Equanimity Meditation: Last of the Brahmaviharas
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- Опубликовано: 13 сен 2024
- In this video we will look at the meditation practice of equanimity in the Brahmavihāras or so-called abodes of the gods. We will begin with a look at what equanimity means in early Buddhism, and its importance. We will turn to a couple of practices of equanimity meditation, one from the early and one from the later tradition.
After making this video I realized that I hadn't included the third type of practice that was mentioned in the earlier three videos on the Brahmavihāras. I think you all should be able to extrapolate from those practices to this, but if you have questions don't hesitate to ask. :-)
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Book mentioned:
Sharon Salzberg, Lovingkindness amzn.to/2E9Xu6V
Visuddhimagga (Path of Purification) amzn.to/2QsYUPJ
Suttas mentioned:
Lovingkindness (SN 46.54): suttacentral.n...
Sīvaka (SN 36.21) suttacentral.n...
The Development of the Faculties (MN 152): suttacentral.n...
Spiritual (SN 36.31): suttacentral.n...
Themes (AN 5.57) suttacentral.n...
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Whenever I think of equanimity, the metaphor of water pops up. Water doesn't take anything personally. It handles all obstacles with the greatest of ease. It can flow to the left or the right, over or under...
As the great philosopher Bruce Lee said: "Be like water..." 😁
That's right xiao mao. Or as the Buddha said to his son Rāhula, it's like earth.
Thank you Doug. I believe by taking these approaches we become more considerate, wiser and kinder to others while trying to understand ourselves. Thanks again.
You’re very welcome El Gato. Glad you’re finding them useful. 🙏
Equanimity-a very hard practice, a year after this talk. Thank you, Doug.
Oh yes Sid, it's one of the hardest to master! I certainly haven't done so myself. But we can get there bit by bit I think.
Thanks Doug
4 yr clarity on buddhism
Helps foster The Way of The Buddha
My motto 4 highier existence
You're very welcome Benjamin, thanks for the comment!
hey Doug, thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Brahmaviharas, I just watched this one, I need to go back and watch the others. I always had a little trouble with the concept of equanimity and your explanation here was quite clear and helpful. Thank you. We recently picked up a copy of In The Buddha's Words by Bhikku Bodhi after watching your review of good early texts and are really finding it helpful. Your knowledge of the texts and the amount of time you spend preparing these vlogs really shows. Maybe it is time for a vlog on dana. I don't know if this is your sole means of supporting yourself but dana is an essential part of the practice, both in giving and receiving, key elements for the digital sangha that you have going on here. Please do keep up the good work, it is much appreciated.
You're very welcome William, I'm glad you're enjoying Bhikkhu Bodhi's book. I would like to make this work a larger part of my life, but it is a slow process getting it all going, albeit very rewarding. 🙂 I've done a few videos on dana, and my most recent is here: ruclips.net/video/2EnyvQcvroo/видео.html
Very nice video. Practicing equanimity in daily life. Be careful what you feed your mind. Avoid comparing yourself with others, reduce watching negative social media and avoid constipation as it affects the mind instantly. Your breathing is closely related to the brain [mind] and gives relief from stress-anxiety. For a relaxed mind observe the sensations of your incoming--outgoing breath at the entrance of the nostrils for 10-15-20 minutes or more. You can sit or lay down anywhere-anytime. No deep breathing. Don’t fight your thoughts. With practice the mind will relax. Keep a reminder to observe your breath sensations throughout the day and night at home, at work, when travelling etc with eyes open or closed. One more tip is to sit on a chair without moving, be still and observe your breath. Stillness reduces thoughts and brings relief. Like me make this a lifetime habit to have a better life. Best wishes--Counsellor.
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Thank you very much for this excellent class my wonderful teacher. Evangelina CORTES.
You're very welcome Evangelina! 🙏
Great term, 'secular Buddhism'. Brings to mind the big difference between philosophical (good) and religious (not) Taoism. Another difference; the tonsured Sangha and the rest of us, into which we too can find refuge. Sangham surinam gachami.
Yes it's a phrase that confuses some folks, but the basic idea is apt.
One classically begins metta practise with ‘May I be happy, peaceful, etc’, then work towards spreading it out.
Well yes thanks Homebody, that’s “classically” how it’s often done nowadays. But if you look at the early texts on metta practice they don’t begin this way, at least until Buddhaghosa’s Visuddhimagga which is a text written some thousand years after the Buddha’s lifetime. I think each approach has its benefits and drawbacks but it’s good to at least know about the difference. 🙂
I appreciate your response.
