Day 23 - The Immeasurable Mind of Equanimity
Living Christ Sangha - Advent Ango Practice Period
Readings
(click the header to view the readings)
Isa. 11:1-9
Rev. 20:1-10
John 5:30-47
Reflection
As I shared in an earlier post, Buddhist bodhisattvas are beings who work tirelessly for the liberation of all people. The best known ones are archetypal personifications of great virtues like compassion (Avolakiteshvara), wisdom (Manjushri), action (Samantabhadra), etc.
My favorite bodhisattva is Kshitigarbha (Jizo in Japanese, see Figure 1.) His great vow concerns liberation, and is twofold: (1) to take responsibility for the instruction of all beings in the six worlds between the death of the Buddha and the rise of Maitreya (the next Buddha), and (2) not to achieve Buddhahood until all hells are emptied.
The six worlds are the human realm, animal realm, god realm, demi-god realm, hungry ghost realm, and hell being realm. Like many practitioners, I don’t see these as actual places, but as states of mind by which we can be inhabited. They run the gamut from dull to insatiable, from arrogant to murderously rageful. Jizo’s willingness to serve as the instructor of beings in all of these states represents an amazing commitment. He is not excusing their behavior in these different states, but actively working to help them act appropriately. Furthermore, his vow not to attain Buddhahood until the hells are empty shows his determination to assist even those who have committed heinous acts. His equanimity is so profound that he is able to work unceasingly on behalf of all of these beings, opposing and correcting their unskillful actions, but never giving up on the being behind it.
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.
Matthew 5: 44-45 (NRSV)
These words from Jesus are both beloved and misunderstood. He isn’t telling us to feel a certain warm-and-fuzzy way about the people who are our enemies. That would be nonsensical. He is telling us to have equanimity, to ensure that how we feel about these folks doesn’t carry us away into hating them and indulging all of the damaging actions that accompany hate.
The immeasurable mind of equanimity is about seeing clearly the full humanity of all people, recognizing that we all have good and bad qualities and that all people struggle and suffer. Equanimity does not excuse improper, unjust, or intolerable behavior, but it also does not give up on and condemn the people who behave in these ways. Equanimity is that aspect of love that enables us to love and work with those with whom we have difficulties and struggles.
Prayer
Ground of Harmony and Difference, enlarge our hearts and fill them with love for all beings. Kindle fire in our hearts so that we may work for the benefit of all beings. Amen.