The joy of being alive. Just listen to a baby laugh. He/she has won life through all the months of growth and development and the perils of being born and now faces the challenge of becoming an autonomous human being. There is laughter and delight at every new discovery. I can return to my first days and that joyous sense of wonder because the opportunities for growth and discovery never end.
My 3 year old grandniece was laughing and giggling while running around. There was no purpose or goal in what she was doing. She is full of love and life. That is precious,
If you smile at a baby, the baby will usually smile back, without being like, "Who's this guy/lady?" I think we can learn from this because it is an example of loving unconditionally no matter who it is. This includes the so-called "unlovable," even though it's difficult. If Hitler smiled at a baby, the baby would not ask what kind of person he was; the baby would just smile back because the baby is wise and knows that all humans deserve unconditional love, especially those who do not know love ...
If you smile at a baby, the baby will usually smile back, without being like, “Who’s this guy/lady?” I think we can learn from this because it is an example of loving unconditionally no matter who it is. This includes the so-called “unlovable,” even though it’s difficult. If Hitler smiled at a baby, the baby would not ask what kind of person he was; the baby would just smile back because the baby is wise and knows that all humans deserve unconditional love, especially those who do not know love themselves.
So many good answers today. For me the moment that says it all is when a baby notices its hands for the first time. It’s not just the joy of seeing them but the sense that the hand is just part of the rest of the world. There’s no sense of any separateness between baby and world. We spend a lifetime trying to grasp that moment again in our own lives. I guess maybe it’s the grasping that hinders us.
Rather then just repeat my response of a year ago ( see below) I will add to it.
Joy has the characteristics of the "thin places" which Brother David referred to in his most recent blog. He went on to say that this state, which children have naturally, is obliterated by western so-called "Education" and "conditioning".
Quoting here
"Celtic spirituality speaks of “Thin Places,” where the veil between this world and another is translucent. Ther...
What can babies teach us about joy?
Rather then just repeat my response of a year ago ( see below) I will add to it.
Joy has the characteristics of the “thin places” which Brother David referred to in his most recent blog. He went on to say that this state, which children have naturally, is obliterated by western so-called “Education” and “conditioning”.
Quoting here
“Celtic spirituality speaks of “Thin Places,” where the veil between this world and another is translucent. There are “Thin Seasons” also – and now one has come. Can you not sense the Great Secret – the meaning of all – beyond a thin, thin veil, these days? Let’s celebrate this: Let’s play! Only when we play do we truly celebrate.” End Quote
Within that quote is a gracious way of connecting Joy to babies and to celebration!
In replying to Brother David’s point I do not wish to consider Brother David “old” in anyway But I do want to thank him for his wisdom and humbleness by quoting this poetic verse by William Blake
Babies, at least those who are born into stable and safe environments, can teach us almost everything about joy. Their infectious smile and ready joy found in the simplest of things, their expressions of wonder and surprise discovered around every corner is a delight to watch and a reminder of what we frequently lose as we age.
Babies live moment by moment with no preconceived ideas and judgements. They are love in its purest form, manifested on the physical plane. Babies naturally reach for their joy and we can also learn to be more childlike and live in the moment reaching for our joy.
I’m reflecting on how with babies, unbridled joy goes right alongside unbridled devastation, discomfort, sadness, confusion… To experience such pure joy, we must also experience other pure emotion. And the less we attempt to manage and contain any one emotion, the more it all flows.
I think maybe babies delight in things adults have forgotten how to see freshly, that part of their joy is a wonder at seeing it all for the first time.
So it seems to me babies could be teachers of beginner’s mind, reminding us how much wonder there is to experience what seem to us like ordinary things – the snow, a bird, colors, the sound of a piano, the feeling of swinging, laughter, singing, a flower, or almost anything shiny, pleasing or interesting in one way or another…
Babies...They are open to feel without any regard to hold back - they don't have a reason to hold back any feeling - there's no 'me' to protect or 'other' to possibly offend, just free to feel and express anything that arises in the moment. Having said that, it seems that the emotion that is most common in babies is joy! So that is cool to reflect on - that fact that joy is so natural for us creatures to experience, and (i might add) it is the most enjoyable. Most babies are loved well, shown...
Babies…They are open to feel without any regard to hold back – they don’t have a reason to hold back any feeling – there’s no ‘me’ to protect or ‘other’ to possibly offend, just free to feel and express anything that arises in the moment. Having said that, it seems that the emotion that is most common in babies is joy! So that is cool to reflect on – that fact that joy is so natural for us creatures to experience, and (i might add) it is the most enjoyable. Most babies are loved well, shown attention and affection, and are able to trust their care-givers to keep them safe. So there is a very loving environment that allows for joy to freely blossom, and for the human spirit to feel and express its natural self without any hindrances. Let’s embrace the love, care and trusting support of life, people in our lives, each day, as to nourish the inner environment of our spirits to be free to experience and feel any emotion that comes up, and see how the joy will bubble up and surprise us more often than we might expect. …just some thoughts and observations on the topic, not sure if they are all true We can receive the support and love of truth each day, as if truth were the loving presence of a parent of the inner little child that is our true eternal human spirit (eternal as in, the same when we were just born as it is when we are 92). May we create the receptive environment of love and truth and support somewhere in our lives each day, allowing space for that spontaneous nature within to spring to life naturally…As a seed naturally sprouts up without effort and can’t be anything other than the life is was created to be when its nestled in its proper growing environment. Although the outer world around us is constantly changing, taking us through tumultuous seasons, times of uncertainty and also high joyous times, there is an untouched inner wellspring that never changes, where conditions are eternal, giving life to the growing seed of our human spirit.
blessings…”the impeded stream is the one that sings”…
babies can feel , see, taste, hear, know , perceive all that in their innocence…
joy to them is instinctive
Simple psychology. How a smile can literally change someone’s entire mood.
