Mudita Explained
Mudita is a Pali word that means “sympathetic joy” or “happiness at another’s success in life.”
In Buddhist teachings, mudita is one of the four Brahma-viharas, or “highest emotions,” alongside love, compassion, and equanimity. I first learned of the word during a terrific retreat with Buddhist meditation teacher Leigh Brasington.
I hold no reverence for exotic terms, and I rarely favor a foreign word when an English one will do.
But in this case, there is no English word. We have many words with an opposite meaning — envy, jealousy, compassion, pity — but none for feelings of happiness or even approval at another’s success. The nearest word might be “pride,” but this is usually restricted to one’s self.
The omission is reflected in modern culture. You can hardly scan the headlines of a newspaper without reading about designs to “soak the rich,” but you almost never see a story about how wonderful it is that some people succeed in achieving their financial dreams. We are taught to pursue our dreams, but to resent those who achieve them.
Mudita is an antidote to this mentality, and it reaches far beyond matters of material success.
In the outstanding book The Art of Living Consciously, psychologist Nathaniel Branden explains that “Whoever continually strives to achieve a clearer and clearer vision of reality and our place in it — whoever is pulled forward by a passion for such clarity — is, to that extent, leading a spiritual life.”
Part of understanding one’s “place in reality” is identifying what we admire, what we support, and what makes us happy. In this respect, mudita is an essential component of the spiritual life.
Certain elements of mudita are captured in what Branden calls “psychological visibility” — the positive feelings that result from having one’s true nature understood, from seeing one’s self mirrored in another. Think about how it feels to talk with someone who understands you, who might be pursuing goals similar to your own. Or how it feels even to look at a healthy plant, thriving on sun and soil.
These connections to the rest of the world ground us not only in healthy relationships, but in a healthy life. Without them, we are a plant without soil ourselves.
Note that, while the word “mudita” has an Eastern lineage, its full realization lies as much in the tradition of Western individualism, of seeing each person as an end in him- or herself. The term provides an interesting bridge between Eastern and Western values, which I’ll explore more as time permits. Stay tuned.
Great word, love it. Looking forward to more.
I love the conceptual benevolence behind mudita and your weblog, Joshua.
I was first introduced to the concept of mudita last winter after happening upon a biographical account of Buddha’s life entitled _Buddha_, by Karen Armstrong. Reading about Buddha’s life and learning more about Buddhism has been something of a spirtitual reawakening for me.
I would absolutely love to read more essays or meditations concerning the influence of Eastern values on Western culture.
All best,
Patricia
Josh, sorry to use your boards for non-mudita stuff.
Ramie Stata? Long time no see? Or do I have a different Raymie Stata?
–Kyle
Joshua, what a sweet gift mudita is!
I look forward to getting to know you through time. I think you and I will enjoy one another greatly. What a wonderful future we have together!
Namaste, (or as my friends like to say, “no mistakes”!)
Mark
Seeing a journal with my name feels good. So, there is some “happiness at one’s own success” too!! Do you have an e-alert?
hi joshua
being a web developer and a fan of ayn rand , i couldn’t help my self from browsing your site . my congratulations . a job neatly done. i feel it would be wunnerful if we could get to discuss onj the net more about objectivism and mindfullness.
gautham
Interesting site.
Amazing that there seem to be so few excellent sites dealing with closing the gap between Eastern peace and Western dynamism.
Come by some time and visit mine: http://www.infinitesmile.com
Take care,
Michael
Your site is a really interesting application of the idea of mudita, to say the least. I don’t entirely agree with it, but I salute your creativity. Having studied some Pali, I would like to point you to one technical detail: the A in “mudita” is long and the I isn’t, which means that (at least in Pali) it should be pronounced roughly with the accent on the last syllable and not the second (moo-dee-TAH, not moo-DEE-ta).
Terrrific concept! I plan immediately to incorporate this word into my vocabulary and to ponder its broader meaning while integrating it into my thinking. Thanks, it is a concept very lacking in our culture, as you so observed. Whether or not your definition captures the true meaning of the Pali usage is not entirely relevant for this purpose.
“Yet, their [mindfulness and individualism] intertwinings are the stuff of elegance, and provide the intellectual basis of this journal.”
