Have you ever wondered "
where does joy come from and how can I get it?" I have recently been exploring the practice of Muditā, or Sympathetic Joy. One of the 4 Immeasurable Qualities, it is cultivated by intentional practice of delighting in other's wellbeing.
Like compassion and lovingkindness practices, the practice of sympathetic joy combines an image of someone, an intention or wish, and phrases intended to express this wish.
The next time you sit, bring to mind someone who is filled with joy, perhaps someone who is doing really well right now. Create an image of them. Then repeat these phrases silently:
May your happiness increase.
May your success continue to grow.
May you continue to create the conditions for peace and freedom in your life.
I see your success and I wish for it to grow.
While meditating on joy can help settle the mind and make one feel more connected and happy, the most exciting quality to me is its
empathetic qualities. Usually we think of empathy in terms of identifying difficult emotions in others. But can it work the other way around? By finding joy in others, we can awaken the joy that lives in each of us. How beautiful to think, "
I know how you feel" when we see others full of joy and delight!
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