As we cultivate our garden, the conditions become more conducive to the growth of bodhichitta (view definition of bodhichitta). We begin to feel joy. It comes from not giving up on ourselves, from mindfully sticking with ourselves and beginning to experience our great warrior spirit.

We also provide the conditions for joy to expand by training in the bodhichitta practices and in particular by training in rejoicing and appreciation. As with the other limitless qualities, we can do this as a three-step aspiration practice: "May I not be separated from the great happiness devoid of suffering. May you not be separated from the great happiness devoid of suffering."

The appreciation and joy in these words refer to always abiding in the wide-open, unbiased nature of our minds, to connecting with the inner strength of basic goodness. To do this, however, we start with conditioned examples of good fortune such as health, basic intelligence, a supportive environment - the fortunate conditions that constitute a precious human birth.

For the awakening warrior, the greatest advantage is to find ourselves in a time when it is possible to hear and practice the bodhichitta teachings.

We can practice the first step of the aspiration by learning to rejoice in our own good fortune. The key is to be here, fully connected with the details of our lives, paying attention. We are expressing appreciation: friendship toward ourselves and toward the living quality that is found in everything.

This combination of mindfulness and appreciation connects us fully with reality and brings us joy. When we extend attention and appreciation toward our environment and other people, our experience of joy expands even further.

- Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion by Pema Chodronhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhicitta