2020-12-29 Brahmavihāras: Equanimity (2 of 5)

Insight Meditation Center14min

Gil Fronsdal

00:02

So, good day and I suddenly find myself feeling I think quite happy to sit here, I think because of the topic of equanimity brahmavihāras that I'll be speaking about. So, this is the second talk in the series on equanimity. A form of care for others, an attitude of caregiving, an attitude of kindness, goodwill for others.

Gil Fronsdal

00:43

Equanimity is when that goodwill is equanimous, are not reactive, not agitated, when our goodwill is not influenced by any kind of pursuit of desire, wanting something. Not caught up in repulsion or pushing away, or not wanting something.

Gil Fronsdal

01:08

And this comes into play, particularly importantly, when it's hard to have goodwill for people. When it's hard to have pure love or kindness for people because of the circumstances they're in. One circumstance is when people make choices for themselves that are not for their own benefit in the end. To have equanimity for people who make choices that are harming themselves.

Gil Fronsdal

01:47

That's their choice. And that's their agency. That's their choice in a sense, even if it's unconscious, the choices they're making. But the choices are their own. And so how our goodwill comes into play when people are making poor choices is part of the domain of the of this brahmavihāra of equanimity.

Gil Fronsdal

02:17

Certainly, we can feel compassion for people. But trying to help them and wanting to help them when they're making choices that are going in the opposite direction - it's kind of exhausting for the person who's compassionate. And it may be pointless to have appreciative joy when we know they're making bad choices.

Gil Fronsdal

02:41

When we know that suffering is coming is also challenging for the person who's wise and sees what's going on. But to be able to see this person making choices. They're unfortunate choices. They're going in a poor direction, but I still keep my heart open to them. I still have this goodwill, and I care about them.

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