Happiness vs Equanimity

[arcticwolf]

While the so Called Western or more appropriately European culture always valued happiness ass the worth goal and something to strive for, Buddhism puts very little emphasis on it at all. Why would anyone not want to be happy, you may ask, and the answer to that is.... because it's a temporary state of mind usualy followed by unhappiness.

So what's so special about equanimity yoou may ask yourself, why should I strive for it? Well, equanimity is a perfect balance of the mind, which is not swayed by either positive or negative feelings or emotions. Equanimity is mind being perfectly neutral to external and internal happenings. Additional bonus is that mind trained to be blanced and neutral is very vivid and aware of everrything.

So which one you value most and why if you care to elaborate?

There is so many dumb ass threads out there lately that we need something intellectual, because we look like a bunch of retards to the outside world!

Poll coming right up.

[Apis]

What would the difference between apathy and equanimity be?

[SkyBurn]

Interesting question/good post.

Well, as evidenced by my politics, I value happiness as the ultimate goal. I believe people should strive to maximise their own happiness without compromising the happiness of others. I wouldn't say that my world view is hedonistic, however I do believe that positive emotions is what makes life worth living (and the idea of positive emotions makes life worth improving). Equanimity seems like a very neutral state to me.

That being said, I have been brought up in the West rather than the East, so I'm used to that Western mode of happiness-seeking.

[arcticwolf]

What would the difference between apathy and equanimity be?

Equanimity is curious awarenes, it's not indifference like appathy. It does not take sides but does not dismiss anything from awareness, no matter how exciting or mundane. It treats eveerything with the same acute neutral curiosity.

[portusaus]

Capitalism and Christianity soiled our true spirit, this is why the East is leagues ahead in terms of awareness and equaniminity. We are distracted from what is real, what we are, and what we should do.

Of course, liberalism is driving us further away.

[arcticwolf]

Interesting question/good post.

Well, as evidenced by my politics, I value happiness as the ultimate goal. I believe people should strive to maximise their own happiness without compromising the happiness of others. I wouldn't say that my world view is hedonistic, however I do believe that positive emotions is what makes life worth living (and the idea of positive emotions makes life worth improving). Equanimity seems like a very neutral state to me.

That being said, I have been brought up in the West rather than the East, so I'm used to that Western mode of happiness-seeking.

Equanimity is above emotions, it actuallly pays no attention to them in the sens that it observes them but dooes not follow them or allow them to take over the mind. Equanimity is like a parent watching over kids, the good and bad ones withh the same attention.

[arcticwolf]

Capitalism and Christianity soiled our true spirit, this is why the East is leagues ahead in terms of awareness and equaniminity. We are distracted from what is real, what we are, and what we should do.

Of course, liberalism is driving us further away.

I couldn't have said it half as good myself. These are very good points. Right on.

[SkyBurn]

Equanimity is above emotions, it actuallly pays no attention to them in the sens that it observes them but dooes not follow them or allow them to take over the mind. Equanimity is like a parent watching over kids, the good and bad ones withh the same attention.

Yeah, I've read up a little on it now
While that does sound like a good life model (calmness leading to a lack of stress), it's entirely human to try deriving cheer from life. That's why people make friends, lovers, familial bonds etc. That's why people work - so that they can spend money on things which make them happy.
In Eastern societies, only spiritual communities can uphold equanimity together, and they have a socialist structure where productivity is minimal. There is no inherent problem with that of course, but it cannot work on a widespread level.

[arcticwolf]

Yeah, I've read up a little on it now
While that does sound like a good life model (calmness leading to a lack of stress), it's entirely human to try deriving cheer from life. That's why people make friends, lovers, familial bonds etc. That's why people work - so that they can spend money on things which make them happy.
In Eastern societies, only spiritual communities can uphold equanimity together, and they have a socialist structure where productivity is minimal. There is no inherent problem with that of course, but it cannot work on a widespread level.

You are right it is hard to maintain it when greed is at play. Equanimity is really a noble state of mind, it's impossible to use it to nurish greed based desires. It sounds harsh but it's factual. I agree wide spread in the modern society as it is, can't be done.

As with everything it comes down to an individual.

[sean]

Buddhism definitely talks about "happiness". Mudita (altruistic joy) is one of the four brahmavihārās (Buddhist virtues). The others are Metta (loving kindness), Karuṇā (compassion), Upekkha (equanimity).

Mudita means something like "joy in others' happiness". It is especially taking joy in the happiness of others without any thought for oneself. It is considered the antidote to envy and jealousy.

You're on the right track when you say suffering/dukkha/unsatisfactoriness includes pain and joy. Sentient beings crave things that feel nice in some way (like joy) and are averse to things that are painful (like pain). Aversion is one of the Three Poisons. The three poisons are a root of craving. Craving leads to dukkha.

There's nothing wrong with being happy or having positive experiences in and of themselves, Buddhism doesn't teach those things are wrong so much as it teaches that some things lead to Enlightenment/Awakening and other things don't, but it is unhelpful to be attached to that happiness, to be averse to it ending, and to crave it again.

Fundamentally, Buddhism is joyful and optimistic because it teaches that while sentient beings experience dukkha, we can, by our own efforts, attain a state free from dukkha.

Buddhism doesn't actually teach that life is this super-negative thing full of suffering thats like a living hell, it teaches that there is just an inherent unsatisfactoriness about it that means there can be no permanent happiness or satisfaction and there is always eventually going to be suffering and unhappiness at some point.

Also, its not required to abandon your normal lifestyle to reach enlightenment. Its recommended to follow the Bhikkhu lifestyle but according to Buddha its still possible to become enlightened while living with your family and having a profession.