The last points really helped in my meditation on this. I've it easier to meditate on equanimity by going to the five reflections, and placing focus on the impermanent experience and on the chaotic and unpredictable interdependent nature of our actions and reactions. It helped avoid the feeling of indifference and aim toward the feeling of acceptance. That seemed to cultivate the feeling, and from there it became the focus. Great video as always and it's been a really helpful series to save and reflect on occasionally :)
Interesting topic. I pretty much already knew most of what you said from your previous videos, but thanks for refreshing my memory. Based on what you said in this video, it seems like practicing vipassana and focusing on the 3 marks of existence can help us cultivate equanimity.
Yes, I think that’s right Afanasi. In the early texts equanimity is part of the culmination of all of practice.
Thank you, Doug!
My pleasure!
i practice equanimity on every sensation i observe in my body
That is a great practice to have. I hope you are able to find success with it.
@@DougsDharma yes I am
Just trying to change the way we react to all the sensations
I realize the limitations, and contradictory nature of language, and conceptual expression, however it strikes me as odd that a practice of equanimity would encourage making judgements such a “neutral person”, “friendly” “antagonistic”, within the context of non-discrimination. My personal take on the meaning of equanimity also includes the caveat that one accepts the possibility of being in a perturbed state at one level of mind, yet the higher level of witnessing, remains undisturbed. “ ah look there he goes falling into that familiar trap again, we know how that illusion is performed”. So in practice we are “beholding”, or holding our being in a knowing and loving way, so as to experience being held with that same love and care. One of the affirmations I find helpful is “I accept the process of life” this reminds me that no matter what takes place, all is one, all is well.
Yes, well it’s not so much that one is differentiating between friendly, neutral, and antagonistic, but rather that one is differentiating between close, distant, and antagonistic in terms of people we know. Presumably one who is advanced would have nobody in the third position, and the first two would just be separated by how closely one knew them.
Thank you for this great video and explanation. i know im very late to this video, but i was wondering if you had a video, or could explain, more techniques on how to stay calm during a conflict. thanks.
That's a difficult practice Spikey. I have an earlier video on dealing with anger that might provide a few clues, but in general it's easier to avoid the conflict to begin with than to stay calm once you're in it. Here's the video: ruclips.net/video/RaLXzB3a-KE/видео.html
@@DougsDharma thank you very much! keep up the good work.
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
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Good vid
Thanks!
Great channel😀 would you say equanimity is the same as acceptance? All the best/Andreas
I think they are closely related. Acceptance of things as they are leads to equanimity.
Doug, does the idea of Equanimity go back to Buddha himself ? I mean, you included Samyutta Nikaya 46.54 in the video above. Are they the teachings of Buddha or any disciple/follower of his ? If disciple, then from Buddha's own lifetime or post his death ?
Yes the teaching on equanimity goes back to the Buddha, so far as we know.
Alright. Thanks Doug ! Love Your Channel ! You are doing a great job of spreading Buddha's Dharmic Philosophy. Namaskaaram !! 🙏🏼 😄
Thanks Doug. For some people, like me, politics can be quite disturbing. I think I know what's the right system or the right person to lead... can you suggest something to work on this sense of "rightness" that undermines equanimity?
I'll have a video out soon about working with politics. Hopefully that will help. 🙂
Hi Doug. Could I ask if you see the Brahmaviharas needing to be practiced in the order they are listed? Given the so called dangers of the first three, wouldn't equanimity be something of a prerequisite? Thanks in advance. 😊
Well there is no indication that they need to be practiced in that particular order, though that is the order of practice we do find in the early texts. Further, in many such lists, equanimity comes at the last position, implying it is the most advanced and difficult practice.
Please explain the meaning of "secular" Buddhism . Thank you.
It's basically Buddhism where we leave aside the more speculative metaphysical claims such as past and future lives, deities, and so on.
(See the difference of 'jnana' and 'dhyana' in sanskrit ✌ )
How do you see that as important here Triality?
Could you tell me what the third type of equanimity practice is, just to confirm? Me and perhaps some other people who watched this video would like to confirm what it is.
Which practice are you talking about Swastik?
@@DougsDharma You said this in your video description: "After making this video I realized that I hadn't included the third type of practice that was mentioned in the earlier three videos on the Brahmavihāras. I think you all should be able to extrapolate from those practices to this, but if you have questions don't hesitate to ask. :-)" So I think you forgot to mention the third type of practice.
@@jsohi0082 I think this was a contemporary approach. The first was the early approach, then the Visuddhimagga, and third a contemporary one.
@@DougsDharma Oh ok. i was just wondering if you could explain the contemporary approach.
👉the power thought
Krishna 😂😊
Equiminity is not an emotion.