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36 EASTERN HORIZON | TEACHINGS

acceptance of things as they are. When equanimity, this and cats. Ever since I came here I’ve been thinking
factor of enlightenment, is present, one abandons both about whether they have enough food to eat and how
attachment to beings and dislike for them. The texts tell they’re doing.” I asked him to forget about the animals
us that equanimity is the cause for the cleansing and and concentrate on meditation, and quite soon he was
purification of one who has deep tendencies toward lust making good progress.
or desire, which is the opposite of equanimity.
Please do not allow over-attachment to loved ones, or
2. Balanced emotion toward inanimate things even pets, to prevent you from attending meditation
retreats that will allow you to deepen your practice and
The second way of developing this factor of to develop equanimity as a factor of enlightenment.
enlightenment is to adopt an attitude of balance toward
inanimate things: property, clothing, the latest fad on 4. Choosing friends who stay cool
the market. Clothing, for example, will be ripped and
stained someday. It will decay and perish because it is As a fourth method of arousing upekkha, you should
impermanent, like everything else. Furthermore, we do choose friends who have no great attachment to beings
not even own it, not in the ultimate sense. Everything or possessions. This method of developing equanimity
is non-self; there is no one to own anything. To develop is simply the converse of the preceding one. In choosing
balance and to cut down attachment, it is helpful to such a friend, if you happen to pick the elder I described
look at material things as transient. You might say to just now, it could be a bit of a problem.
yourself, “I’m going to make use of this for a short time.
5. Inclining the mind toward balance
It’s not going to last forever.”

People who get caught up in fads may be compelled The fifth and last cause for this factor of enlightenment
to buy each new product that appears on the market. to arise is constantly to incline your mind toward the
Once this gadget has been bought, another more cultivation of equanimity. When your mind is inclined
sophisticated model will soon appear. Such persons in this way, it will not wander off to thoughts of your
throw away the old one and buy a new one. This dogs and cats at home, or of your loved ones. It will only
behavior does not reflect equanimity. become more balanced and harmonious.

3. Avoiding people who “go crazy” Equanimity is of tremendous importance both in the
practice and in everyday life. Generally we get either
The third method for developing equanimity as an swept away by pleasant and enticing objects, or worked
enlightenment factor is avoiding the company of people up into a great state of agitation when confronted by
who tend to be crazy about people and things. These unpleasant, undesirable objects. This wild alternation
people have a deep possessiveness. They cling to what of contraries is nearly universal among human
they think belongs to them, both people and things. beings. When we lack the ability to stay balanced and
Some people find it difficult to see another person unfaltering, we are easily swept into extremes of craving
enjoying or using their property. or aversion.

There is a case of an elder who had a great attachment The scriptures say that when the mind indulges in
to pets. It seems that in his monastery he bred a lot of sensual objects, it becomes agitated. This is the usual
dogs and cats. One day this elder came to my center state of affairs in the world, as we can observe. In their
in Rangoon to do a retreat. When he was meditating, quest for happiness, people mistake excitement of the
he was practicing under favorable circumstances, but mind for real happiness. They never have the chance
his practice was not very deep. Finally I had an idea to experience greater joy that comes with peace and
tranquility. EH
and asked him if he had any pets in his monastery. He
brightened up and said, “Oh yes, I have so many dogs