Equanimity is a perfect, unshakable balance of mind. —Nyanaponika Thera
Picture: @hawkes.landing thank YOU!
I am reading this awesome book right now by Rick Hanson Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom.
My favorite chapter is where he is talking about having a “Mud Room” in your mind.
Where all these thoughts go in where you then do not get knocked off center. I loved the thought of that. In fact, I’m practicing it myself. What passes through your mind is held in spaciousness so you aren’t thrown off balance.
Staying in our sweet spot and alignment is what brings in the Money.
Equanimity is neither apathy nor indifference: you are warmly engaged with the world but not troubled by it. Through its nonreactivity, it creates a great space for compassion, loving-kindness, and joy at the good fortune of others.
So its not that we don’t care, that isn’t what that means. What a great place for some of our thoughts to hang out – in the mud room.
Right?
The book shares: With equanimity, you see into the transient and imperfect nature of experience, and your aim is to remain disenchanted— free of the spells cast by pleasure and pain. In this— rather Buddhist— sense of the word, disenchanted, you are not disappointed or dissatisfied with life; you simply see through its apparent charms and alarms and are not knocked off center by either.
The wonderful thing about this is , as we practice this , our brain changes! As we tune into joy, our brain changes ! We start to see the world differently.
What we focus on grows. Let’s try out this mud room in the brain and see how we do. I think this is going to be a game changer.
Dana says
Ah, yes!!! The mud room; where I leave the “gunk” at the door to my heart … I don’t bring it in.
And I love the non-attachment idea! Great reminders that just because it looks real doesn’t mean it is. And, if it doesn’t serve our alignment and joy, we can leave it at the door in the mud room.
Ming Chee says
Yay Dana. I love it too. So much. I am going to keep practicing and practicing until I nail this one down completely. Thanks for the comments!
Melinda says
This is my mudroom and photo. I am happy for you to share with proper credit. Can you please credit @hawkes.landing
Best, Melinda
Ming Chee says
Absolutely thank you!
Ann Swanson says
Beautiful, thank you!
Ming says
Thank you Ann!