All right, here is the reality: Many people are celebrating today and many people are grieving. The meditative approach to whatever you are feeling is first of all to remember that all things are impermanent and that includes both delight and dismay. Next, if you are grieving, the meditative approach is to give what's known as "
sympathetic joy" to those who are celebrating. Sympathetic joy is the state of being truly happy for someone else's success (rather than envious or resentful.) If, on the other hand, you are celebrating, the meditative approach is to give compassion and
lovingkindness to those who are grieving - that is, sincerely to wish that their suffering is alleviated and that they be well and happy.
And, I offer you the following for your reflection:
But the greatest menace to our civilization today is the conflict between giant organized systems of self-righteousness -- each system only too delighted to find that the other is wicked -- each only too glad that the sins give it the pretext for still deeper hatred and animosity.
-- Herbert Butterfield
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