''Upeksha'' in

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

or '' Upekkha'' in

Pali Pali () is a Middle Indo-Aryan liturgical language native to the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pāli Canon'' or ''Tipiṭaka'' as well as the sacred language of ''Theravāda'' Buddhism ...

means

equanimity Equanimity (Latin: ''æquanimitas'', having an even mind; ''aequus'' even; ''animus'' mind/soul) is a state of inner peace, psychological stability and composure which is undisturbed by experience of or exposure to emotions, pain, or other phenom ...

, non-attachment, even-mindedness or letting go. ''Upeksha'' does not mean indifference. It is the fourth element of true love and has as its seed the wisdom of equality that removes all boundaries, discrimination and prejudices while leading to the sublime unity where there is no self and no other; without ''Upeksha'', love becomes possessive. Equanimity or ''Upeksha'' grows out of mindfulness, then one becomes master of every situation no matter what the situation is without it one cannot take anything in one’s stride; its significance is that one really lives unconditionally. The understanding that our happiness and that of others is inseparable moves us directly into the fourth ''

Brahmavihara The ''brahmavihārās'' (sublime attitudes, lit. "abodes of brahma") are a series of four Buddhism, Buddhist virtues and the meditation practices made to cultivate them. They are also known as the four immeasurables (Sanskrit: अप्रमा ...

'', ''Upeksha''. Equanimity of ''Upeksha'' carries the ability to take a large view and to look over the whole situation not bound by one side or the other, its near-enemy is in-difference which is difficult to recognise because it masquerades on the surface as even-mindedness; indifference causes retreat to a form of denial like repression, don’t care-can’t be bothered attitude. In

Yoga Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciou ...

, ''maîtri'', ''karuna'', ''mudita'' and ''upeksha'' are only different aspects of universal sympathy, which remove all perversities in our nature and unite us with our fellow-men. This is the positive aspect of the mind with reference to abstinence from injuring (''

ahimsa Ahimsa (, IAST: ''ahiṃsā'', ) is the ancient Indian principle of nonviolence which applies to all living beings. It is a key virtue in most Indian religions: Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.Bajpai, Shiva (2011). The History of India � ...

'') which will cleanse the mind and make it fit for ''

Śraddhā Śraddhā ( sa, श्रद्धा) is often glossed in English as ''faith''. ''Āsthā'' is used for faith, religious beliefs and God. The term figures importantly in the literature, teachings, and discourse of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism ...

'' etc., prepare it to become steady with a view to attaining true discriminative knowledge. It is a ''karmasthana'' that holds a very high place in '' sadhana''. Like equality in

Bhagavad Gita The Bhagavad Gita (; sa, श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता, lit=The Song by God, translit=śrīmadbhagavadgītā;), often referred to as the Gita (), is a 700- verse Hindu scripture that is part of the epic ''Mahabharata'' (c ...

, ''upeksha'' of the

Buddhists Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...

operates on many levels, and ten kinds of upeksha are enumerated; it is the equality called the six-limbed upeksha which renounces all the creaturely reactions of the six senses when anything agreeable or disagreeable presents itself.

Samadhi ''Samadhi'' (Pali and sa, समाधि), in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools, is a state of meditative consciousness. In Buddhism, it is the last of the eight elements of the Noble Eightfold Path. In the Ashtanga Yoga ...

may also involve the cultivation of the four states called

s which four states are - "goodwill" (''maîtri''), "compassion" (''karuna''), "sympathetic joy" (''mudita'') and "equanimity" (''upeksha''). Practised to perfection these states take one to pure the mind-states on the plane of formlessness that are proximate to the apex of existence. ''Upeksha'' as a power includes freedom from all kinds of desires and birth because it has no preference for one thing more than the other. It is opposed to individuality. This power manifests as ten kinds which are – * ''Sadangopeksha'' (when there is neither pleasure nor displeasure) * ''Brahma-wiharopeksha'' (when the mind is equally affected towards all beings) * ''Bowdyangopeksha'' (when the mind is equally affected towards all thoughts) * ''Wiryopeksha'' (when the mind is equally affected by the same force of determination) * ''Sankharopeksha'' (when the mind is equally affected towards all kinds of wisdom) * ''Wedanopeksha'' (when the mind is sensible to neither pleasure nor pain) * ''Widarsanopeksha'' (when the mind is not affected by what is seen) * ''Tatramadyastopeksha'' (when all modes of upeksha are applied together) * ''Dhyanopeksha'' (when the impermanency of sensible-objects is regarded with an even mind) * ''Parisudi-upeksha'' (when the mind is equally affected towards all that is necessary to secure freedom from the cleaving to existence). All upekshas may be possessed by one and the same person but the second cannot be possessed without the first. According to the Theosophists, ''maitri'', ''karuna'', ''mudita'' and ''upeksha'' are the four qualities of a ''

Jivanmukta A ''jīvanmukta'', literally meaning ''liberated while living'', is a person who, in the Vedānta philosophy, has gained complete self-knowledge and self-realisation and attained '' kaivalya'' or ''moksha'' ( enlightenment and liberation), thus ...

'' who favours ''Sishya'' ("disciple") who attains '' mukti'', ''Bhakta'' ("devotee") who gains his noble ends, ''Udasina'' ("indifferent person") who begins to cherish love for virtuous deeds and ''Pathaka'' (a "sinner") whose sins are purged, and whose ''lakshanas'' are ''akkrodha'' ("absence of hatred"), ''arogya'' ("sound health"), ''jitendriyathawam'' ("conquest of passions"), ''daya'' (kindness), ''kshama'' (forbearance), ''janapriyathawa'' (popularity), ''alobha'' ("absence of avarice"), ''dathruthawa'' (generosity), ''abhaya'' (courage) and ''nairmalaya'' (cleanliness). Along with the four ''upayas'' (sama, dana, bheda and danda) that were then the recognised expedients for application of foreign policy Kamandaka and others had recommended application of Upeksha, Maya and Indrajala in diplomacy; the enemy could be warded off or neutralised by a policy of ''Upeksha'' and absolute indifference to even movements of enemy troops.

References

{{Reflist Buddhist philosophical concepts Hindu philosophical concepts Virtue