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{{Short description|Upeksha in Sanskrit or Upekkha in Pali means equanimity, non-attachment, even-mindedness or letting go}}'''''Upeksha''''' in [[Sanskrit]] or '''''[[Upekkha]]''''' in [[Pali]] means [[equanimity]], non-attachment, even-mindedness or letting go. ''Upeksha'' does not mean indifference. It is the fourth element of true love and has as its seed the wisdom of equality that removes all boundaries, discrimination and prejudices while leading to the sublime unity where there is no self and no other; without ''Upeksha'', love becomes possessive.<ref>{{cite book|title=Teachings on Love|author=Thich Nhat Hanh|publisher=Readhowyouwant.com|page=12|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5K6o6IitGogC&pg=PA12&dq=Upeksha&hl=en&sa=X&ei=wyELUaKpNIXZrQeS14GQBQ&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Upeksha&f=false}}</ref> Equanimity or ''Upeksha'' grows out of mindfulness, then one becomes master of every situation no matter what the situation is without it one cannot take anything in one’s stride; its significance is that one really lives unconditionally.<ref>{{cite book|title=Zen Therapy|author=David Brazier|publisher=Constable and Robinson Ltd.|page=90|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SQ6cR_3IyWMC&pg=PT90&dq=Upeksha&hl=en&sa=X&ei=wyELUaKpNIXZrQeS14GQBQ&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAg}}</ref>

The understanding that our happiness and that of others is inseparable moves us directly into the fourth ''[[Brahmavihara]]'', ''Upeksha''. Equanimity of ''Upeksha'' carries the ability to take a large view and to look over the whole situation not bound by one side or the other, its near-enemy is in-difference which is difficult to recognise because it masquerades on the surface as even-mindedness; indifference causes retreat to a form of denial like repression, don’t care-can’t be bothered attitude. <ref>{{cite book|title=Teaching, Learning and Loving|author=Daniel Patrick Liston|publisher=Routledge|page=175|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i_dJ6xrnGaQC&pg=PA175&dq=Upeksha&hl=en&sa=X&ei=IyoLUbbULIfqkAWy3YDQCQ&ved=0CC0Q6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=Upeksha&f=false}}</ref>

In [[Yoga]], ''maîtri'', ''karuna'', ''mudita'' and ''upeksha'' are only different aspects of universal sympathy, which remove all perversities in our nature and unite us with our fellow-men. This is the positive aspect of the mind with reference to abstinence from injuring (''[[ahimsa]]'') which will cleanse the mind and make it fit for ''[[Śraddhā]]'' etc., prepare it to become steady with a view to attaining true discriminative knowledge.<ref>{{cite book|title=Yoga as Philosophy and Religion|author=Surendra Nath Dasgupta|publisher=Kessinger Publishing|page=137|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=osW7uQU2E-IC&pg=PA137&dq=Upeksha&hl=en&sa=X&ei=wyELUaKpNIXZrQeS14GQBQ&ved=0CEQQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=Upeksha&f=false}}</ref> It is a ''karmasthana'' that holds a very high place in ''[[sadhana]]''. Like equality in [[Bhagavad Gita]], ''upeksha'' of the [[Buddhists]] operates on many levels, and ten kinds of upeksha are enumerated; it is the equality called the six-limbed upeksha which renounces all the creaturely reactions of the six senses when anything agreeable or disagreeable presents itself.<ref>{{cite book|title=Meditations:Yoga, Gods, Religions|author=Ram Swarup|publisher=Voice of India|page=19,60|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pqzWAAAAMAAJ&q=Upeksha&dq=Upeksha&hl=en&sa=X&ei=IyoLUbbULIfqkAWy3YDQCQ&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAjgK}}</ref> [[Samadhi]] may also involve the cultivation of the four states called [[Brahmavihara]]s which four states are - "goodwill" (''maîtri''), "compassion" (''karuna''), "sympathetic joy" (''mudita'') and "equanimity" (''upeksha''). Practised to perfection these states take one to pure the mind-states on the plane of formlessness that are proximate to the apex of existence.<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy|author=Oliver Leaman|publisher=Taylor and Francis|page=536|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=snU6hyIVMawC&pg=PA536&dq=Upeksha&hl=en&sa=X&ei=IyoLUbbULIfqkAWy3YDQCQ&ved=0CFAQ6AEwBjgK#v=onepage&q=Upeksha&f=false}}</ref>

