Dhamma Letter No. 17
Q. Once achieved, how does one maintain equanimity?
A shaken mind and broken equanimity indicates your kamma (based on the conceptual mind) is still strong. It is the arising of a thought or reflection that breaks your equanimity. The practice of maintaining equanimity begins with the awareness of this process.
Keep observing the establishing and subsiding of your equanimity until you gain insight into this process. When this wisdom arises, you will have discovered the answer to your question. As always, the arising of wisdom (see Dhamma Letter No. 3) depends on the extent to which you understand the dhamma through the three characteristics underlying all phenomena (ti-lakkhaṇa):
Anicca (impermanence, 無常)
Dukkha (dissatisfaction, 苦)
Anatta (non-ego, 無我)
When you hold on to that which you are attached, you will not be equanimous. When you let go with wisdom, you will discover equanimity is already present.
The ti-lakkhaṇa are of utmost importance in the study of Buddhism, hence our writing of this series. We covered dukkha in letters 14, 15, and 16. We will continue our discussion with anatta next week in Dhamma Letter No. 18.
May you develop the wisdom more and more!
May you attain the equanimity as you wish!
With Metta,
Ayyā Kosallā
Edited by Max Montgomery
If you have any questions related to dhamma & meditation, please feel free to ask. You can reach Ayya Kosalla directly at Bhikkhuni.Kosalla@gmail.com.
법에 대한 질문이 있으신 분은 위의 이메일 주소로 질문을 남겨주세요.
위빠사나명상의 마음관찰에 대한 논문을 한글 원본으로 읽고 싶으신 분은 클릭해서 다운로드 받을 수 있습니다. (네이버에 PDF 첨부)
The Korean Dhamma Letter is here 담마레터.
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Buddha Sāsanaṁ Ciraṁ Tiṭṭhatu!
May the Buddha’s teachings last a long time!
Bhavatu Sabba Sotiṁ ca Maṅgalaṁ ca!!
May everyone be led on the path of peace and blessing!!
Sādhu Sādhu Sādhu !