It could be gazing relaxedly at a beautiful mountain, a slow-moving river, the ocean, or a wide blue sky. We simply gently gaze at a flower, a tree, birds, a beautiful piece of art, or even a picture of our dharma teacher. We then gently place our awareness on and calmly observe the object. All that matters is that the thing we choose ignites joy, no matter how subtle. The Path of Joy begins with us choosing an object that brings us simple, uncomplicated joy. It’s just that this natural joy is crowded out by the constant activity and stress of our daily lives and the constant chatter of our overburdened minds. It is about connecting with an intrinsic quality that is within us already. Although this practice is rooted in core Buddhist teachings such as the Seven Factors of Awakening, it is not about learning lists or getting involved in conceptual thinking or analysis.
Let’s unpack what this instruction means. The concise pith instruction for this practice is:Īrouse joy and rest in its natural radiance! Not only is this the heart of the path, but indeed it is the heart of Awakening. The Path of Joy has become a core part of our practice and is a powerful method to deepen meditation and all other Buddhist practices. As far as we know, no other Western students of Togden Amtrin were given this teaching, which means it is precious and rare. This profound yet simple practice was given to me by Jamyang Tenphel, who received it directly from the late Kyabje Togden Amtrin (1922 – 2005), a great yogi and realized teacher of the Drukpa Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and a Dzogchen master. Luckily for us, there is a simple way to awaken to joy and ignite joyful enthusiasm for dharma. This is called joyful enthusiasm for practice. Meditation will become something sweet we look forward to doing each day, rather than a chore or a bitter medicine we feel we have to swallow. Without joy, the seedling will wither and die.”īy starting our meditation practice with joy in our hearts, we begin to associate all dharma activity with joy and we will, in time, begin to look forward to practice.
Jamyang Tenphel, my teaching partner, often says: “If we imagine our practice to be like a seedling, joy is the water that helps the seedling to grow. Joy is the fuel, the nourishment, that helps our practice grow strong and stable. Quite simply, without joy there is no enlightenment. Whether we are beginners or more advanced, it is impossible to accomplish any of our dharma practices without it. Joy is also one of the seven factors of awakening-the qualities of mind that, when cultivated in a balanced way, lead to total enlightenment. It is one of the four immeasurables, the characteristics of the enlightened mind. Joy is an incredibly important aspect of all Buddhist practice.
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