Mudita
Taught two classes on the theme of mudita, "sympathetic joy." Mudita is one of the four Brahma-Viharas or the "abodes of Brahma." One of the four most important qualities the Buddha said we human beings ought to cultivate in our lifetime. I was thinking of mudita because one of my friends got a lot of credit over a weekend workshop I took, and it sparked some feelings of jealousy in me. It sparked some feelings of "what about me? Why can't other's see my own light?" Which- to be really honest- is one of my oldest wounds, going all the way back to childhood, to when my brother got all the attention growing up.
And then -this is true- as the workshop progressed, I found myself allowing the feelings of mudita to take seed and spread. I found myself being truly happy for my friend and feeling an expansion inside. How wonderful for her to be seen. Good for her and all the work that she has done! Of course she is wonderful!
I think when we practice mudita, we can see that other's triumphs do not in any way diminish our own light; in fact, it can enhance it. And practicing sympathetic joy can also help us receive the love, when others are truly happy for our own success. I know in this last week so many people have been so happy for me, in regards to my certification. I've been getting ecstatic emails, calls, texts, letters, some gifts (thank you Erika, Tony!) some dinner invitations (Joy!) and so much love. And being able to receive the love without being self-deprecating or dismissive is a gift you give back to others.
Theme: Mudita
Virtue: Expansion
UPA: Organic Energy
"When we remember we're all one, then we can express our joy towards others even more fully."
We went into the hips and arm balances today.
Sequence:
Child's Pose, Down Dog, Uttanasana
Surya Namaskar interspersed with a few shoulder stretches
Crescent with the arms back, fingers interlaced. Go into Ostrich.
Some groin stretches:
low lunge with forearms down
low lunge hold back foot with opposite hand.
Dolphin
Forearm Balance with strap around upper arms, to feel organic energy expansion in the upper arms.
Baddha Konasana version with a block to stretch adductors (apparently there's two different versions of this- one with the block underneath the feet and one with the block between the feet and you keep switching the level of the block- thanks Mackie!).
Baby cradle
Eka Hasta Bhujasana. Astavakrasana. Eka Pada Koundyniasana #1
Vajrasana
Bharadvajrasana #1
Parivrtta Parsvakonasana
Eka Pada Koundinyasana #1
Setu Bandhasana
Supta Padangusthasana variations
Savasana
Anusara Poster Project Pose: Eka Pada Koundinyasana #1
Thank you for the reminder. Really. As I create a vision of what I want my life, & my life as a teacher, to be like, I take inspiration from others. And some days, that inspiration looks alot like envy.
For me, the desire to emulate, to follow a similar road as someone else just can have a feeling tone that's a lot less pleasant than shared joy. But you are 1000% right -- it's a source of great pleasure to see others blossom!
Reply to this
I know! "Envy", "jealousy" can be great alarms to remind us to look at what we want in our own lives. We shouldn't be afraid of them. Thank you for your comment.
Reply to this