In short: mudita is sympathetic joy: being genuinely glad at another person's happiness or success. It is the third brahmavihara, after metta and karuna, and the direct remedy for envy and jealousy. Practise by recalling someone who is happy and wishing their joy to continue.
In the Buddha’s words
They meditate spreading a heart full of rejoicing …
DN 13, translated by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0)
Practise
- Think of someone who is doing well.
- Feel their joy, then wish: "may your happiness continue".
- Extend to others, including someone you envy.
See envy and jealousy, metta, karuna and upekkha.
Common misunderstandings
- Joy for others is not fake cheer. It is honest gladness, built slowly.
- It is not blocked by envy. Envy is the thing mudita works on.
- It is not only for friends. It grows by including people you find hard.
Try this: when you hear good news about someone, pause and silently say 'may your joy continue'.
Glossary: Buddhist terms · Pali pronunciation · the Eightfold Path
Questions people ask
What does mudita mean?
Mudita is sympathetic joy: genuine gladness at the happiness and success of others.
Why is mudita hard?
Envy and comparison get in the way. Mudita is the direct antidote to jealousy.
How do I practise mudita?
Think of someone who is happy and silently say 'may your happiness continue', then extend to others.