In MIEL, we looked at the mindfulness, awareness, and contentment of peaceful abiding meditation, which is making peace rather than dwelling in it. Such peaceful abiding is based on courage, kindness, and curiosity, which we explored in CIEL. In both MIEL and CIIEL we worked with these qualities to open to ourselves and to our challenging world with maitri, loving-kindness. CIEL also explored other basic Buddhist insights, including stopping and simply feeling strong thoughts and emotions in the body when they arise.

We now look at Joy in Everyday Life. We may think that joy means some kind of blissfulness in meditation and in life; but bliss can be misunderstood. Thinking that meditation should lead to bliss or pleasure actually leads to all sorts of painful hopes and fears. Instead, we can live cheerful, healthy lives of energy and inspiration; this is the joy of connecting to reality with all its ups and downs. In this meditation tradition, joy is unconditional, and it is tinged with tenderness and sadness. We really feel the breeze, see colors, and feel our hearts. We can celebrate the journey of life and the joy of just being alive, with all its pain and challenges. And we can have a sense of humor about our life.

This kind of joy celebrates the magic of reality as it is including its energy, connectivity, and potency. In Tibet these qualities are called drala, which means above or beyond aggression. The ability to connect to this energy and potency is called windhorse. Rousing windhorse invites reality to touch and to communicate with us.