This talk explores how the heart of metta develops into compassion as it meets suffering in oneself and the world and becomes appreciative joy as it meets the happiness of others
We develop appreciative joy (Mudita) by focusing on the happiness in others' lives and our life, leading also to a sense of gratitude. Joy and happiness then serve as links that lead onward to liberation.
Lovingkindness and the other brahma viharas show us the possibility of an appropriate response to the joys and sorrows of life. The practice of mudita for oneself leads to the beautiful state of gratitude.
This talk continues the exploration of how the practice cultivates happiness and joy. Topics include mindfulness as appreciation, wonder, gratitude, bliss of blamelessness, letting go, mudita, friendship and liberation.
Mudita is the capacity to rejoice in the happiness or good fortune of others. As a practice, mudita helps us to aim the heart toward its natural capacity for generosity, friendliness and care. In doing so, we find our hearts rejoicing.
Instructions - Mudita Practice. Short reflection with oneself - good, helpful, skillful things we've done. Mudita phrases with - some it's easy to rejoice for/with--------and a benefactor, a friend, a family member, fellow yogi, all yogis on retreat.
Mudita - the natural response of the heart - our capacity to see joy in relationship to another's happiness, success, beauty, goodness or well being. Exploring and recognizing the joy that has no 'self' at the center of it… the momentary joy of the pure heart.
When we can truly be happy for another person's happiness, the sense of feeling separate dissolves. From this place of boundary-less-ness, we begin to experientially understand a quiet joy that is invisible and much bigger than we could ever imagine.
Noticing and cultivating the wholesome states of compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity as they arise is a powerful training towards greater happiness.
