Equanimity has to be accompanied by goodwill. If we have just equanimity without the goodwill [mettā], we become indifferent, callous. We become apathetic.

"When you’re dealing with other people, there are going to be a lot of things you don’t like. You can’t let your likes and dislikes get in the way of your doing what’s skillful. If you treat the people you like well but treat the people you dislike in a shabby way, that becomes your karma. It’s not good for you. So you have to remember, you’re not treating people well because they deserve it. You’re treating people well because it’s part of your training. It’s part of your safety, your protection. The Buddha talks again and again about goodwill [mettā] as a form of protection. And goodwill always has to be accompanied by equanimity, just as equanimity has to be accompanied by goodwill. If we have just equanimity without the goodwill, we become indifferent, callous. We become apathetic.

There’s that great story of the storm that went through Ajaan Chah’s monastery once. The next day, Ajaan Chah went around the monastery checking up on the damage, and he found one monk sitting in a hut with half the roof blown off. He asked the monk, “Why aren’t you fixing the roof?” The monk said, “I’m practicing equanimity.” Ajaan Chah said, “That’s the equanimity of a water buffalo. You’re a human being. Fix the roof.”

So equanimity on its own is never taught. It’s never extolled. Equanimity always comes with other qualities. Goodwill is one of them.

We also see equanimity in the context of the seven factors for awakening. There it’s paired with persistence so that your equanimity doesn’t become lazy."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "Help Others, Help Your Mind"

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