"Altruistic joy is usually defined as joy derived from the success and good fortune of others, but it can also refer in general to joy that is free of selfishness, resentment, jealousy, and envy. It is the direct opposite of the German word schadenfreude, which is pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others.

"Altruistic joy can be delicious because other people's good fortune tends to be quite visible, so if only I'm capable of rejoicing at other people's good fortune, I can rejoice a lot. For example, every year in my company, there are two promotion cycles. Lots of people get promoted, and usually, it's not me. Hence, if other people getting promoted brings me joy, I'll be plenty joyful, I tell you.

"The most surprising thing I have learned about altruistic joy is how hard it is to cultivate. In my experience, altruistic joy is much harder to cultivate than loving-kindness and compassion. Some meditation masters appear to have arrived at the same conclusion. The revered German-born Buddhist scholar-monk Nyanaponika Thera said, for example, that 'it is relatively easier for man to feel compassion or [loving-kindness] in situations which demand them, than to cherish a spontaneous feeling of shared joy, outside a narrow circle of one's family and friends.' Why is that so? I'm not sure why, but even among toddlers, compassion seems easier than altruistic joy. For example, when one toddler is crying, another will give her a hug to try to make her feel better. In contrast, when one toddler is given candy, another toddler doesn't go like, 'Yay! You have candy. I'm so happy!' The candy-less toddler is likely to cry out of envy or jealousy.

"Having said all that, there is good news. There is a subset of altruistic joy that is easy and uplifting, and that is rejoicing in the inner goodness and altruistic behavior of others. It is easy and uplifting because we are hardwired to be awed and inspired. Bring to mind somebody who you know is very kind and generous, and you feel awed, inspired, and uplifted. Rejoice! When you read of a woman who spends all her days volunteering at the local hospital to bring joy to cancer patients, you feel awed, inspired, and uplifted. Rejoice! When you hear of a man running into a burning building to save a total stranger, you feel awed, inspired, and uplifted. Rejoice!"

Read a practice on joy
Read another practice on joy