Equanimity

e·qua·nim·i·ty /ˌikwəˈnɪmɪti, ˌɛkwə-/

As I am winding down to meditate prior to laying my head to rest, all I can think of is how important it is to maintain a calm quite state of mind.

All things considered, most of us in the US are living quite well. Our definition of hunger is the sensation that we get in between meals. Few of us have ever experienced true hunger. Even though I have fasted extensively, from www.organicavenue.com juice Fasts and Cleanses to dry fasts and water fasts.

As I get more in-touch with my physical sensations, I experience the world in a different way. For example, I was offered a delicious salad this evening around 9pm and although I definitely could have eaten it and I was a little hungry, I knew intellectually, that I don't like to eat after 8pm and that I had a huge salad for lunch. Therefore, what was so tempting about eating?

It must be because food brings us pleasure and I like pleasure. Today, I was equanimous when it came down to the food. I was able to observe my cravings and create a strategy that enabled me to act on what my pre-intention was, not my cravings.

As I begin to reflect deeper into that concept, I can see my cravings and aversions come and go throughout the day. The key is to remain equanimous and not react to them.

I learned to practice vipassana meditation when I was living in India in 2004. I found a great little video that gives a summary of the practice.






"My own personal feeling…is that being a vegetarian makes one much more pacific as a person. I'm not quite sure whether that's psychological or whether in fact there is something physiological involved. But through getting in touch with your inner sea of calm, you also get in touch with nature and with the beauty of all aspects of the planet."
~ Rose Bird