Questions and Answers on the Contemplative Practice of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, 36

Question: During this period, I have begun to be able to focus on the breath in daily life as well. Sometimes while walking on the road, I focus on the breath as I walk, and joy begins to arise in my mind for no apparent reason. I had this experience three years ago too: after finishing a meditation session, I felt that every cell in my body was joyful, and I could accept whatever others said to scold me. But it lasted only a little over a month, and afterward I never had that feeling again—until recently, when this feeling appeared once more. Why does joy arise? 

Answer: One of the merits of meditative concentration (samādhi) is that it makes the mind joyful and the heart delighted. When the mind is single-pointed, it can transform the four great elements; the body becomes healthy, light, tranquil, and comfortable, so the mind is influenced by this and joy arises, the spirit becomes happy, and afflictions disappear. Mental joy is the joy enlightenment-factor, one of the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment. After the joy enlightenment-factor, the tranquility enlightenment-factor will arise, with body and mind becoming tranquil and at ease; after the tranquility enlightenment-factor, the concentration enlightenment-factor will arise. Once the body is tranquil and at ease, the concentration enlightenment-factor will appear, and after the concentration enlightenment-factor, the equanimity enlightenment-factor will emerge. The joy enlightenment-factor can subdue afflictions and lessen afflictions. 

When a person is happy and joyful, they become kind and gentle toward others, no longer resentful or irritated, tolerant and magnanimous—their temperament changes. Only with mental joy can there be goodness, and this is goodness born of merit. Therefore the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment are the indispensable path of practice for both the Mahāyāna and the Hīnayāna. Without cultivating the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment, the mind-ground cannot change, afflictions cannot be eradicated, and one cannot attain the fruits of realization or see the mind. Why is it that after the mind becomes focused, one feels that every cell in the whole 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 will feel comfortable, delighted, and joyful.