Answers to Questions on the Contemplative Practice of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness 36

Question: Recently, in my daily life, I have been able to focus on the breath. Sometimes while walking down the road, I focus on the breath as I walk, and a feeling of joy arises in my mind for no apparent reason. I had this experience three years ago as well. At that time, after finishing meditation, every cell in my body felt delightful, and no matter how others scolded me, I could accept it. But it lasted only a little over a month, and afterward I never had this feeling again—until recently, when it reappeared. Why does joy arise? 

Answer: One of the merits of meditative concentration (samādhi) is that it makes the mind joyful and inwardly delighted. When the mind is unified in focus, it can transform the four great elements, so the body becomes healthy, light, tranquil, and comfortable. The mind is thus influenced and gives rise to joy, feeling happy and free of afflictions. Mental joy is the joy enlightenment-factor, one of the thirty-seven factors of the path. After the joy enlightenment-factor arises, the tranquility enlightenment-factor arises, with body and mind becoming tranquil and at ease. After the tranquility enlightenment-factor, the concentration enlightenment-factor arises. Once the body is tranquil and at ease, the concentration enlightenment-factor appears, and after the concentration enlightenment-factor, the equanimity enlightenment-factor arises. The joy enlightenment-factor can subdue and lighten afflictions. 

When a person is happy and joyful, they become kind and gentle toward others, no longer angry or resentful; they become tolerant and magnanimous, and their temperament changes. Only with mental joy can there be goodness, and this is goodness born of merit. Therefore, the thirty-seven factors of the path are the necessary path of practice for both the Mahāyāna and the Hīnayāna. Without cultivating the thirty-seven factors of the path, the mind-ground cannot be transformed, afflictions cannot be eliminated, and one cannot realize the fruits or awaken to the true mind. Why is it that after the mind becomes focused, one feels that every cell in the body is joyful? Because the transformation of the four great elements begins with the most fundamental particles of the cells. When the four great elements of the cells are transformed, the mind feels comfortable, delighted, and joyful.