indifference and equanimity

[hope rainbow]

What is actually the difference between indifference and equanimity.
Equanimity is described in the lamrim as being free from bias and anger,
but indifference also is free from bias and anger or else it would not be indifference. Right?
So there must be something more to equanimity.
What is it?
Thank you

[Klein]

Indifference is a lack of enthusiasm and unconcerned nonchalance. Equanimity is freedom from all points of self-reference. I believe the difference is "indifference" arises from the "self" or "ego", whereas, equanimity arises from selflessness or no ego.

In other words, when a person is indifferent, the person doesn't care due to whatever selfish reasons. When a person operates out of equanimity, the person cares and operates out of compassion.

[Positive Change]

Indifference is a lack of enthusiasm and unconcerned nonchalance. Equanimity is freedom from all points of self-reference. I believe the difference is "indifference" arises from the "self" or "ego", whereas, equanimity arises from selflessness or no ego.

In other words, when a person is indifferent, the person doesn't care due to whatever selfish reasons. When a person operates out of equanimity, the person cares and operates out of compassion.

I do like what you have said here... it really sums up the motivation begin the thought which explains the action. Hence yes, I agree that when a person is indifferent they just do not care enough to come up with even a conclusion as to whether they agree or not whereas a person that operates out of equanimity has taken the time to analyse the situation from all angles and chooses to be stable and to care enough to make a conclusion or decision without bias.

[negra orquida]

Equanimity is freedom from bias and anger --> freedom from attachment (thinking i want this, i really would be happy with this) and aversion (thinking i don't like that, i hate that, that makes me angry) due to wrong projection/perception of the subject. we treat everyone with the same compassion.

Indifference --> don't care if something lives or die because i'm not involved, it doesn't affect/concern me, i didn't do anything to it. can't have compassion if we don't care.

[Tammy]

Equanimity is freedom from bias and anger --> freedom from attachment (thinking i want this, i really would be happy with this) and aversion (thinking i don't like that, i hate that, that makes me angry) due to wrong projection/perception of the subject. we treat everyone with the same compassion.

Indifference --> don't care if something lives or die because i'm not involved, it doesn't affect/concern me, i didn't do anything to it. can't have compassion if we don't care.

To add to the above, my view is:

(1) Equanimity - get involve, be in the situation but treat the situation, and people involved in it, equal, without prejudice, not bias - handle the situation objectively.

(2) Indifference - don't get involve, don't offer opinion, be 'outside' of the situation.

[vajrastorm]

"Indifference" has been defined and explained well already . I just wish to add another facet to the meaning of "Equanimity" . " Equanimity" also means that there is equal love and care for every being including oneself. This in turn stems from a strong conviction that every other being is as important as oneself and to be cherished as one cherishes oneself.

The story from Lord Buddha illustrates this quality very clearly. When Buddha Shakyamuni's son, Rahula, was very ill, Buddha said simply, "If it is true that I love Rahula as much as I love Devadatta, then may Rahula be healed". And Rahula was immediately healed.

[hope rainbow]

So what practice can we do so as to nurture and attain a mind of equanimity?

[yontenjamyang]

All answers are great and I totally agree.

Another way of putting it. Indifference arises from ignorance, equanimity arises from Wisdom.

[hope rainbow]

All answers are great and I totally agree.

Another way of putting it. Indifference arises from ignorance, equanimity arises from Wisdom.

Indeed indifference arises from ignorance.

From ignorance arises:

bias liking = This or that is ignorantly identified as a cause for happiness (money, work, health, children...) = attachment = I like/I want = desire

bias dislike = This or that is ignorantly identified as a cause for un-happiness (money, work, sickness, children...) = rejection = I don't like/I don't want = aversion

bias neither like nor dislike = This or that is a cause for a neutral result = I don't see it as benefiting me nor harming me = I am not attracted, nor disgusted = the object is neutral = because of that, my emotions towards the object is:  indifference

thus 3 categories of objects:
1. I like ignorantly,
2. I don't like ignorantly,
3. and I am neutral towards.

Now, let's count in our lives, how many beings we have in each and let's see which category IS, by logic, the most important?

[triesa]

So what practice can we do so as to nurture and attain a mind of equanimity?

I was told that the best way to nurture and attain a mind of equanimity is to meditate on seeing all sentient beings as having been our mothers, in one of our many eons of existence.

In this life, we love our mothers because we have direct and intimate relationship with them, and when we expand our thoughts that every sentient beings could have been our mothers who have been loving, caring and kind to us in our past lives, we then generate the thought of equanimity that we should treat all sentient beings like our beloved mothers of this life.

[hope rainbow]

So what practice can we do so as to nurture and attain a mind of equanimity?

