Equanimity

Finished Buddha's Brain and I really like the chapter on equanimity. The book does a good job of describing the physical and evolutionary aspects of brain and mind and is a good complement to Why Buddhism is True. The book has a good mixture of science and practice. Sometimes the book glosses over big concepts but went in-depth into equanimity - the ability to not act or react based on the first response to a stimulus. By equally invoking your calm and your reason, you can see the world more clearly and engage with it on your own terms rather than reacting (or over-thinking in the opposite extreme). This ability to balance the cool and the hot helps you to be less attached and reduces craving. This quote says it all:

"With equanimity, you can deal with situations with calm and reason while keeping your inner happiness."
- The Dalai Lama

By practicing tranquility with equanimity, you can act without being affected by feeling and tone. You won't automatically crave something pleasant or avoid something unpleasant and will be able to act more based on your values and virtues. I like that concept a lot. According to the book, equanimity is a high-gamma entrainment which helps not reacting to the limbic system. The prefrontal cortex and anterior cingular cortex activate to help steady the mind. This can create in the person a sense of great spaciousness.