upekkha

Upekkha, also spelled upekṣā in Sanskrit, is a term in Buddhism commonly translated as equanimity, impartiality, or even-mindedness. It is one of the four Brahmaviharas, or divine abodes, alongside loving-kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), and sympathetic joy (mudita). Upekkha refers to a balanced mental state in which one remains steady and unperturbed by changing circumstances, neither clinging to pleasure nor pushing away pain.

Etymology and meaning: The Pali form upekkhā conveys the sense of looking evenly or weighing things with steadiness. In Buddhist teaching, equanimity denotes an even perception of experience, free from reactivity, judgment, or attachment. It involves recognizing impermanence and non-self while maintaining a compassionate attitude toward all beings.

Practice and function: Upekkha is cultivated as both a meditation quality and a daily ethical orientation. In meditation, it supports balanced attention and nonreactivity to arising thoughts, emotions, and sensations, allowing insight into the impermanent nature of experience. In daily life, it underpins patient, nonjudgmental, and nonattached responses to others’ joys and sufferings, including difficult situations. It is not indifference; rather, it is a wise steadiness that combines calm acceptance with moral concern.

Relation to other traditions: In Theravada Buddhism, upekkha is explicitly listed as a Brahmavihā with practical and sutta-based guidance. Mahayana traditions often describe it as the impar tial wisdom that accompanies compassionate action, sometimes linked to the bodhisattva ideal. Across schools, it serves as a foundation for ethical conduct and mental clarity, enabling trained, compassionate engagement rather than grasping or aversion.