RIGHT INTENTION
Cultivating Appreciative Joy
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Whatever you intend,
whatever you plan, and whatever you have a tendency toward, that will
become the basis on 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)
The purpose of appreciative joy is to ward off discontent. (Vm 9.97)
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It is so easy
to feel discontent. There are lots of things, both within and around us,
with which we can find fault. But the mind does not have to go there.
It may do so on its own, but we can intervene and change the focus of
our mind. Choose to turn your attention to all the things within and
around you about which you can feel good. Seek out goodness and you will
find it. This is a practice in itself.
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The next time
you experience discontent, deliberately cultivate appreciative
joy—gladness at the good fortune of others—as an antidote. Everything
need not always be about us. Other people deserve to feel happy and have
good fortune, and even if we ourselves are in the doldrums for some
reason we can vicariously experience the well-being of others.
Appreciative joy is always accessible; we merely need to reach for it.
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Tomorrow: Refraining from Harsh Speech
One week from today: Cultivating Equanimity
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