Sublime Attitudes

This week’s Contemplative Living Podcast is devoted to regularly cultivating Sublime Attitudes of Goodwill, Compassion, Empathetic joy, and Equanimity. The first of these divine states is Goodwill – a desire for the ultimate well-being of oneself and all others. Compassion then comes into play when we encounter suffering, while Empathetic joy is experienced upon seeing happiness. Finally, Equanimity focuses our goodwill so that it can be applied more efficiently. Creating infinite attitudes in this way requires some effort. Keeping a positive outlook and mastering our intentions are both key steps toward success in doing so.

Cultivating Goodwill, aka Loving Kindness

“Sublime Attitudes” is about the four main attitudes that the Buddha taught as the foundation for a happy and fulfilled life. The fourth and final attitude is cultivating goodwill, also known as loving kindness. The Buddha taught that goodwill is the wishing of happiness and well-being for all beings. This includes not only our family, friends, and loved ones, but also those with whom we have little or no connection.

Everyone has the potential to be our friend, and so everyone deserves our goodwill. When we cultivate goodwill, we open our hearts to others and create the conditions for happiness in our own lives. Goodwill is the antidote to anger and hatred, two emotions that can cause a great deal of suffering in our world. When we are able to wish happiness for all, we are on the path to true peace and contentment.

Cultivating Equanimity

In order to cultivate equanimity, it is important to first understand what it is. Equanimity is the quality of being calm and even-tempered, especially in a difficult situation. It is the ability to maintain a sense of inner peace and balance, even in the face of external chaos. There are many different ways to cultivate equanimity.

One way is through breath meditation. Meditation allows us to quiet our mind and focus on our breath. This helps us to become more aware of our thoughts and emotions, and to let go of them more easily. It also helps us to become more present in the moment, which can be helpful in managing difficult situations. A breathing exercise the Navy Seals use & trust is called box breathing, and is very effective.

We can practice mindfulness by simply observing our own experience without judging it as good or bad. This can help us to become more accepting of ourselves and our circumstances, and to find peace in the present moment. No matter what method we choose, cultivating equanimity requires time and patience. It is not something that happens overnight. But with practice, we can develop this quality within ourselves and learn to respond to life’s challenges with greater peace and composure.

Watch this episode of Contemplative Living on Youtube.