The Path of the Open Heart: Embracing a Happier Life Through Compassionate Practices
Week 3: Empathetic Joy (Mudita): Sharing in the joy and happiness of others
David Oromith · 86 minutes · recorded June 22, 2023
After checking in on the week's practice of loving kindness and compassion, David turns to mudita, joy at others' happiness, naming its near enemies, envy and cynicism, and using the image of a monkey stuck in tar for how comparison and judgement trap us. He describes noticing joy in daily life and on social media rather than resenting it. Questions move into acceptance and childhood hurt before a closing meditation in which we recall loved ones' joy and everyday kindness seen out in the world.
For this week's practice, I encourage you to take your practice into the real world. During your daily commutes, trips to shops, walks and other activities, make it your job to seek out the joy and goodness that there is around you. Remember: what you attend to is your reality, bring balance to the negativity by highlighting the positive. Combine it with gratitude, loving-kindness and compassion where it makes sense, genuinely wishing that others are having a wonderful day and that they are overcoming their challenges. We can also spend time engaging in meditations on empathetic joy. The podcast's guided meditation Starting Your Day With Gratitude pairs well with this week's practice.
Comparison and self-cherishing Distraction and attention Gratitude and appreciation Patience, forbearance and acceptance Work and daily life Compassion (karuna) Empathetic joy (mudita) Loving kindness (metta)