Equanimity is the final of the Buddhist Brahma Viharas, or divine states. So far we have looked at Loving-Kindness, Compassion and Sympathetic Joy.

Equanimity is really about finding balance in life. We all have probably had moments of this feeling especially when things are going our way. But, in the Buddhist context, Equanimity speaks to finding balance with any and every experience that appears in life. It is being with life as it really is as opposed to how we want, expect or demand it to be. A familiar analogy I often use is that in our boat on the sea of life, our ability to be in balance can keep us from being tossed and shattered against the rocky shore or being lost and adrift at sea.

Equanimity is a little like an internal GPS system that allows us to know where we are in dealing with the ups and downs of life. Thoughts and feelings will always be appearing and disappearing, but developing this balancing, navigational system alerts us to when we're veering off course, away from being more at ease and peaceful. An important point of clarification, however, is that equanimity does not mean we become indifferent to or detached from what's really happening. When we can be with life as it is, fully aware and present, equanimity is a great gift.

Marcus Aurelius wrote a couple of things that are helpful. "Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present." And, he reminds us that "You always own the option of having no opinion. There is never any need to get worked up or to trouble your soul about things you can't control. These things are not asking to be judged by you. Leave them alone."