Re: Buddhist view of equanimity
Equanimity is a quality that, in my experience, increases by degree. It starts with letting go of things that once annoyed or excited you but it doesn't occur all at once. I know what Tom means when he says it's not about standing by and letting anything happen and not feeling anything about it, which, in its way could be an excuse for cowardice. It is also, as Oliver says, about the greater good of all, which, of course, takes wisdom and insight to discern.
The story I am familiar with goes something like this:
Once, a monk was accused by a father of impregnating his daughter, who had identified the monk as the sire of her child when her pregnancy became known. After the child was born, the father, wanting nothing to do with such illegitimate offspring, gave her to the monk and ordered him to take care of her. This he did, raising the infant girl with due diligence and deep affection.
When the child had grown to the age of four, her mother returned one day and pleaded for the return of the child. You see, she had married the child's father and, having achieved prosperity and respectability, both were sorry for the loss of their child. And so, the monk handed the child over to her rightful parents.
"A dream is a question, not an answer."
(Therapist and dreamworker Strephon Kaplan
Williams)
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