A worthy endeavor and important integration of two concepts/traditions that need each other. Coming from a background in “individualism”, I believe that individualism has got to mean more than individual rights and free markets if it is going to make a difference in people’s lives. Those two worthy goals are simply boundary conditions that set up a space in which to live our lives — free from the initiation of force by others including the government. But the really important question is: how should we live our lives, in a free country and in the country we have right here, right now? After all, I’d say the pay off in terms of happiness and fulfillment of a knowledge of true principles of politics and economics is fairly limited. It is not fundamental. The really important stuff is at a deeper, more personal, level.
I look forward to enjoying your thoughts.
Mudita or Mudit is a Sanskrit word not Pali which means “joy” or “happiness”.
It is mentioned in Rig Veda and Sam Veda (3000B.C.) even before origin of Pali language or dilect.
Thanks,
Mudita
Mudita,
I’m sure you’re right about the Sanskrit origins of ‘mudita.’ In my own definitions and discussion of the word, I am of course relying more on the recent uses of the word by Buddhist teachers in the United States and elsewhere.
Joshua
What a wonderful word and quality to develop. This quality can transform the world.
In our ever-increasing competitive world we breed success but also breed jealousy, envy.
But Mudita.... Wow that’s something everybody can generate and receive the benefit!!
Great word ! No such word in German, Russian and Polish
Hi, Well my email doesn’t have anything to do with your business, sorry. I was wondering if we’re related to eachother because there’s only a few Zader’s out there?????
Interestingly, we have discussed the opposite of “mudita” periodically on our wordcraft bulletin board; that word is “epicaricacy,” or finding joy in someone’s misfortune. Yesterday someone found your site’s discussion of “mudita,” and we thought it might be the antonym for “epicaricacy.” Yet, what about the English word “macarism?” Isn’t that similar to “mudita” in meaning? What’s the distinction?
Kelleh,
I am unable to find the word “Macarism” in any of the English dictionaries I have at my disposal...
Joshua
There’s something on the Merriam-Webster Dictionary website called the “open dictionary,” wherein people can submit new or made-up words, words they think should be in the dictionary but are not. Most of the submissions are on the humorous side, but some are thoughtful and serious. Even though mudita is a “real” word in another language, just for fun you could submit it to this site to share the concept with an even larger, and perhaps younger, audience.
So mudita is the opposite of “schadenfreud” that creepy concept of “happiness at hearing of the misfortune of others”.
My name is Mudita and I was wondering what my name looked like written in sanskrit. I know there is an alphabet. But I was wondering if the litteral translation of the word would be different than just transfering letter for letter. Please get back to me...
Awesome!!! I have been searching for a year to find a word that was basically the opposite of jealousy. I have found in my teaching that jealousy is one of the great issues and root causes of problems in our school, city and world. I shall add “Mudita” to my list of virtues that I teach. Respectfully, Kim Nuxhall
This is great love the blog entry...I have got to be honest... I knew that my name was related to “joy” and “happiness”. But “joy and happiness at others success” this gives me a whole new perpective.
Joshua - I liked the sound of your name so much that I could not resist doing some bit of research to find what it means. Hope I got it right - “God is my salvation”...pretty amazing
-Mudit
Great word “mudita” and great you for note that there is no word for this feeling, and as side-effect also noting the psychological and philosophical implications about competeviness in our behavior as human beings
I searched in Spanish a word for this feeling and the closer one is “regocijo” that is used usually about the feeling of joy for something good that is happening to other people or just happening. But there is no word so specific as “mudita”. Good job
Have been searching for just the right name for my new farm. Alas the search is over :-D. On another note, I’ve always struggled with the concept of altruism, don’t believe it truly exists. Mudita is much better.
mudita ~= the Greek concept of agape?
With mindfulness I see one of life’s interesting coincidences.
I am a Buddhist meditation teacher. During dharma talk, I introduced the word mudita to participants and explained its meaning. Many made notes indicating that they too appreciate this excellent word.
The interesting coincidence is, in case you haven’t already discovered it, Joshua, is that my name is Leigh.
Mudita,
Leigh
Makes one wonder what other definitions can’t find their word in the English language. Glad someone is thinking about things like this. You must have the concept before you rate a word. Sadly our culture is lacking in their understanding of quite a few obvious things.
I so appreciate this. Mudita!
Thank you!!
Pamela