Equanimity

"Equanimity" and "equal" share the same Latin roots, but equanimity has more depth as it comes from two words "aequus" and "animus".  The former means level, calm, or impartial and the latter is the soul or mind.  So integrate the two words and we have the Latin phrase "aequo animo", which means "with an even mind".  However, it is not simply about keeping a cool head in the face of adversity or when we are under stress, but rather using equanimity as a breeding ground for wisdom and compassion.  It is about being a silent observer and not caught up by what we see and what we hear.  It is about being centred in the middle of what is happening and accepting it without prejudice or preference.  It is about being able to let go of your preconceived ideas on people and issues and maintaining a neutral stance.

If we can at least be mindful of every situation and remind ourselves not to fall into the drama of the happenings, that will be the first step.  After all, they are all dramas that have been replaying over and over again, only the cast and setting are different.  The problem, is, we have always perceived them as real.

Letter to my Thinking Mind

Oh Thinking Mind, Oh Thinking Mind,

Throughout my lives, I thought you were me as that was what I was told since beginningless time.  Would I be nobody without you as it would feel like losing myself?  You had been everything to me - my identity, my existence, my survival.  You were never tired of being the superior, and perhaps that is how you got the nickname ego.  You were always hungry for content, so I fed you with incessant thoughts.  Through my filtered lens, I gave all these thoughts my interpretation, my judgement, my labelling.  I even coloured them with my feelings, making every image and picture appearing so real and solid.  I went on to fabricate my perception of reality with all these illusory pictures and images.

The trouble began when I could not realise that my perception is never identical to the person next to me.  But the trouble also ended upon my realization that all my perception is nothing but part of a waking dream.  A dream that will always remain a dream in my current form.  Now that I know that my true essence is my conscious being and has never been you, it is all over and we can restart the game.  Please, forgo the illusion that you are the master and let us rebuild our relationship on a new premise, from which freedom will be bred and happiness restored - a long forgotten story.

Much love,
"I Am"  

Objective vs Subjective

There is an inclination to believe that attaining objectivity is the right approach to life, as it would suggest that one has viewpoints shared by the majority.  It does have an implication that it is more encompassing and thus embracing a bigger audience.  Those who are described as being subjective can often be labeled as having a tunnel vision, perhaps even stubborn or hard to be convinced.  But does that means that "right view" has to be a function of number?  Right view is more about having the right perspective, that is, a perspective that will offer equanimity and no judgement.  So instead of going with either an unique view or consensus, check out if you can really achieve neutrality in how you think - one that is neither good nor bad.

Predisposition and Destiny

In every culture that we live in, there are always some kind of means that people can revert to so that they can gain some insights about the future.  There are endless divination tools: I Ching, tarot cards, crystal ball, astrology.... etc etc.  A complementary question focused on by many will then be: "How accurate are they?"  Well, if the purpose of using them is to predict the future, then it is at best a reference and at worst a bunch of baloney.  True creation is in the here and now and only in the here and now.  What it can at best tell you is the predisposition or potential based on your inner state and psyche at the point of asking.  And if you lock in that state like a screen and make no change to your belief system or perspective, you will be creating the exact outcome that is predicted.  If I have to put it mathematically, it is like saying that if you add x to y, then you will get z.  But if you alter the composition of x or y by making the slightest shift in viewpoint, you will get a different result.

But of course, some people would turn the predisposition into destiny, and it will always be the free will of an individual to reinforce his beliefs or challenge them.