Practices for a Boundless Heart & Mind: 3 Dwelling in the Third Heavenly Abode - Cultivating Sympathetic Joy (Mar/CC)

Practices for a Boundless Heart & Mind: 3 Dwelling in the Third Heavenly Abode: Cultivating Sympathetic Joy The Brahmaviharas —also known as the Heavenly Abodes or Immeasurable Minds—are fundamental benevolent practices in Buddhism and Zen. They are metta (lovingkindness), karuna (compassion), mudita (sympathetic joy), and upekkha (equanimity). In this class, the Third Brahmavihara (Sympathetic Joy) will be presented:
Dwelling in the Third Heavenly Abode: Cultivating Sympathetic Joy
Saturday, March 17 1:15 - 4 pm with Anshin Rosalie Curtis Conference Center, 308 Page Street The four Brahmaviharas, or four heavenly abodes, are our true home when we cultivate the four qualities of lovingkindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. Through this effort we can change our minds, which in turn changes the world we live in to a happier, safer, more loving and peaceful place, where we can honestly feel our deep connection with all beings. These four aspects of the mind of true love are all interrelated: cultivating any one of them helps us to discover the others within ourselves. In this afternoon seminar we will learn how to cultivate sympathetic joy - mudita, which is happiness we feel for another’s happiness, gladness for someone else’s good fortune or wellbeing. It is unselfish joy, and it is possible for anyone to develop this rare and wonderful quality of love. Each of the abodes has a far enemy, which is its opposite. The far enemy of sympathetic joy is envy or jealousy. We are all familiar with these unwholesome states of mind, and they cause a lot of pain and suffering for everyone. With practice we can learn to share the happiness of others and, in the process, we will experience far more joy in our lives. Experiencing this kind of happiness and joy in our lives is taking up residence in a heavenly abode, dwelling comfortably in the mind of true love. It is possible to practice this and manifest it in our own lives. Please join us to learn how.
Click here if you wish register for All Four classes, and receive a discount, or if you would like information on the other classes covering the Brahmaviharas . (The deadline for this opportunity is March 3, before the first class.)