Equanimity is a non-innate quality of mind that humanity should strive to achieve, as it could be crucial for the survival of our species. Here's why:
Imagine a train with a state-of-the-art locomotive pulling two wagons from different periods of railway development. One is from a few decades ago, while the other resembles those seen in early Laurel and Hardy films.
If you had to travel on this train, your first thought might be that it's dangerous. The wagons are outdated, and if the locomotive pulls too hard, the wagons could fall apart. The connections between them could break, causing the train to derail. You'd probably hesitate and consider taking another train.
But what if this is the only train available to you, and you're in charge of it? In that case, you'd need to find a way to solve the issue and avoid missing out on opportunities to experience the journey. But how?
There are different options available to deal with it. Ignoring the problem and hoping that everything will be fine is not a mature approach, and it does not solve anything. In fact, it can lead to a journey filled with fear and anxiety. Disconnecting the wagons is not a reasonable solution either, since a train without wagons would be useless. Also, it doesn't make sense to slow down a modern locomotive with brakes because its nature is to go at full speed. The best solution is to update the wagons and improve their connections. This way, the train can continue to run smoothly and fulfil its purpose.
Now, let's apply this analogy to the mind. Imagine your mind as the train described above, with reason as the modern locomotive, emotions as the slightly outdated wagon, and instincts as the ancient one from silent movies.
Although the human mind doesn't function precisely like a train, some similarities exist. Reason, emotions, and instincts—the three components of the mind—are deeply interconnected, forming a unified whole that shapes our daily experiences and behavior. Reason always strives to progress faster and faster, but emotions, let alone instincts, are much older and can't keep up. As a result, they slow down the mind and put a heavy strain on their connection, which can break. Instincts are even worse. Although many glorify them, these are the surviving tools that are not suitable for modern times, causing further stress and potential derailment.
Disregarding the problem or detaching from emotions is not a solution, as it results in discomfort, fear, and anxiety. Furthermore, although they may be disconnected from reason (repressed), emotions and instincts will still find a way to express themselves. Often, this occurs inappropriately and at inopportune moments because reason is unable to guide them.
Due to their inherent limitations, our brains unsuccessfully struggle to update the cart of emotions and instincts. Evolution had ample time to address this issue, but it ultimately failed to do so.
Consequently, the only solution is to intentionally reinforce the connections between reason, emotions, and instincts. This will enhance their power and flexibility, allowing emotions and instincts to be consistently guided by reason, resulting in a more balanced and resilient mind. Why is this essential for our survival?
We humans must recognize that our rational mind has gained knowledge and created tools—primarily weapons—that our emotions are not always equipped to manage. A moment of carelessness or an emotional overreaction could trigger consequences as severe as self-destruction. While this risk may seem remote from an intellectual standpoint, a glance at current events and their historical echoes reveals how fragile the illusion of peace and coexistence truly is. That's why it's vital to become aware of this reality and take conscious action to steer away from such a dangerous path.
This is where equanimity, a state of mind characterised by enduring calmness that can withstand both fortunate and unfortunate circumstances, comes into play. This state of mental calm and composure is achieved through the strengthening and flexibility of the connections between the prefrontal cortex, limbic system, and so-called reptilian brain(brain stem). These connections allow emotions and instincts to be governed by reason at all times—precisely what humanity requires for survival. Let's look at the concept in a little more detail.
The Concept of Equanimity as Viewed Through the Lens of Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science
The concept of equanimity has existed for some time but is not often discussed in Western psychology. Early Buddhist texts describe it as a mental state that remains steady and unaffected by bias or preference. Impartiality is a key component of equanimity, as it involves facing unpleasant thoughts and emotions without attempting to repress, deny, condemn, or resist them.
Equanimity refers to a state of being in which one can remain calm and composed, regardless of the various experiences encountered, whether pleasant or unpleasant. It means that one is not carried away by joy nor disturbed by mental pain. This calmness allows for maintaining a balanced reaction to all experiences, which, in turn, protects from experiencing emotional turmoil. One can enjoy pleasant experiences without becoming overly excited or addicted to them. It is crucial to approach all experiences with the same level of interest, without developing a preference for the good or a rejection of the bad. According to Buddhist philosophy, both craving and aversion contribute to suffering and dissatisfaction.
It is equally important to treat all living beings without any boundaries or distinctions and to acknowledge their right to happiness and freedom from suffering. Discrimination, preference, or prejudices towards others should be avoided.
Equanimity is often misunderstood as the absence of emotional reactivity or even the lack of emotions themselves, leading to confusion with indifference. Equanimity involves a sense of care and attention, unlike indifference, which implies apathy or lethargy. It is important to note that being equanimous does not mean suppressing emotions or relinquishing the affective colouring of life's experiences. We still retain the ability to respond emotionally whenever necessary.
Scientists propose that developing equanimity can improve well-being by reducing the recovery time after an emotional reaction and hastening recovery from stress-induced damage. Equanimity has been measured through specific parameters of physiological responses to emotional challenges.
Fig 1 - Representation of a physiological response to an emotional stimulus
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The magnitude of the response corresponds to the height of the response at its peak. Duration is the time from response onset to the return to baseline. In this example, an equanimous response involves a rapid recovery function (dotted line), in contrast to the standard “normal” response (solid line) and one that is either low in magnitude (“indifferent” dotted line) or prolonged (“perseverative”, dotted line).
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Naturally, the question arises of how to achieve it.
It is not easy; it demands wisdom, knowledge, practice, and persistence. However, it is immensely rewarding, bringing joy and happiness to one's life.
This website offers a pathway toward cultivating equanimity. While we provide resources and guidance to support you, the journey is one each person must undertake for themselves.
Sources:
- Desbordes G, Gard T, Hoge EA, et al. Moving beyond Mindfulness: Defining Equanimity as an Outcome Measure in Meditation and Contemplative Research. Mindfulness (N Y). 2014;2014(January):356-372. doi:10.1007/s12671-013-0269-8
- Alex Mars, Equanimity -the art of living, 2022: ISBN 978-84-09-37683-4
