Embrace equanimity

Almost all human beings relish victory and gain. Conversely, we are unhappy with defeat and loss. Sports and football are relevant indicators. Is this good for us? In some ways, they are natural initial reactions and give more perspective quickly. Victory can provide confidence, and reassurance but can lead to arrogance, overconfidence and eventual decline.

Similarly, staying sad after defeat for too long can lead to depression, anger and more failures. Equanimity is of eternal relevance. In Gita, it is usually termed 'Samatva'. Krishn, in Gita, describes 'Sthitaprajna' as a state of mind where both loss and gains do not affect an individual. The Buddha described a mind filled with equanimity as 'abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without hostility and without ill will'.

Once the Buddha was crossing a river with his followers. A person who hated him kept following him, shouting abuses. Buddha remained composed, continuing his walking meditation. When they reached the other side, Buddha stopped, gave the man his own shawl and said, 'You must be tired from shouting.' The attacker was stunned into silence. Buddha's inner balance transformed the attacker and later he became his ardent disciple.


Adi Shankara observes in his commentary that the one who does not allow himself to be carried away by feelings of heat and cold and remains equanimous in all situations, that person can achieve liberation. Equanimity is also called yog, the state of being internally connected in unity. The Sun, cited as an example for equanimity, is red in colour, both at sunrise and sunset.