To rejoice in others' happiness without any preferences of our own shows
that we understand that the longing for happiness is the same for all beings.
We can rejoice in their temporal happiness, which has come from their
accumulation of merit. When we recognize the quality of happiness in
others--when we see someone genuinely smile or laugh or see a glimmer of
brightness in their eyes--we can rejoice. When they obtain something they
want or need, whatever it may be, we have an opportunity to practice
rejoicing. Beings long for all kinds of things, some of which we might not
want ourselves--but that doesn't matter. The important thing is that, if
only for a single moment, it has brought them some happiness.
-- Dzigar Kongtrul, from "Light Comes Through", published by Shambhala
Publications
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