JOY OF MEDITATION

Simple Joys by Piya Tan ©2016

The secret to successful Buddhist meditation is JOY (pāmojja). This joy is more than the ordinary worldly “joy” which is external and “thing” based. It is not as powerful as ZEST or joyful interest (pīti), which is found in the first and second dhyanas. It is the kind of joy we feel when we have completed a task, and now have nothing to do. We often forget this vital kind of joy because we are quickly lost in other worldly things.

Warning: Meditation is not safe, even dangerous, when we feel no joy for it. It is well known that a significant number of people have breakdowns when they are not ready for certain kinds of meditation, such as “Vipassana.” The danger is especially real when we have a psychological condition (such as schizophrenia) or some emotional problem (say, we just lost a job or after a divorce), we go into deep meditation – without proper pre-meditation counselling and close monitoring.

There are some simple safeguards. The first rule is to STOP meditating the moment you feel uncomfortable with it. Meditation should be a pleasant, peaceful experience – otherwise, either the method does not suit you or you are not ready for it.

Even when you are doing well, or think you are doing well, you should know when to stop. Your body clock will naturally tell you this. You just need to feel it. This works when you do not take meditation as something to be “achieved,” a target. There is “goal or target” in meditation. The only purpose is “letting go,” a higher renunciation. The more you let go – of the body, of feelings, of thought, even of joy – then you will progress. The irony is that the more you let go, the easier meditation is.

The MOST IMPORTANT quality to nurture to help your meditation is JOY. That means we need LOVINGKINDNESS (mettā) with every meditation. If it is too long, just do the bit that you like. FEEL the joy, practise SMILING at it. For some, it helps to start with mettā; for all, we must always end with at least some mettā – to yourself, those you care for, your teachers, and so on.

Whatever your personality, it helps to do the “smiling meditation” (a name I use), especially for two crucial moments in our lives. First, gently SMILE (inwardly or outwardly) as we say the mettā words with feeling before falling asleep. Second, as soon as we wake up: gently smile, it’s a new day, no matter what.

Remember, Buddhism is a teaching of JOY, from beginning to end. It begins with the JOY OF BODY (be happy with our moral virtue); its middle is the JOY OF MIND (be happy with our wholesome concentration), and its ending is the JOY OF DHARMA (be happy with our wisdom to see impermanence and the true nature of things).

I’m only speaking of meditation based on Buddha Dharma – I can’t speak for the numerous other methods that we see today.

Oh yes, one great way to start feeling peace – spend a quiet moment gazing at the clear dark and moon-less NIGHT SKY of stars.

READ the reflection, “Joy as food”:
http://dharmafarer.org/…/2009/11/R197-Joy-as-food-110713-15…