Equanimity: Finding Some Ease in the Midst of it All

In the context of the Buddha’s teachings, equanimity is a highly valued quality, one that’s recognized as both foundational to the path to freedom, and the highest expression of it.

Characterized by steadiness, balance, impartiality, and at its deepest level, profound peace, it arises from both insight into the nature of reality, and from cultivating the heart that becomes “abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.”

In the context of our everyday lives, though, equanimity can feel increasingly elusive as we try to navigate the personal, societal, and even existential difficulties that we’re facing in these challenging times.

Fortunately, equanimity is a quality that can be intentionally cultivated. This four-week program will explore facets of equanimity as it’s described in the Pali suttas and offer practical ways to cultivate it in both meditation and everyday life. Our shared goal will be to develop our understanding and practice of equanimity so that we can meet our challenges with clarity, courage, and balanced care.

Program Format

Each two-hour session will include a short guided meditation, dharma talk, written contemplation, and small group discussion to support our shared learning and sense of sangha.

Time Commitment

This program requires a minimum time commitment of 4 hours per week: A weekly two-hour meeting online, plus at least two hours of individual study, including contribution to an online discussion board.

Posting on the discussion board each week is required, in order to access the next week’s teaching materials.

Please be realistic about the amount of time needed to participate in the program and make sure you will be able to meet the minimum time requirements.

During the four weeks of the program, you’re invited to maintain a regular sitting practice and keep a practice journal to help inform the discussion during each meeting

Pre-requisites

At least two silent meditation retreats of seven days or longer, plus basic familiarity with core Buddhist teachings such as the Four Noble Truths and the Four Establishments of Mindfulness. Feel free to contact Jill if you have any questions about this.

Time and dates - Auckland
Four consecutive Sunday mornings 10:00 am - 12:00 noon, 6-27 April 2025

Location: Directions Healing Centre, rear studio at 12 Horopito St, Mount Eden Auckland 1024

NOTE: for those outside Auckland, there is also an online version of this course hosted by the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies that will be run simultaneously on Monday mornings 10:30 am - 12:30 pm. You can register for that here

Cost:

Cost for all four sessions: $100 or $65 for people experiencing financial stress, plus dāna / donation*

*The cost of the course covers only the venue hire and a contribution towards administration expenses.
In keeping with Buddhist tradition, the teachings are offered on a donation basis which means the teachers are not paid to offer these classes. Instead, they rely on the generosity of the participants to help them continue to share their teachings with others, and there will be an opportunity at the end of each class to offer donations to support their ongoing teaching.