Welcome back to the Death Dhamma podcast. It's time to make some changes to the podcast, and the discussions that we will have as move forward together. It's all about helping one another along the path, and being human while being Buddhist.

This episode weaves together the major threads from Season 5:

• Equanimity vs. Apathy
• Emotional resilience and spiritual courage
• Practical tools for chaos and anxiety
• The path from anger to compassion
• Mindful restraint in an overstimulated world
• The Bodhisattva's quiet strength

Whether you're meditating in stillness or navigating modern life's storms, equanimity becomes the thread that holds it all together—a stillness that doesn't withdraw, but wisely engages.

Together, let's explore the profound terrain of jhāna—a Pali term meaning "meditative absorption"—and how equanimity emerges as a central force in its deepest stages. These states of deep concentration are not just about peace or bliss, but about arriving at a radical stillness where distractions dissolve and the mind becomes clear, unwavering, and impartial.

We delve into:

· The progression through the jhānas, especially the third and fourth, where equanimity becomes dominant.

· The distinction between physical and mental sensations, and how their transcendence reveals the purity of mindfulness.

· The concept of the equanimity of purification, a mental quality that stills all opposition and polishes the mind to a bright, imperturbable clarity.

· How mindfulness and equanimity work in tandem to support awakening—and how these factors were central in the Buddha's own path to enlightenment.

Whether you're a longtime practitioner or just beginning your meditation journey, this episode offers both a practical and philosophical guide to understanding equanimity—not as detachment, but as luminous balance.