This is event has now finished.  A recording of Visu's afternoon dharma sharing is available here.

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CULTIVATING JOY IN OUR LIVES

Living in these stressful and challenging times, it is easy to become exhausted, discouraged, and depressed. Sometimes it is hard to find joy in the midst of our busy and hectic lives. Which is all the more important that we make a purposeful and determined effort to cultivate joy in our lives.

Nothing can become strong unless we make a special effort to make it so. The mental quality of joy does not become strong and habitual unless we know how to cultivate and maintain it in our lives. The key to this is to make strong the practice of muditā - appreciative joy - in our daily life.

The Buddha taught four divine abidings (brahmavihāras) - mettā, lovingkindness, karunā, compassion, muditā, appreciative joy, and upekkhā, equanimity. All four are important qualities which are meant to uplift, ennoble, and beautify our minds. But often times we focus on mettā, and don't do enough of the other three. Also, most of us have been doing lots of vipassanā.

Let us, therefore, devote a whole day to muditā practice. This will give a strong boost of joy to our minds, following which we just have to remember to cultivate and maintain that joy in our daily life. We do not deny that there is much suffering in life. However, our practice of unconditional joy is an expression of our indomitable spirit. We are determined to remain undaunted in the face of adversities, cultivating an ever cheerful and never-say-die attitude. We rejoice that we can still find a blessing even in the suffering, that we can remain uncowed, that we can practise patience and perseverance, courage and determination. We can celebrate our irrepressible and unconquerable spirit.

I look forward to guiding this retreat, giving clear, precise and easy-to-follow instructions on how to cultivate, build up, and strengthen this mental factor of joy in our lives. Oh, may we bounce with joy. May we fill our hearts with delight. May we live lightly, cheerfully, and joyfully, taking all the ups and downs and challenges of life in our steady and skilful stride. And may we spread joy and happiness to all around us.

The program

Morning

• 9.00am: Welcome, beginning instructions and guided muditā practice.
• 10.00am: Walking muditā meditation.
• 11.00am: Sitting muditā meditation.

Lunch

• 12.00 noon. Lunch. Instructions on eating meditation, combining mindfulness with muditā.

Afternoon

• 1.30pm: Sitting muditā meditation.
• 2.30pm: Walking muditā meditation.
• 3.30pm: Sitting muditā meditation.

Sharing and close

• 4.30pm: Dhamma Talk, questions and discussion.
• 6.00pm: Conclusion with dedication of merits to loved ones and all beings.

Instructions, reminders, and encouragement will be given by Visu at every sitting and walking. This way we will have a feeling of practising together as a group. This group energy and effort will promote discipline, commitment, determination and joy in our practice.

For the walking practice, if space is constrained we can also do standing meditation or step out of the door and take a walk around the block while still continuing to cultivate joy in the mind. Those who prefer to practise in nature could also take their smart phone, tablet or laptop along with them to the park.

Participants are encouraged to turn on their videos so we can all see our beautiful faces. We think this can be regarded as an act of courtesy and, ah, perhaps also courage in the sense of overcoming shyness and, in turn, inspiring and encouraging others in the practice.

It would also be nice to have a name on your zoom and not just “iPhone” or “iPad” in big letters right across the screen, which is not pleasant at all to look at. Thoughtfulness, consideration and courtesy are also very much a part of our Dhamma practice.

May we have a fruitful retreat and make joy a natural part of our lives as we train our minds to flow and rest in this sublime quality.

Wishing you all wellbeing and happiness and looking forward to seeing all of you on zoom and having a wonderful practice together.

Visu

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About Visu

Visu Teoh believes in living lightly, cheerfully and joyfully and has been doing so for many years now. He stresses the importance of cultivating and maintaining a good mood throughout the day. A Buddhist monk for 17 years, he continues to teach Dhamma and leads retreats as a lay teacher after he disrobed in 2003. He is married and presently resides in Ulm, Germany. His teachings can be accessed at his website, www.visuteoh.net.