Dharma Quote: Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche on Equanimity

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In the current issue of Shambhala Sun, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche has an article on cultivating bodhicitta. As a precursor to developing bodhicitta, however, Rinpoche encourages us to cultivate equanimity. I liked his explanation of what it is and why we need it.

The point of first cultivating an attitude of equanimity is to open up our view. We tend to have fixed ideas of friends and enemies, and based on that view, we see the world through the lens of good and bad: sharks are bad and bunny rabbits are good; democracy is great and communism is bad.

Equanimity is a spacious, vast, and even state of mind; it does not take sides. It's not about being untouched by the world, but letting go of fixed ideas. How else are we to develop compassion and loving-kindness for everyone and everything? Equanimity levels the playing field -- we are not excluding anyone from our practice.

He goes on to offer several methods for cultivating bodhicitta. It's a nice article, but I wanted to share the clarity of this statement on equanimity.

Tags: Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, Equanimity, bodhicitta, Buddhism, loving-kindness, compassion