Mudita
In this article, we will delve into the fascinating world of Mudita, exploring its many facets and delving into its implications in today's society. Mudita has captured the attention of millions of people around the world, generating debate and reflection around its relevance and impact. Along these lines, we will analyze its evolution over time, as well as its influence in different areas, from culture to technology. Likewise, we will focus on the challenges and opportunities that Mudita currently presents, addressing its importance in a globalized and constantly changing context.
| Part of Theravāda Abhidhamma |
| 52 Cetasikas |
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| Theravāda Buddhism |
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| Translations of Mudita | |
|---|---|
| English | Sympathetic joy |
| Sanskrit | मुदिता |
| Pali | मुदिता |
| Burmese | မုဒိတာ (MLCTS: mṵdḭtà) |
| Chinese | 喜 (Pinyin: xǐ) |
| Japanese | 喜 (Rōmaji: ki) |
| Khmer | មុទិតា (UNGEGN: mŭtĭta) |
| Sinhala | මුදිතා |
| Tagalog | Mudita |
| Thai | มุทิตา (RTGS: muthitaa) |
| Vietnamese | hỷ |
| Glossary of Buddhism | |
Muditā (Pāli and Sanskrit: मुदिता) is a dharmic concept of joy, particularly an especially sympathetic or vicarious joy—the pleasure that comes from delighting in other people's well-being.[1]
Application
Mudita meditation cultivates appreciative joy at the success and good fortune of others. The Buddha described this variety of meditation in this way:
Here, O, Monks, a disciple lets his mind pervade one quarter of the world with thoughts of unselfish joy, and so the second, and so the third, and so the fourth. And thus the whole wide world, above, below, around, everywhere and equally, he continues to pervade with a heart of unselfish joy, abundant, grown great, measureless, without hostility or ill-will. (DN 13) [2]
Thus, mudita is also referred to as 'unselfish joy'.[3] The cultivation of virtues is manifested in the way that Buddhism is lived and practiced. Gavin Douglas notes that mudita and metta are 'associated with the act of sounding and hearing the bells' by the pagoda.[4]
Mudita is traditionally regarded as the most difficult to cultivate of the four immeasurables (brahmavihārā: also "four sublime attitudes").[citation needed] To show joy is to celebrate happiness and achievement in others even when we are facing tragedy ourselves.[5] Sayadaw U Pandita notes that mudita does not consist of false joy or envy. This means that deriving pleasure from the misfortune of others is not mudita, and neither are 'deceitful smirks' and 'false compliments'.[6]
The "far enemies" of joy are jealousy (envy) and greed, mind-states in obvious opposition. Joy's "near enemy", the quality which superficially resembles joy but is in fact more subtly in opposition to it, is exhilaration, described as a grasping at pleasant experience out of a sense of insufficiency or lack.[7][verification needed]
See also
- Brahmavihara
- Karuṇā (compassion)
- Metta (loving-kindness)
- Mindstream
- Pīti (joy)
- Sukha (happiness)
- Upekkha (equanimity)
- Similar concepts in other cultures:
- Compersion—in polyamory, positive feelings experienced by an individual when their intimate partner is enjoying another relationship
- Firgun—A Hebrew term with a similar meaning
- Naches—A Yiddish term with a very similar meaning
References
- ^ Salzberg, Sharon (1995). Loving-Kindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness. Shambhala Publications. p. 119. ISBN 9781570629037.
- ^ Nyanaponika, Thera; Jackson, Natasha; Knight, C.F.; Oates, L.R. (1983). Muditā: The Buddha's Teaching on Unselfish Joy (PDF). The Wheel. Vol. 170. Kandy, Sri Lanka: Buddhist Publication Society.
- ^ Casioppo, Danielle (2020-01-02). "The cultivation of joy: practices from the Buddhist tradition, positive psychology, and yogic philosophy". The Journal of Positive Psychology. 15 (1): 67–73. doi:10.1080/17439760.2019.1685577. ISSN 1743-9760.
- ^ Douglas, Gavin (2020-11-24). "Metta, Mudita, and Metal: Dhamma Instruments in Burmese Buddhism". Yale Journal of Music & Religion. 6 (1). doi:10.17132/2377-231X.1159. ISSN 2377-231X.
- ^ Harris, Elizabeth J. (June 1994). "A Journey into Buddhism". Access to Insight.
- ^ U Pandita, Sayadaw (2006). The State of Mind Called Beautiful. Simon and Schuster. p. 51. ISBN 9780861713455.
- ^
- Buddhaghosa, Bhadantãcariya (2010) . Visuddhimagga: The Path of Purification (PDF). Translated by Ñãṇamoli, Bhikkhu (4th ed.). 2.100.
- "Dhamma Lists". Insight Meditation Center. Redwood City, Calif. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
External links
- Four Sublime States, and, The Practice of Loving Kindness (PDF). The Wheel. Vol. 6/7. Translated by Ñāṇamoli, Bhikkhu; Nyanaponika, Thera. Kandy, Sri Lanka: Buddhist Publication Society. 2008 . ISBN 978-955-24-0170-1.
- Amaro, Ajahn (2016-07-29). "Just One More…". Amaravati.[promotion?]
- Napier, DaeJa. "Mudita: Appreciative Joy".
