health
Envy used to prickle me constantly. But Buddhism teaches us that if someone feels joy, we too can feel it
If I wish myself happiness, then I might gradually become more positively disposed to the happiness of others
TL;DR
- Envy and comparison can hinder happiness, while empathetic joy (mudita) fosters positive emotions.
- Mudita, one of the four immeasurables in Buddhism, involves feeling joy for another's good fortune and is linked to interconnectedness.
- Scientific research suggests a correlation between empathetic joy and increased life satisfaction, happiness, altruism, and relationship quality.
- Cultivating mudita involves overcoming near and far enemies like resentment, jealousy, and excessive reactions.
- Practices for developing mudita include starting with self-wishing happiness, contemplating shared humanity, focusing on appreciation, and being open to receiving kindness.