36 The Roots of Empathetic Joy

This afternoon's guided meditation on the immeasurable of
empathetic joy focuses on cultivating the underlying causes of
genuine happiness and flourishing. Alan Wallace reminds us that
Tsongkhapa said that the easiest and most effective way to
empower and energize one's practice is to take delight and
satisfaction in it.


The guided meditation begins at 12:30 in the recording.


After the guided meditation, Alan answers these questions from
the group:


1. Can you expand on the concept of collective karma that you
mentioned recently?


2. Does Buddhism have a concept of free will, and how does this
relate to non-self?


3. When I'm dwelling in the space of the mind, suddenly I
remember that I am supposed to exhale and release, and I lose the
concept of dwelling in the space of the mind. Then I'll just
forget about exhaling anything, and breath and maintain awareness
in this space...


4. In the practice of awareness of awareness, is there a
difference in the way you release thoughts as compared to the
practice of mindfulness of breathing?


5. Can you describe a different way of doing tonglen (sending and
receiving) for those who, like myself, have difficulty letting go
of (or allowing the incineration of) the suffering that is drawn
in on the in-breath?


6. You've used the term "sealing the path" often - what does this
mean and how does it relate to stream entry?