Equanimity

Live transcript, not proofed yet

The title of tonight's talk is equanimity. It follows on from the trilogy I was talking about: greed, hatred, ignorance, or grasping, aversion, and apathy. Basically, equanimity is the absence of grasping, aversion and apathy. That's what it is. People have the idea that you attain something or you gain something through doing practice. But nirvana itself means the absence grasping, aversion, and ignorance. When that's not their aggravating you, then that's a peaceful experience people have. 

It's the whole four-level truths as a medical metaphor. It's like if there's a sickness. Then there's the cause of the sickness which is grasping, aversion and ignorance. Then when you get rid the cause of the illness, you're healthy again. I think Joko actually uses the words in her book, its the enlightenment, its not the gaining of something, it's the absence of something. But this is what it is, the absence of.

Some people have the idea that equanimity is a state of mind. And then they're trying to hold on to the state of mind. So there's times when we have a peaceful state of mind and might be  a particular meditations we have or retreats we have, where we have a state of mind. And that's fine, but then your circumstances change and you come out of meditation. You come home and your adolescent daughter is angry at you, you know, whatever it might be. And then you've got to deal with a crisis so where's your piece of mind? Damn it up, I've created this piece of mind now i've gone on home and it's gone, you know, and we're angry about it. 

So clinging to states of mind is not what what it is and people neurobiologically think it's the creation of these endorphins which calm you. Well, yes, you do create those when the meditate and particularly on the retreat, you do. It lends  itself to a state of samadhi, right? But samadhi in itself is not equanimity, if you're holding on to it. 

Equanimity is that dissolving of the grasping, aversion and apathy dynamic in the mind.

Equanimity talk by Geoff Dawson, October 31, 2023, Ordinary Mind School of Sydney

By Bowing We Are Giving Up Ourselves

After zazen we bow to the floor nine times. By bowing we are giving up ourselves. To give up ourselves means to give up our dualistic ideas. So there is no difference between zazen practice and bowing. Usually to bow means to pay our respects to something which is more worthy of respect than ourselves. But when you bow to Buddha you should have no idea of Buddha, you just become one with Buddha, you are already Buddha himself. When you become one with Buddha, one with everything that exists, you find the true meaning of being. When you forget all your dualistic ideas, everything becomes your teacher, and everything can be the object of worship.

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If you do not have a firm conviction of big mind in your practice, your bow will be dualistic. When you are just yourself, you bow to yourself in its true sense, and you are one with everything. Only when you are you yourself can you bow to everything in its true sense. Bowing is a very serious practice. You should be prepared to bow even in your last moment; when you cannot do anything except bow, you should do it. This kind of conviction is necessary. Bow with this spirit and all the precepts, all the teachings are yours, and you will posess everything within your big mind.

Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, “Bowing” passage from Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

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Some Buddhists bow more than others; I happen to bow a lot. It’s a central part of practice, a way to embody respect, humility and love — a way of saying “yes” — even as we face the mysteries of existence. The Zen teacher Dogen said that “As long as there is true bowing, the Way of the Buddha will not deteriorate.”

Every morning before I do anything else, and every evening before I retire, I bow before the Butsudan, or altar. It is a way to take refuge and remind myself that no matter how well or how badly the day goes or has gone, the ground of my being in this transient life is a source of compassion, creativity, and connection. It reminds me that my self-worth is not based on what happens or doesn’t happen, what I do or don’t do, what I have or don’t have.

Bowing is a mindful movement that brings physicality into our practice. In my ministry, bowing before people is a way to embody the fact that we are interconnected and reminds me to see the face of the Buddha in those that I serve, moving me beyond the boundaries of my personal limitations.

“Why do Buddhists bow so much?”

By Tony Stultz| July 10, 2017, Lion's Roar

Remaining in Community

My theology has not moved me away from the Christian congregation that I am part of. I realized how important this is as I continually think about how different my understanding of reality is from mainstream Christianity.  I see parts of Christianity moving towards an understanding of the world similar to modern American Buddhism. (While other segments are regressing.) Yesterday the pastor said something like everyone is deserving is the heart of Christianity in her sermon. In the Confirmation class she said how difficult it is to talk about hell and what it means. The negative aspects of Christianity theology are difficult. With the positive, it is easy to call it a "mystery" which also doesn't answer the issue straight on. While I still have an interest in Christian theology, I am inspired and find guidance for my life from Buddhist authors.

Community is important in Buddhism. "...mindfulness can offer more than [a tool for self-betterment], 'giving people the chance to 'look outside themselves,' deepening their sense of place within nature and interconnectedness with their community.'" While I have had limited and brief experiences with sanghas, my main community continues to be the church I have attended for years. I am not anti-christianity as much of it is about community and faith, not theology. In a journal entry, I have the Dali Lama roughly quoted as "Stick with the religion we were born. Share but implement within your own tradition - egotism when you switch is worse. Just because you didn't find it, doesn't mean it isn't there. Stay with one tradition if you are able." 

Leading an adult Bible study was interesting a while ago as I learned about Buddhism while studying for the study each week. I just served as a mentor for a confirmand who appreciated what I shared so my faith was compatible even if my underlying understanding of reality different. I like the organization of Buddhist Path with reflections, meditations, and spiritual exercises. Even with underlying differences, Buddhists share many practices and some things are just a matter of emphasis. I found it interesting in Confirmation class how Methodism has similar organization with three simple rules, types of grace and the quadrilateral.