To rejoice in others’ happiness without any preferences of our own shows that we understand that the longing for happiness is the same for all beings. We can rejoice in their temporal happiness, which has come from their accumulation of merit. When we recognize the quality of happiness in others—when we see someone genuinely smile or laugh or see a glimmer of brightness in their eyes — we can rejoice. When they obtain something they want or need, whatever it may be, we have an opportunity to practice rejoicing. Beings long for all kinds of things, some of which we might not want ourselves—but that doesn’t matter. The important thing is that, if only for a single moment, it has brought them some happiness.

Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

from the book Light Comes Through: Buddhist Teachings on Awakening to Our Natural Intelligence

Read a random quote or see all quotes by Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche.

Further quotes from the book Light Comes Through:

• A feeling of positive disgust
• The business of a bodhisattva
• Taking delight in working with our fears
• Putting others in the center