I got this wonderful idea from my good friend, Mei Ho. Here is her explanation from her
webpage/blog.
Mudita Mondays
What is the purpose of Mudita Mondays?
Mudita. [Pāli and Sanskrit: मुदित]
Simplest meaning translated is unselfish joy.
It is finding joy and pleasure through other people’s well-being rather
than begrudging it. If this doesn’t make any sense to you, read on to
find out why you need to change your perspective. If this makes sense to
you, read on to find out how you can spread the feeling of Mudita in
your life.
Indeed, being truly happy for another is easier said than done
because we live in a world where we judge ourselves against others a lot
– not to mention the power our media has on us and particularly the
younger generation. In today’s world, kids want to
grow up
to become famous rather than be astronauts or a President / Prime
Minister. Albeit this is changing, there’s always going to be a
subconscious inner-self or ego that will try to compete rather than to
be happy for another.
Why you should be happy for another
Let’s breakdown the meaning of Mudita by contrasting it with words Western society knows best:
Envy:”a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities, or luck”
Judgment:”an opinion or conclusion”
Comparsion:”estimate, measure, or note the similarity or dissimilarity between [you and the other person]”
Avarice: “extreme greed for wealth or material gain”
When we allow envy, judgment, comparison and avarice take control of
our feelings, we gain dissatisfaction and contempt in our lives. Not
only do we stop giving or helping others, we distort our own realities
by either inwardly destroying ourselves through unrealistic expectations
or we destroy others through ‘hatin’ and spreading negativity or faking
Mudita until you achieve what you want. Here’s an
example
of struggling through feeling Mudita from a yoga instructor, Charlotte
Bell. No, yogis are just human beings as well and we don’t float on
mountains with our legs crossed. Rather, Mudita, as Bell states in her writing, “helps uproot the unhappy
states of envy, judgment and comparison.” Wow. That was brilliantly
worded.
What you can do if you are attracted to Mudita
1) Mudita is a state of mind. It is not something you achieve and move
on. If you want to feel this, you must do a temperature test every time
judgment, envy, avarice or comparison creep into your mind. Buddhist
philosophy or even E. Tolle calls it mindfulness meditation which in
turns allows these feelings to pass you by and let go of the ego and
turn on your positivity and Mudita onto others.
2) Define those people around you that you can feel Mudita for. Pay
close attention to those you envy or compare to because once you let
that pass, they are those whom may change your personal welfare. It may
be family members, close friends or just those who are truly brilliant!
3) Try Mudita Mondays.
SO... here is to trying to be mindful and appreciative of those around us. I'm going to do my best to embrace Mudita Mondays!
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