Equanimity as the Path and the Fruit

If good things happen, good. If bad things happen, good

We can transform bad into good. We can do this by changing our attitudes towards what we label ‘bad’. This is why suffering is unneccessary, because everything can become the basis for bliss. There is a lot of dharma about how you can do this emotional alchemy, lots of books and teachers who can help you to understand this point.

If a bad thing happens it generally is a great opportunity to practice patience. Patience is a transcendent quality and it’s practice is fundamental to becoming a Buddha. It means you can let things slide. You see that pain is temporary and so the pain is diminished. It almost vanishes. Not because of drugs either! If you can have an attitude like this at a time when you are experiencing a lot of pain, then the pain will all but dissapear. Here, dissapear means that you can integrate dispassionately with your experience. The pain doesn’t go away, you just see it for what it is and it transforms you. You do not have to regard the pain as an enemy.

That’s an example of trasformation of bad into good. This is a very skillful way of putting down bad and good altogether. No need to hold on to your oppionions or defend your territory.

It’s also very important to note that this does not mean that we don’t try anything, that we never make any movement. Just don’t be attached to the outcome. If you succeed, great. If you fail, great. See how that works? Maked failure and success dissapear. What’s left is bliss. That’s really the best part.

Putting all this stuff down will reveal a new sensitivity and you can discover that your entire existence is luminous, harmonious, vast, and unborn. So do what the Buddha said, put down Buddha. In emptiness No eyes, no ears, no nose, etc. No Buddha, no God, no you, no me. Just mind experiencing it’s own luminence.

I’ve heard that this is like drinking from a well. The experience of emptiness energizes and maintains the effort of practice. Also, eventually we (we means every sentient being) will be able to function while dwelling in this luminance. Meaning we have obtained happiness.

So another benefit of transforming negativity is that sentient beings become your great friends, all of them. Someone who is causing you trouble is an opportunity to learn eqaunimity and patience. If you take your practice seriously this can happen. Someone who insults you brings about humility. He grounds you, takes you off of your cloud. Seeing him this way, anger won’t arise. This is SUPER important because everyone around us has a great effect on our happiness in general. If someone dies in your life then maybe you will feel pulled away from the practice. Or if we get fired by someone, that can cause a big break in our mindfullness. All of this leads to anger and territorialness and jealousy, whatever - but nothing good. But if we don’t see the problem . . . “I don’t see the problem with getting fired”. That type of attitude. This way you don’t have to go meditate in solitude to learn what the sages teach. You can be on the spot.

There are books on how to work with this and sutras and great masters of many traditions who are available to help with this. None of them will require that you become a Buddhist. If someone requires that it is highly suspect. This should be practical, spiritual help and for everyone.

May we all bring more happines to our lives and to each other’s lives!