I was told that the best way to nurture and attain a mind of equanimity is to meditate on seeing all sentient beings as having been our mothers, in one of our many eons of existence.

In this life, we love our mothers because we have direct and intimate relationship with them, and when we expand our thoughts that every sentient beings could have been our mothers who have been loving, caring and kind to us in our past lives, we then generate the thought of equanimity that we should treat all sentient beings like our beloved mothers of this life.

Thank you Triesa,
Can I correct one thing though.
It is not that we should think that all sentient beings could have been our mothers.
It is that all sentient beings HAVE been our mother.
And not once but countless times.

The logic is here:

1.
We have been wandering in samsara since beginingless time.

2.
Thus we have been taking rebirth since beginning-less time.

3.
Thus there cannot be a being that has not been our mother before.

4.
Thus all beings have been my mother before and countless times.

So, this is not a matter of making-believe that sentient may have been our mothers before, this is facing the reality that all sentient beings have been our mothers before.

[Gypsy]

Equanimity is mentioned in the four immeasurable, it says having equanimity is free of bias, attachment and anger.

"May all sentient beings have happiness and its causes,
May all sentient beings be free of suffering and its causes,
May all sentient beings never be separated from bliss without suffering,
May all sentient beings be in equanimity, free of bias, attachment and anger."


What i can relate to equanimity is also the love, care and kindness that generated from a Bodhicitta heart. Only when you practice how to overcome your anger, every actions you do is generated from a loving and caring motivation. Practice sympathy to over the hatred that caused by bias. Practice how to detach and understand the consequences of attachment would bring to us, that is unhappiness.

Indifference is ignorance. No care therefore you remain quiet when you see something happen, no actions taken because you do not want to get yourself into trouble. An indifferent person is someone selfish.

[Midakpa]

To put it simply, indifference equals selfishness and self-cherishing. Equanimity equals selflessness and cherishing of others. To achieve equanimity, one way is to see all living beings as our precious mother. Another way is to see others as our children. Imagine a parent who has only one child. How much the parent must cherish this child! This is how the Buddhas love sentient beings, like a mother (or father) for her/his only child.

I think the best description of "indifference" and "equanimity" comes from Je Tsongkhapa in his "Twenty-seven Verses on Mind Training". It teaches us how important it is to practise universal kindness and thus bring about a positive change in society and the universe.

In Verse 20, he says:

"So sensitive an ecology is the interdependence of all, that the slightest attention and assistance to others creates moral elevation for ourselves and humanity, while the slightest indifference or neglect toward others creates moral harm for ourselves and our civilisation. The faintest spark of ill will toward other beings can burst forth into a terrible forest fire, consuming vast expanses of sympathetic joy. Even the faintest negative reaction or malicious wish opens wide channels throughout our entire being for life-destroying poisons of negation and life-obscuring shadows of self-cherishing."

Equanimity is very hard to achieve but it is the basis of the other three immeasurables:  love, compassion and sorrowless bliss.

[KhedrubGyatso]

We can talk about indifference and equanimity  in terms of dynamic forces.
Indifference is a force that  prevents one from responding to an object whether people or physical things.This is the force of self cherishing. This force manifest when we meet a stranger or anyone whom we have no interest in materially or emotionally. The result is inertness of bodily response and speech which translates into uncaring and disinterestedness.
Equanimity is quite the opposite. It functions to remove the forces of push  and pull which confuses and obstructs one's good qualities from manifesting fully. The pushing comes from aversion to things we dislike and the pulling comes from being attracted or attached to things we like. Once these two powerful selfish energies are reduced or removed , the force of indifference that keeps us in our comfort zone and rendering one static  is also overcome . We are then freed to allow the good energies of our  love and compassion to flow and reach others in unlimited  active ways via our body , speech and mind. Our mind is now said be to be in equilibirum.

[bonfire]

[...]
It is not that we should think that all sentient beings could have been our mothers.
It is that all sentient beings HAVE been our mother.
And not once but countless times.

The logic is here:

1.
We have been wandering in samsara since beginingless time.

2.
Thus we have been taking rebirth since beginning-less time.

3.
Thus there cannot be a being that has not been our mother before.

4.
Thus all beings have been my mother before and countless times.

So, this is not a matter of making-believe that sentient may have been our mothers before, this is facing the reality that all sentient beings have been our mothers before.

I find this hard to contemplate, have all sentient beings been my mother before, even an ant or an earth worm?
This is pretty hard to absorb...
Thus the love that I have for my mother now, I once had it, and several times, for every being that I encounter in my life?
I think I'll pass on KFC today and will just eat vegetables for a day... and will think about this!