Part 2.10 - Upekkhā Pāramītā (equanimity) in the Jātakas

‘Upekkhā’ is equanimity, impartiality or keeping a well-balanced mind. This is the most difficult one among the ten perfections to be practised by a worldly being. But the Bodhisattvas observe this perfection without a slightest feeling of favour or disfavour, attachment or detachment, towards anyone. 

Particularly, they keep their mind in balance, without being moved or influenced by the the Eight Vicissitudes of life (Attha Loka Dhamma)—

labho alabho ayaso yaso ca nindā pasaṃsā ca sukhaṃ ca dukkhaṃ;

i.e. “Gain and loss, fame and ill-fame, praise and blame, and happiness and sorrow”. 

All these Eight Worldly Conditions rotate like a wheel on everybody’s life. If we meet the first four conditions of these four pairs of vicissitude, we shall be extremely happy and overjoyed.

We see in the Lomahaṃsa Jātaka (No. 94)^[1] that once the Bodhisattva was born in a rich and noble family. His name was Lomahaṃsa. Having come of age, he realized the vanity of worldly pleasure. He thought if he became an ascetic, people would pay him great respect and shower him with various gifts and offerings. Therefore, he left his home with only a cloth to cover his body, and wandered as an ascetic, seeking opportunities to practise equanimity. He preferred to stay long in those places where he was likely to be ridiculed and abused. His object was to maintain a balanced mind amidst gain and loss, praise and blame, honour and dishonour, happiness and pain. He succeeded in his noble effort. In course of his wanderings, he came to a place where there were mischievous children who found pleasure in abusing and making fun of others, especially old people. The Bodhisattva thought it was the place for him to practise equanimity. The children were delighted as they had found a suitable person for their amusement. So they made fun of him and Lomahaṃsa pretended to be displeased with their mischievous doings. As a result, these naughty children ridiculed him more and more. As if greatly offended, he went to a cemetery and slept there, using some bones for his pillow. Taking full advantage of his indifference, these urchins now surrounded him and subjected him to all kinds of insults. But elderly men and women who appreciated the goodness and holiness of the Bodhisattva, came and paid him great respect. 

Under all circumstances the Bodhisattva practised perfect equanimity without any change of mind whatsoever.

“Equally balanced was I at all times; amidst pain and happiness, praise and blame. This is my Perfection of Equanimity.”^[2]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Ibid., Vol.I, pp. 389-391; Ibid., Vol.I, pp. 229 ff.; Ibid.,(Romaharṣa Jātaka) Vol.I, pp. 170-172.

[2]:

http://incrediblebuddha.blogspot.in/2007/08/dasaparamita-ten-perfections.html