subject: The Unexpected Cause of Unhappiness [print this page] The reason why problems arrive is that we have karma from previous negative actions ripening, whether that is from this life or from previous lives. If we approach it right this time, it is possible to not only to exhaust that particular kind of karma that continues to produce the problem, but we can prevent activating it again in the future by letting it cause excessive distress to the mind, the actual cause of further consequences.
It will not be accomplished without effort. In fact, we will become more capable of making effort because the mind is not disturbed, and we are able to act more skillfully because of our concentration on developing equanimity. Fake equanimity would be to give up and not making effort. This is not equanimity, but only inaction by depression.
We can go anywhere and do anything if we gain equanimity based on compassion for others. Practice to increase a healthy desire to gain skill by connecting our practice of equanimity done, not for our own sake, but to become the one capable of profoundly benefiting others in the future! In that way, we will continue to have normal emotional activity while maintaining discipline over our own emotions by the power of our emerging compassion for others. To suppress the emotions can give a temporary peaceful respite, however, when we come into contact with a potentially conflicting stimulus, all pretensions of equanimity are lost, and we must retreat from solving our problems. On the other hand, becoming adept in equanimity, wherever we go, whatever is happening, we feel okay. By equanimity, we can experience negative karma without creating more negative karma. We could even be within a negative event, (which is karma) and emerge with virtuous, positive karmic imprints in the mind. Maintaining an even mind will helplessly cause our equanimity, even in the face of difficulties!
