The Sleep-Equanimity Paradox

Equanimity, or upekkha, is profound non-resistance and acceptance of what arises. Dipa Ma taught equanimity not as indifference but as clear-eyed wisdom about what we can and cannot control. This directly addresses the central paradox of insomnia: the harder we try to sleep, the more elusive it becomes. Cognitive arousal—the racing mind about sleep itself—is a primary driver of chronic insomnia. Modern sleep medicine addresses this through acceptance and commitment therapy, essentially teaching what Buddhist equanimity always taught: that peace comes from ceasing the struggle. When you stop fighting wakefulness, stop demanding sleep happen, the nervous system naturally settles. Dipa Ma's life exemplified this: she didn't grasp for enlightenment but simply showed up with complete presence to each moment, and profound wisdom naturally emerged. Applied to sleep, equanimity means lying awake without judgment, accepting tonight's sleep will be what it is, releasing the desperate striving that keeps the nervous system activated. This paradoxical approach—improvement through non-striving—is perhaps the deepest convergence between Buddhist wisdom and contemporary sleep science.