The Path to Equanimity of Heart

The Stillness of the Heart

Beyond simply ceasing all movement, the heart must also remain calm and peaceful. You should not allow your mind to become agitated over matters that do not require your involvement. When your heart is truly settled and at peace, it will be like a still pond without a single ripple. This state of equanimity is not merely a goal; it is a fundamental requirement for any practitioner who wishes to progress on the path.

When your heart is in a state of equanimity, you are able to keep your intentions in the most clear and luminous state possible. This clarity is essential. Without a peaceful heart, the various situations and problems you face in life cannot be resolved. If you do not seek out problems to trouble your own mind, your heart will naturally remain stable. However, when you feel changes or disturbances arising within, it is a clear sign that your heart has lost its balance. There are many reasons why this lack of balance occurs, but the most significant factors are often your own emotions and a rigid, unyielding personality. These traits create a heart that is uneven and turbulent.

The Dangers of Emotional Turbulence

The greatest harm caused by this lack of equanimity is to yourself, though others may also be negatively influenced by your restless state. Erroneous views and uncontrolled emotions will inevitably damage the peace of your surroundings. Everyone should understand that negative emotions are destructive to all relationships. When your heart is not stable, your state of being, your words, and your actions will likely fall into chaos. In the midst of this confusion, you must learn to identify your own problems and situations. Ask yourself: Is it a matter of poor emotional control? Is your personality too strong? Are your habits too deeply ingrained? Or perhaps you are in a state of opposition with others?

When you find yourself unable to accept a person or a situation, or when you cannot interact with others in a peaceful manner, you must recognise the obstacle. When you feel the energy of imbalance arising, you must immediately exercise your awareness. Do not allow this lack of peace to continue. Especially when the fire of anger begins to burn, you must extinguish it. A single moment of confusion can ignite a multitude of spiritual obstacles. This lack of equanimity harms you first, and then it harms the person you are interacting with. Neither is appropriate. Such disturbances damage the atmosphere of peace, and in the midst of this chaos, both your body and mind will suffer, and your consciousness will easily be subjected to interference.

Maintaining Concentration Amidst Movement

If the energy within your heart is murky and unclear, it will easily lead to internal obstructions. This will manifest in your facial expression and your very presence. A lack of equanimity easily leads to instability. If you do not know how to adjust yourself when you are in this state, the imbalance will affect your entire being, causing your whole body to become unsettled. This is a great pity. It is not easy to be still, but it is very easy to be shaken.

To remain unmoved while in the midst of movement is the meditative concentration you must practise. Only through this can you develop the awareness necessary to change your habits and personality. If you remain trapped in dissatisfaction and imbalance, your heart will always be in a state of fluctuation. You may be unhappy because things do not go your way, or because situations do not align with your desires. These are merely demands you are imposing upon others, rather than the normal, healthy behaviour one should exhibit. Following the natural flow of things is what is truly important. Your heart should be level and calm; do not allow yourself to be obstructed by your own lack of peace.

Returning to the True Self

Your heart should be at rest, without excessive feelings or reactions. When you are constantly reacting to the affairs of this world, your heart will never be stable, and you will find it difficult to practise effectively. The state of equanimity is something that must be cultivated. You must allow your heart to return to its natural state—peaceful and without unnecessary change. Only then is purification possible, and only then can you truly learn and change yourself.

Whether you are dealing with yourself or with others, you must maintain a peaceful heart. This also requires you to let go of the discrimination between right and wrong. Strong attachments to these dualities are the easiest way to shake your heart, preventing you from reaching a state of purity and finding your true self. An atmosphere of imbalance will also affect those around you, causing their own characters to become unstable. This creates karma and obstructs others in their own practice.

Equanimity requires meditative concentration, endurance, and the ability to let go of attachments. When you have no grasping and no ego, your heart will naturally remain unmoved. This is the essence of practice; this is the true way to change your character. I hope that all practitioners can adjust themselves, transform their own hearts, and achieve the reality of true practice. The world is full of chaos, and subtle fluctuations are not easy to stop. Unless you accept the true teachings, it is difficult for anyone to break through their own limitations or see the problems in their own personalities. To change and achieve equanimity, you must view every difficulty and test as a positive opportunity. This is not an easy task, but I hope all practitioners can be fully aware, work diligently to change their ways, and refine themselves.

Namo Amituofo.

Bodhisattva Ashvaghosha

This message was recorded by the Buddhist practitioner Shi Faxi, who served as the chief writer.