Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

Subjects of Meditation 193A. As parents are neither too attentive nor yet inattentive towardsany one of their children, but regard them equally and maintain an even mindtowards them, so through equanimity one maintains an even mind towardsall beings. Thus should equanimity be known. The dwelling undisturbedin equanimity—this is called the practising of it. Non-attachment is itssalient characteristic. Equality is its function. The suppression of dislikingand liking is its manifestation. Its benefits are equal to those of loving-kindness.Q. What is the procedure? That yogin at first attends to the thirdmeditation, jhana, with loving-kindness, with compassion and with appreciativejoy. Having attained to the third meditation, jhana, and acquired facilitytherein, he sees the severe trials of loving-kindness, compassion and appreciativejoy. Liking and disliking are near. These (loving-kindness etc.) are connectedwith fawning, elation and gladness. The merits of equanimity lie in theovercoming of these severe trials. That yogin, having seen the severe trialsof loving-kindness, compassion and appreciative joy and the merits ofequanimity, develops equanimity towards a neutral person 1 and makes themind calm. Having developed and repeated it, he makes his mind pliant andcapable of bearing the object. Thereafter, he gradually develops (it) towardsan enemy and then towards a friend. The rest is as was fully taught above.Thus he fills the four directions. That yogin practising thus attains to thefourth meditation, jhana, through equanimity. In three ways he attains tofixed meditation, jhana, through comprehending beings, through comprehendingvillage-domains and through comprehending all directions.Q, When the yogin practises equanimity, how does he consider beings?A. The yogin considers thus: "In loving-kindness, compassion andappreciative joy, one is overjoyed with beings", and removing joy, he inducesequanimity. As a man might leap for joy on meeting a long-lost friend [438]and later, calm down, having been with him for sometime, so having livedlong with loving-kindness, compassion and appreciative joy, the yogin attainsto equanimity. And again, there is a man. He speaks concerning beings,"Beings consider thus: What is the fulfilment of equanimity? What is itsnon-fulfilment?". When equanimity is fulfilled, one destroys disliking andliking and does not cause the arising of ignorance. Through two causesequanimity is not fulfilled: through resentment produced within oneselfand through the arising of ignorance. 2MISCELLANEOUS TEACHINGSAgain I elucidate the meaning of the four immeasurables.tWhat are the miscellaneous teachings concerning the four immeasurables ? 31. Lit. neither likable nor not likable.2. What follows is unintelligible.3. The miscellaneous teachings are in many places unintelligible as it is here. This portionis not in the three editions of the Sung, Yuan and Ming dynasties, i.e., roughly about 1239A.C., 1290 A.C., and 1601 A.C., respectively. Also it is not found in the old Sungedition, 1104-1148 A.C., belonging to the library of the Japanese Imperial Household.