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56 EASTERN HORIZON | TEACHINGS

and things we love. But as lay Min Wei: The concept of equanimity of the four brahmavihāras in the
people, we all have a certain does not mean that Buddhists appropriate circumstances.
amount of attachments to cannot or should not get involved However, before one can achieve
relationships, our career, and our in a social reality, or to have our that level of realization, one may
material possessions. Is there a belongings; rather it teaches us to need to jumpstart by deliberately
perfect balance we can develop in be wise in using them. Equanimity radiating mettā, etc. to the relevant
our lay practice? is the best way of experiencing beings. Traditionally one starts from

phenomena. We even can realize mettā and progresses successively
Aggacitta: I think that it is the other that the quest for enlightenment until equanimity. Nonetheless a
way round: because of equanimity does not require detaching from the skillful teacher should be able to
born of insight, non-attachment world. In regard to this, we should assess the student’s inclinations and
naturally unfolds. Let me explain. practice concentration to develop recommend a suitable one to begin
equanimity because when our with.
All the four brahmavihāras can arise minds are concentrated, when we
naturally when one has sufficiently understand that things arise due It will certainly stand one in good
cultivated introspective mindfulness to causes and conditions, we stop stead to cultivate each separately
continually in as many aspects of struggling to control the results. so that the appropriate one can be
one’s life as possible. In other words, activated when needed.
one has been able to experientially Dadul: These practices do not
verify that whatever goes on in one’s anticipate getting rid of attachment, An important point to note is that
mind is a product of present causes anger, jealousy, and apathy equanimity should be the last resort
(e.g. sensory triggers) and past altogether. Rather they aim at only after having tried the others;
conditions (e.g. past experiences). mitigating the grosser ones during otherwise it can become mere
the sessions and hopefully doing a apathetic indifference.
One thus gets a glimpse of not-self better job in maintaining a relative
(anatta) or emptiness (suññata) restraint against the gross afflictions Min Wei: It is not necessary to start
with the realization that there’s no in post-meditation period, and going strictly from a sequence of loving
one in control, and that whatever from there to slowly but gradually kindness, compassion, sympathetic
arises in the mind is empty of levelling the mental ground free joy and equanimity one after
independent existence, but is instead from manifest anger, attachment, another when practicing meditation.
a complex product of multiple causes etc. It’s helpful to recognize It depends on one’s basic character
and conditions. that having attachment or non- or spiritual ability. All the four
attachment towards relationships, sublime qualities can be cultivated
Such a realization can be very etc. is not about either possessing simultaneously.
impactful and profoundly change them or not. Rather, it is about
one’s worldview: from that having a realistic assessment of According to Nagarjuna, practicing
of a control freak to one who their promises and limitations and the immeasurable mind of loving-
understands the true nature of maintaining a healthy relationship kindness extinguishes anger in the
conditioned reality. By induction with them based on that assessment. hearts of living beings.
one understands that all things
and beings are also in the same Is there a proper sequence as to Practicing the immeasurable mind of
boat, thus bringing about a sense which particular quality among compassion extin guishes all sorrows
of oneness: we are all the same, the four we should start, and and anxieties in the hearts of living
yet different. This therefore results do we practice all four qualities beings.
in the natural arising of mettā at the same time during our
for all beings, compassion for meditation? Practicing the immeasurable mind
those suffering in various ways, of joy extinguishes sadness and
sympathetic joy for the happily Aggacitta: As I explained above, joylessness in the hearts of living
successful ones and equanimity sufficient practice of continual beings.
for the helpless victims of introspective mindfulness can
circumstances. automatically bring about any Practicing the immeasurable mind of