Equanimity is another one of those sublime virtues in our practice. It is the ground for wisdom and freedom, and often regarded as the protector of compassion, love, and tenderness. While some may think of equanimity as dry neutrality or cool aloofness, in its mature form, it produces a radiance and warmth of being. Its essence holds a quality of nonjudgmental openness and curiosity.

The practice of equanimity opens our hearts to invite and welcome all that lies before us without aversion or attachment. As we carefully abide with equanimity, we foster an attitude and orientation supporting the interconnected nature of our own being with other beings- for you… and you… and you… and so on are “just like me”. We share the same seeds in our aspirations for living to be happy, and to be free or liberated from our suffering.

Our common ground may be difficult to see, but its sense can be felt in the heart of one who is open to curiously embrace the mystery of what is shared. Think of all that would truly flourish if it were similarly nourished with compassionate warmth, generosity, and kindness. It is this heart-felt curiosity of equanimity that opens and expands our spectrum of possibilities. We are all capable of giving and receiving this quality of heart.

Even in the face of difficult situations, and with people who don’t necessarily share our views- we cannot expect to soften to them unless we are willingly open to embrace them. The practice of equanimity helps us to let go of our familiar habits of preferring some experiences and people, and pushing away others. We come to see the whole of people and situations. The care and tenderness we cultivate for ourselves we bring to others. Through our practice of equanimity, we begin to stabilize our temperament- and our disposition of mind as our sense of being and interbeing is softened with a heart-felt sense of calmness and gentleness.

The more we abide with equanimity, the stronger we become at “center”. The emotional waves that typically carry us away from center to the fringes of our being seem less intense and shorter in duration with time. When the heart is filled and the center is strong and balanced, we are able to remain composed riding out the disturbances of mind even in the face of our adversity.

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