RIGHT INTENTION
Cultivating Appreciative Joy
|
Whatever you intend,
whatever you plan, and whatever you have a tendency toward, that will
become the basis upon which your mind is established. (SN 12.40) Develop
meditation on appreciative joy, for when you develop meditation on
appreciative joy, any discontent will be abandoned. (MN 62)
Appreciative joy fails when it produces amusement. (Vm 9.95)
|
|
|
|
The emotion indicated by the term appreciative joy
is a deep one and is to be distinguished from mere amusement. Noticing
the success of others is not a momentary lift; you are allowing yourself
to be profoundly moved by the beneficial aspects of life that do not
center on yourself. Once we open to all the ways others have good things
happen to them, this becomes a boundless source of our own good
feelings.
|
|
|
Cultivate
appreciative joy at every opportunity. Get in the habit of noticing the
good things that happen around you, not as they relate to your own gain
but as they affect and benefit others. Being happy about other people
being happy is a practice in itself. It is good to loosen the habit of
always relating what you see to yourself and to develop an appreciation
for the perspective of others. Feel the joy you experience from this.
|
|
Tomorrow: Refraining from Harsh Speech
One week from today: Cultivating Equanimity
Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media
#DhammaWheel
Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.
No comments:
Post a Comment