Cattāri Brahmavihārā

Today I had the joy and blessing to be able spend the day with my son and his best friend at an amusement park to celebrate her birthday. I must admit that when my wife volunteered me I was none too thrilled but I put my game face on and cheerfully drove uptown through the Saturday morning traffic clogging the FDR to pick up the birthday girl et alia and spend the day surrounded by screaming children.

As the day progressed I began to share in my son’s excitement until the moment that we arrived. The sheer joy and excitement of the kids was something that I won’t soon forget and honestly warmed my heart. All of this struck me as strange because, despite all of my practice, I tend to be an inveterate cynic about these types of things but maybe my heart’s starting melt just a little bit after all of these years. It was at the point when my son and I were whirling around on a ride that I caught the look of pure joy on his face tha I felt what can only be described as unadulterated mudita and was left awash in joyful appreciation of his happiness.

I feel that through the Dhamma I am really learning what it means to be a parent and am so grateful to be able to practice and to be able to bring even mundane moments of happiness to my children. Sukhi hotu!