Joy is….
The answers are varied and for many of us not something we can set in stone. Joy can seem fleeting. Yet, it is something we all strive to have in our lives.
It was during a challenging period of my life I sat down and read The Book of Joy*(Affiliate link). It is a weeklong conversation between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu woven together with a narrative by Douglas Abrams. Some may find it odd to see a Tibetan Buddhist, an Anglican cleric sharing their thoughts and views based upon their theology, life experiences and reading of other fields. To have it narrated and guided by a man of the Jewish faith seems to add a depth and a life example to the reader.
What place does this book review have within Music Sparks?
The over-arching theme is joy comes from our togetherness, from our being in community.. The posts on this blog are here to support people to live in community through and around music.
Sharing resources which deepen our understanding of ourselves and of others thereby strengthening our relations one with another is key,
Exploration of joy
The book is divided into divided into four sections::
- The Nature of True Joy
- The Obstacles to Joy
- The Eight Pillars of Joy
- Celebration/Departure/Practices
The first two section prepare the reader to explore the pillars.
The pillars are grouped by area of focus. Pillars of perspective, humility, humor, and acceptance have a “mind” focus. Pillars of forgiveness, gratitude, compassion, and generosity have a “heart” focus.
While not shown as a separate index section the Celebration/Departure/Practices is for me about taking joy into our lives.
Joy in our world
….seems to be something upon which we can agree. Give this book a read.
