YOUNG GENERATION
Equanimity - A Tool to Achieve World Peace By Riya Shah
Riya Shah is currently a senior studying Biomedical Sciences at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL. Born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, MI, she credits the Jain Society of Greater Detroit and her Pathshala teachers for their teachings and efforts. Riya has served as the President for the Jain Organization of Youth (JOY) and is currently a Local Representative for YJA. Riya will be graduating this spring and attending medical school in the fall. ( Link to Riya’s TEDx talk on this topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSSRWgqUpe4 )
Imagine a war-torn world with disagreements rising between different religions and groups, and every person with a very unstable and wavering mind that resorts to violence. How would this world be? It would be a completely different world that we would be living in. The most effective way to rid the world of these harsh circumstances and hostility is through the process of equanimity. The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines equanimity as, “evenness of mind especially under stress” and also “right disposition; balance”. I’ve always been fascinated by the thought of equanimity and the ability to maintain and sustain a stable mind. Equanimity can help me in my day-today life because it helps reduce stress and negativity. In Jainism, equanimity is an essential quality of the soul, for achieving Moksha. The Concept of Equanimity in Jainism
Equanimity comes from the Latin word aequus, meaning even, and animus, meaning mind. It is the central essence of the soul. This state cannot be forced upon anyone. As Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung once said, “Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better take things as they come along with patience and equanimity.” In my personal opinion, this quote shows the true nature of the world. It conveys the message that there is no such thing as a “perfectly happy life”, as sadness is always a balancing factor. This shows that equanimity always prevails over emotions. I agree with this because equanimity is a very renowned concept and can be used in every situation.
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In Jainism, there are many references to equanimity, including the 12 Bhavanas. One of the four auxiliary Bhavanas is Madhyasta Bhavana which states that we should look upon all situations with equanimity and tolerance. The Value of Equanimity in Jainism Equanimity is vital in achieving liberation and breaking the cycle of birth and death. Anyone who maintains this condition throughout will definitely reach Moksha. Moksha is a place where everyone retains equanimity and I value it because it is a very peaceful and serene place. Equanimity gives us control over our emotions and helps us to become more aware of our surroundings. We can maintain a relaxed state over pain and pleasure, which corresponds to Vedaniya Karma. This helps us in conquering over one of the eight karmas and can also lead into overcoming more. A person practicing equanimity realizes that the world is filled with pain & suffering as well as moments of happiness & beauty. This understanding of momentariness provides stability of mind. The Acharang Sutra states that earnest individuals express religion as a form of equanimity. In Jainism, practice of equanimity is true religion.
