Upekṣā
| Translations of Upekkha | |
|---|---|
| English | Equanimity |
Rōmaji: sha) | |
| Khmer | ឧបេក្ខា (UNGEGN: ŭbékkha) |
| Sinhala | උපේක්ෂා (upēkshā) |
| Tagalog | Upeksa |
| Thai | อุเบกขา (RTGS: upekkhaa) |
| Vietnamese | xả |
| Glossary of Buddhism | |
Upekshā (
jhāna
.
Pali literature
| Part of a series on |
| Pāramitā |
|---|
 |
Many passages in the
Seven Factors of Enlightenment
(bojjhanga), it is the ultimate characteristic to develop.
To practice upekkha is to be unwavering or to stay neutral in the face of the eight vicissitudes of life—which are otherwise known as the eight worldly winds or eight worldly conditions: loss and gain, good-repute and ill-repute, praise and censure, and sorrow and happiness (the atthaloka dhamma).[1]
The "far enemy" of upekkha is greed and resentment, mind-states in obvious opposition. The "near enemy" (the quality which superficially resembles upekkha but which subtly opposes it), is indifference or apathy.[2]
In the development of meditative
concentration
, upekkha arises as the quintessential factor of material absorption, present in the third and fourth jhana states:
| Table: Rūpa jhāna
| ||||
| Cetasika (mental factors) |
First jhāna |
Second jhāna |
Third jhāna |
Fourth jhāna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kāma / Akusala dhamma(sensuality / unskillful qualities)
|
secluded from; withdrawn |
does not occur | does not occur | does not occur |
| Pīti (rapture)
|
seclusion-born; pervades body |
samādhi -born;pervades body |
fades away (along with distress) |
does not occur |
| Sukha (non-sensual pleasure)
|
pervades physical body |
abandoned (no pleasure nor pain) | ||
Vitakka ("applied thought")
|
accompanies jhāna
|
unification of awareness free from vitakka and vicāra |
does not occur | does not occur |
Vicāra ("sustained thought")
| ||||
| Upekkhāsatipārisuddhi | does not occur | internal confidence | equanimous;
mindful |
purity of equanimity and mindfulness |
| Sources:[3][4][5] | ||||
Contemporary exposition
American
Buddhist monk Bhikkhu Bodhi
wrote:
The real meaning of [upekkha] is equanimity, not
divine abodes": boundless loving-kindness, compassion, altruistic joy, and equanimity. The last does not override and negate the preceding three, but perfects and consummates them.[6]
See also
- Adhiṭṭhāna (resolute determination)
- Apatheia
- Ataraxia
- Brahmavihara
- Dāna (generosity)
- Jhanas
- Khanti(patience)
- Metta (loving-kindness)
- Nekkhamma (renunciation)
- Pañña(wisdom)
- Passaddhi (tranquillity)
- Sacca (truth)
- Vīrya (diligence)
References
- ^ Piyadassi, Thera (1960). "The Seven Factors of Enlightenment". Wheel. 1. Buddhist Publication Society. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
- ^ Buddhaghosa, Bhadantácariya (2010) [1956]. Vishudimagga: The Path of Purification (PDF). Translated by Bhikkhu Ñãṇamoli (4th ed.). p. 101.
- ISBN 978-0-86171-491-9.
- ^ "Suttantapiñake Aïguttaranikàyo § 5.1.3.8". MettaNet-Lanka (in Pali). Archived from the original on 2007-11-05. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
- Bhikku, Thanissaro (1997). "Samadhanga Sutta: The Factors of Concentration (AN 5.28)". Access to Insight. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
- ^ Bodhi, Bhikkhu (5 June 2010) [1995]. "Toward a Threshold of Understanding". Access to Insight. Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Retrieved 2013-10-07.