''Upeksha'' as a power includes freedom from all kinds of desires and birth because it has no preference for one thing more than the other. It is opposed to individuality. This power manifests as ten kinds which are –
* ''Sadangopeksha'' (when there is neither pleasure nor displeasure)
* ''Brahma-wiharopeksha'' (when the mind is equally affected towards all beings)
* ''Bowdyangopeksha'' (when the mind is equally affected towards all thoughts)
* ''Wiryopeksha'' (when the mind is equally affected by the same force of determination)
* ''Sankharopeksha'' (when the mind is equally affected towards all kinds of wisdom)
* ''Wedanopeksha'' (when the mind is sensible to neither pleasure nor pain)
* ''Widarsanopeksha'' (when the mind is not affected by what is seen)
* ''Tatramadyastopeksha'' (when all modes of upeksha are applied together)
* ''Dhyanopeksha'' (when the impermanency of sensible-objects is regarded with an even mind)
* ''Parisudi-upeksha'' (when the mind is equally affected towards all that is necessary to secure freedom from the cleaving to existence).
All upekshas may be possessed by one and the same person but the second cannot be possessed without the first. <ref>{{cite book|title=A Manual of Buddhism, in its Modern Development|publisher=Partridge and Oakey|year=1853|author=Robert Spence Hardy|page=[https://archive.org/details/amanualbudhismi03hardgoog/page/n525 505]|url=https://archive.org/details/amanualbudhismi03hardgoog|quote=Upeksha.}}</ref>

According to the Theosophists, ''maitri'', ''karuna'', ''mudita'' and ''upeksha'' are the four qualities of a ''[[Jivanmukta]]'' who favours ''Sishya'' ("disciple") who attains ''[[Moksha|mukti]]'', ''Bhakta'' ("devotee") who gains his noble ends, ''Udasina'' ("indifferent person") who begins to cherish love for virtuous deeds and ''Pathaka'' (a "sinner") whose sins are purged, and whose ''lakshanas'' are ''akkrodha'' ("absence of hatred"), ''arogya'' ("sound health"), ''jitendriyathawam'' ("conquest of passions"), ''daya'' (kindness), ''kshama'' (forbearance), ''janapriyathawa'' (popularity), ''alobha'' ("absence of avarice"), ''dathruthawa'' (generosity), ''abhaya'' (courage) and ''nairmalaya'' (cleanliness).<ref>{{cite book|title=The Theosophist October 1886 to April 1187|page=119|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WcqKzRYREm8C&pg=PA119&dq=Upeksha&hl=en&sa=X&ei=WmALUeGJHI2GrAf0l4C4Aw&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAjgU#v=onepage&q=Upeksha&f=false}}</ref>

Along with the four ''upayas'' (sama, dana, bheda and danda) that were then the recognised expedients for application of foreign policy Kamandaka and others had recommended application of Upeksha, Maya and Indrajala in diplomacy;<ref>{{cite book|title=Kautilya’s Concept of Diplomacy|author=Bharati Mukharjee|publisher=Minerva Associates|page=39|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pNWOAAAAMAAJ&q=Upeksha&dq=Upeksha&hl=en&sa=X&ei=WmALUeGJHI2GrAf0l4C4Aw&ved=0CD0Q6AEwAzgU}}</ref> the enemy could be warded off or neutralised by a policy of ''Upeksha'' and absolute indifference to even movements of enemy troops.<ref>{{cite book|title=Studies in Kautaliya|author=M.V.Krishna Rao|publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal|page=102|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0yCFAAAAMAAJ&q=Upeksha&dq=Upeksha&hl=en&sa=X&ei=WmALUeGJHI2GrAf0l4C4Aw&ved=0CEAQ6AEwBDgU}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Buddhist philosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Hindu philosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Virtue]]

Upeksha (Indian thought) - Revision history

imported>Khalid hassani at 19:25, 29 July 2021