Upekkhā (Pāli: उपेक्खा, Skt.: Upekṣā, उपेक्षा), translated as “equanimity,” “impartiality,” or “even-mindedness,” is one of the four ब्रह्मविहार Brahmavihāras or “divine abodes” in Buddhism, alongside मेत्ता Mettā (loving-kindness), करुणा Karuṇā (compassion), and मुदिता Muditā (sympathetic joy). It refers to a balanced mental state that remains calm, composed, and impartial in the face of pleasure, pain, success, failure, or any of life’s changing circumstances.
The practice of upekkhā involves cultivating an attitude of detachment and non-reactivity, while still maintaining a sense of wisdom, compassion, and care for others. It is the ability to remain peaceful and non-judgmental, without becoming emotionally entangled in the highs and lows of worldly experiences.
Key Aspects of Upekkhā:
- Balanced Mind: The core of upekkhā is maintaining mental balance, neither grasping at pleasure nor rejecting pain. It is the inner stability that arises from seeing the transient, impermanent nature of all phenomena and thus not being swayed by external conditions.
- Non-Attachment: Upekkhā is closely related to non-attachment, particularly to outcomes or expectations. It teaches the practitioner to let go of desires for things to be a certain way and to accept the unfolding of events with serenity and openness.
- Impartiality: Upekkhā includes the quality of impartiality, where one does not favor some beings over others. It involves treating all beings—whether friend, enemy, or stranger—with equal concern and without bias, recognizing the interconnectedness of all life.
- Wisdom-Based Equanimity: Upekkhā is rooted in the wisdom that understands the nature of अनिच्चा Anicca (impermanence), दुःख Duḥkha (suffering), and अनत्त Anatta (non-self). This understanding helps the practitioner maintain inner calm and resilience amid the ever-changing conditions of life.
- Foundation for Compassionate Action: Though upekkhā emphasizes non-reactivity and detachment, it is not indifference. Instead, it is a stable platform from which one can act with wisdom, compassion, and discernment. It prevents emotional overwhelm or burnout, especially in the practice of compassion (करुणा Karuṇā), allowing one to help others effectively without becoming destabilized by their suffering.
- Part of the Path to Liberation: As one of The Four Brahmavihāras, upekkhā is seen as a crucial quality on the Buddhist path to liberation. It enables practitioners to transcend the emotional turbulence that can arise from attachment to pleasure or aversion to pain, helping them move toward nibbāna (enlightenment), a state of complete inner peace and liberation from suffering.
In meditation, upekkhā can be cultivated through practices that develop mindfulness and equanimity toward all experiences, whether they are pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral. Over time, the practitioner develops the capacity to observe life’s events with a steady, clear mind, free from clinging or aversion.
Alternate Entry
Equanimity
अनत्त Anatta
अनिच्चा Anicca
ब्रह्मविहार Brahmavihāras
दुःख Duḥkha
करुणा Karuṇā
मेत्ता Mettā
मुदिता Muditā
उपेक्खा Upekkhā