of emotion pass through without affecting your equanimity." ~ Sathya Sai Baba
Equanimity comes from the Latin aequus, meaning level or even, combined with animus, spirit or mind. Thus, it means an “even mind or spirit.” It’s related to the words equal and equilibrium, suggesting balance, and also refers to a sense of justice or level judgment. More colloquially, it means keeping cool under pressure. In other words, Equanimity is about balance, equilibrium, and not getting worked up over things.
Some people think Equanimity is a kind of flat line in which the general reaction to everything is “Meh!” But that’s a misunderstanding. The radical definition of Equanimity is not about making everything the same or numbing or suppressing our legitimate reactions, but about acceptance. As meditation teacher Jack Kornfield says, "Equanimity arises when we accept the way things are."
Radical Equanimity, then, is seeing things clearly for what they are and giving them their appropriate weight. It’s going with the flow of what happens and regulating our reactions, so we don’t get derailed by not getting our latté exactly right on time. At its root, Equanimity is about equilibrium or balance. Equanimity is how we cultivate our capacity to handle what life throws at us and remain unperturbed.
This week, we focus on Equanimity: What do we need to do to maintain equilibrium in our minds, hearts, and bodies?
Deeper Roots
Ever spend time with Buddhist monks? They are the calmest, happiest people I have ever met. Nothing phases them, not even monsoon rains, streets of knee-deep mud, and mold growing between their toes (True story). They just take it in stride and keep walking with their dirty robes and big smiles. That’s because they spend their lives cultivating Equanimity.
Equanimity, or Uphekka in Pali, refers to a state of mental balance and even mindedness. It is one of the Four Great Virtues or Divine Abodes taught by the Buddha. Equanimity involves maintaining an inner calm and steadiness regardless of the external circumstances. In other words, whatever happens, keep calm and carry on.
The primary technique for cultivating Equanimity is meditation. Through meditation, we are able to step back from our monkey minds, see things clearly as they are, and allow them to pass without overreacting. That’s why Buddhist monks can keep smiling when they are up to their knees in mud. It’s no big deal: it’s just mud.
Another Buddhist practice for Equanimity is The Middle Way. The Buddha taught moderation: don’t overdo and don’t harshly limit. There’s a balance in the middle between self-indulgence and self-denial: not too much, not too little. That goes not just for how we live, but how we react to things.
In Hinduism, dama means self-restraint. It is a practice of Equanimity and considered one of the core virtues. Yoga is all about developing Equanimity, not just in our asana, but in life. According to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (which echo the Buddha’s teaching), “Loving kindness and friendliness towards the happy, compassion for the sorrowful, joy for others and equanimity, or being undisturbed by events and not being drawn into judgement or contempt are the four attitudes that will bring peace of mind.” (Yoga Sutra 1:33).
The Greek philosophers were staunchly in support of Equanimity, largely as a balance against our more “animal” instincts. Aristotle called it enkrateia', or self-discipline, and likened it to being “civilized” or in control of our natures, finding a balance, or “mean.” That’s the word that made it into the Bible and was translated into English as Temperance.
In the Christian tradition, Temperance is often misconstrued as abstinence, especially for food, drink, and sexual pleasure, but it really refers to balancing our emotions and instincts for things like greed, arrogance, and anger, for our own benefit and for others. It is a kind of Christian Middle Way. As it says in the Bible, “Everything is permissible for me but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:12)
For its deepest meaning, we return to the Latin root, aequus, which is related to aqueous, or water-like. Water always keeps its own balance. While sometimes it can be torrential and other times it is still, it always finds its own level. Water shapes itself to any container, changes forms according to the environment, and is always in equilibrium with what is.
Daoists use water as the metaphor for the highest virtues: the sages are like water, finding their way around obstacles without contention, shaping themselves as needed. The are yielding and soft when necessary, forceful when appropriate, but never out of balance. Never thrown off. No matter what, sages keep calm and carry on.
Reflection Questions
What does Equanimity mean to you?
Where does Equanimity show up in your life?
What prevents you from finding Equanimity?
How can you cultivate Equanimity?
Suggested Practice
If you find your emotions getting out of hand, or you sense you may be overreacting to something, give yourself a Time Out. Take a few minutes to breathe, take a walk, take a break and try to bring yourself back into balance, into Equanimity.
“As regards the quietude of the sage, he is not quiet because quietness is said to be good. He is quiet because the multitude of things cannot disturb his quietude. When water is still, one's beard and eyelashes are reflected in it. A skilled carpenter uses it in a level to obtain a measurement. If still water is so clear, how much more are the mental faculties! The mind of the sage is the mirror of heaven and earth in which all things are reflected.” - Zhuangzi