| July 6, 2018 Mindful News Mudita: Vicarious Joy, or Happiness with other's successes I just returned from my annual 5-day silent retreat at Rolling Ridge Retreat Center in Andover, MA and like all former retreats, this one did not disappoint! A silent retreat (in the same vein as the Tom Hanks character Forrest Gump's view of life) is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get! Something always bubbles up from the unconscious whenever we spend that much time in quiet solitude. At this retreat, led by Steven Hickman and Beth Mulligan , I learned about "Mudita". Mudita is a Pali word that means joy; especially sympathetic or vicarious joy . That includes joy in the successes of others. I found it ironic that I learned about Mudita from Beth Mulligan. I had never met Beth, although I heard many great things about her. She held a silent retreat here in South Florida a couple of years ago, a retreat that many of my MBSR students attended. They raved about her, and I have to admit, I was envious. Then, recently, my students told me about the book Beth had published, something I’ve been trying to do for years. Again, envy. I hate to admit that I avoided buying the book because I did not want to experience the pain of failure for not being able to write one myself. I now see that I have a habit of avoiding reading or hearing about the successes of others (e.g. Facebook posts and newsletters) to avoid my own inner critic’s voice, “See how great they are doing?” or “You could never do that”, or “You’re not keeping up”. I see now that although this behavior was protecting me from pain, it was also stunting my growth and limiting my connections with others. I remember an old Buddhist saying, “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the single candle will not be shortened”. Thank you, Beth, for teaching me about Mudita. I just ordered your book, and can’t wait to start reading!” Upcoming Events All-day Silent Retreat for MBSR Graduates Sunday, July 14, from 8:45 am to 4:00 pm All MBSR graduates are invited to attend our all-day silent retreat at the Faulk Center for Counselling . Attendance is free; donations graciously accepted! sign up here Half-Day Silent Retreat for MSC Graduates 12:00 to 4:00 pm All MSC graduates are invited to attend our all-day silent retreat at Boca Raton Physical Therapy . Attendance is free; donations graciously accepted! Sign up here Share your story with us! We would love to hear any insights of what you are learning as you continue to explore your life in a mindful way. If you are inclined, please send us your personal stories to post in future newsletters by clicking here. |
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Mudita: Vicarious Joy, or Happiness with other's successes | |
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I just returned from my annual 5-day silent retreat at Rolling Ridge Retreat Center in Andover, MA and like all former retreats, this one did not disappoint! A silent retreat (in the same vein as the Tom Hanks character Forrest Gump's view of life) is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get! Something always bubbles up from the unconscious whenever we spend that much time in quiet solitude.
At this retreat, led by Steven Hickman and Beth Mulligan, I learned about "Mudita". Mudita is a Pali word that means joy; especially sympathetic or vicarious joy. That includes joy in the successes of others. I found it ironic that I learned about Mudita from Beth Mulligan. I had never met Beth, although I heard many great things about her. She held a silent retreat here in South Florida a couple of years ago, a retreat that many of my MBSR students attended. They raved about her, and I have to admit, I was envious. Then, recently, my students told me about the book Beth had published, something I’ve been trying to do for years. Again, envy. I hate to admit that I avoided buying the book because I did not want to experience the pain of failure for not being able to write one myself.
I now see that I have a habit of avoiding reading or hearing about the successes of others (e.g. Facebook posts and newsletters) to avoid my own inner critic’s voice, “See how great they are doing?” or “You could never do that”, or “You’re not keeping up”. I see now that although this behavior was protecting me from pain, it was also stunting my growth and limiting my connections with others.
I remember an old Buddhist saying, “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the single candle will not be shortened”. Thank you, Beth, for teaching me about Mudita. I just ordered your book, and can’t wait to start reading!” | |
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All-day Silent Retreat for MBSR Graduates
Sunday, July 14, from 8:45 am to 4:00 pm
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All MBSR graduates are invited to attend our all-day silent retreat at the Faulk Center for Counselling. Attendance is free; donations graciously accepted! | |
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Half-Day Silent Retreat for MSC Graduates
12:00 to 4:00 pm
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All MSC graduates are invited to attend our all-day silent retreat at Boca Raton Physical Therapy. Attendance is free; donations graciously accepted!
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Share your story with us! | |
We would love to hear any insights of what you are learning as you continue to explore your life in a mindful way. If you are inclined, please send us your personal stories to post in future newsletters by clicking here. | |
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