Mudita - Ordinary Joy in Simple Pleasures
There are many different kinds of joy. This week, I focused on " mudita ," the third of the brahmaviharas in my yoga classes. There are other words for joy in Sanskrit, but this a special kind of joy. One of my students lit up when she heard me use and describe the meaning of this word. She kept repeating it - and said she would share it with her own children... As I researched the word, I found many others that were used to explain it - and of course I came across so many different translations of Sutra 1.33 by Patanjali. One of these described mudita as "honor for those who embody noble qualities." My own personal interpretation is "joy in service to others." It is the kind of feeling that we feel when we celebrate the accomplishments and successes of others. When I think of embodying mudita , I think of unveiling what is extraordinary at the heart of ordinary experiences - and I also think of those ordinary individuals who manage to make a differen...