Mudita
When we are scrolling through Facebook or
Instagram we often feel envy looking at other people’s success or golden
moments. Is there an alternative to this feeling of envy? Yes there is and it
is the emotion called ‘Mudita’.
Mudita is the pleasure that comes from
delighting in other people’s well-being. It is pure joy unadulterated by
self-interest. We can be happy for the joys other persons feel.
Mudita meditation is used to cultivate
appreciative joy at the success and good fortune of others. It is to celebrate
happiness in others even when we ourselves may be going through a difficult
phase in our life.
Envy or jealousy is the enemy of joy. It is
based on the mindset of scarcity according to which if other people have more
it means less is available for me. And that’s the reason the person feels bad
about the success or good fortune of others.
Mudita on the other hand is based on the
mindset of abundance according to which if other people have more, more is
available for me too. Therefore the success of others inspires me and make me
happy.
There is an inner spring of infinite joy that
is available to everyone at all times regardless of circumstances. Let us drink
from this spring and share the abundant happiness with one and all.