The joy of being alive. Just listen to a baby laugh. He/she has won life through all the months of growth and development and the perils of being born and now faces the challenge of becoming an autonomous human being. There is laughter and delight at every new discovery. I can return to my first days and that joyous sense of wonder because the opportunities for growth and discovery never end.
the most simple things provide them with joy.
My 3 year old grandniece was laughing and giggling while running around. There was no purpose or goal in what she was doing. She is full of love and life. That is precious,
My grandbaby is such a happy baby. She teaches me joy in the simple things in life. She doesn’t need expensive nor elaborate toys to be happy.
They are the truth and need not seek it. We trick them into thinking they need to do that later.
If you smile at a baby, the baby will usually smile back, without being like, "Who's this guy/lady?" I think we can learn from this because it is an example of loving unconditionally no matter who it is. This includes the so-called "unlovable," even though it's difficult. If Hitler smiled at a baby, the baby would not ask what kind of person he was; the baby would just smile back because the baby is wise and knows that all humans deserve unconditional love, especially those who do not know love ...
If you smile at a baby, the baby will usually smile back, without being like, “Who’s this guy/lady?” I think we can learn from this because it is an example of loving unconditionally no matter who it is. This includes the so-called “unlovable,” even though it’s difficult. If Hitler smiled at a baby, the baby would not ask what kind of person he was; the baby would just smile back because the baby is wise and knows that all humans deserve unconditional love, especially those who do not know love themselves.
Babies are magical. The miracle of birth is enough to teach joy. the miracle of each day we are given is reason for joy.
Babies see the world with brand new eyes and are entranced with everything. They laugh spontaneously and with complete abandon.
The vulnerability, the trust.
There are no beliefs and comparisons. All or nothing is perfect.
So many good answers today. For me the moment that says it all is when a baby notices its hands for the first time. It’s not just the joy of seeing them but the sense that the hand is just part of the rest of the world. There’s no sense of any separateness between baby and world. We spend a lifetime trying to grasp that moment again in our own lives. I guess maybe it’s the grasping that hinders us.
What can babies teach us about joy?
Rather then just repeat my response of a year ago ( see below) I will add to it.
Joy has the characteristics of the "thin places" which Brother David referred to in his most recent blog. He went on to say that this state, which children have naturally, is obliterated by western so-called "Education" and "conditioning".
Quoting here
"Celtic spirituality speaks of “Thin Places,” where the veil between this world and another is translucent. Ther...
What can babies teach us about joy?
Rather then just repeat my response of a year ago ( see below) I will add to it.
Joy has the characteristics of the “thin places” which Brother David referred to in his most recent blog. He went on to say that this state, which children have naturally, is obliterated by western so-called “Education” and “conditioning”.
Quoting here
“Celtic spirituality speaks of “Thin Places,” where the veil between this world and another is translucent. There are “Thin Seasons” also – and now one has come. Can you not sense the Great Secret – the meaning of all – beyond a thin, thin veil, these days? Let’s celebrate this: Let’s play! Only when we play do we truly celebrate.” End Quote
Within that quote is a gracious way of connecting Joy to babies and to celebration!
In replying to Brother David’s point I do not wish to consider Brother David “old” in anyway But I do want to thank him for his wisdom and humbleness by quoting this poetic verse by William Blake
A child’s toys
an Old man’s reasons
are the fruits of
The Two Seasons.
WHILLIAM BLAKE
Babies, at least those who are born into stable and safe environments, can teach us almost everything about joy. Their infectious smile and ready joy found in the simplest of things, their expressions of wonder and surprise discovered around every corner is a delight to watch and a reminder of what we frequently lose as we age.
Babies live moment by moment with no preconceived ideas and judgements. They are love in its purest form, manifested on the physical plane. Babies naturally reach for their joy and we can also learn to be more childlike and live in the moment reaching for our joy.
I’m reflecting on how with babies, unbridled joy goes right alongside unbridled devastation, discomfort, sadness, confusion… To experience such pure joy, we must also experience other pure emotion. And the less we attempt to manage and contain any one emotion, the more it all flows.
I think we can learn that everybody can be joyful if they look at the world in the right way.
The joy of babies is not couched in fear of judgment or social norms. It is pure and it is amazing!
I think maybe babies delight in things adults have forgotten how to see freshly, that part of their joy is a wonder at seeing it all for the first time.
So it seems to me babies could be teachers of beginner’s mind, reminding us how much wonder there is to experience what seem to us like ordinary things – the snow, a bird, colors, the sound of a piano, the feeling of swinging, laughter, singing, a flower, or almost anything shiny, pleasing or interesting in one way or another…
Babies...They are open to feel without any regard to hold back - they don't have a reason to hold back any feeling - there's no 'me' to protect or 'other' to possibly offend, just free to feel and express anything that arises in the moment. Having said that, it seems that the emotion that is most common in babies is joy! So that is cool to reflect on - that fact that joy is so natural for us creatures to experience, and (i might add) it is the most enjoyable. Most babies are loved well, shown...
Babies…They are open to feel without any regard to hold back – they don’t have a reason to hold back any feeling – there’s no ‘me’ to protect or ‘other’ to possibly offend, just free to feel and express anything that arises in the moment. Having said that, it seems that the emotion that is most common in babies is joy! So that is cool to reflect on – that fact that joy is so natural for us creatures to experience, and (i might add) it is the most enjoyable. Most babies are loved well, shown attention and affection, and are able to trust their care-givers to keep them safe. So there is a very loving environment that allows for joy to freely blossom, and for the human spirit to feel and express its natural self without any hindrances. Let’s embrace the love, care and trusting support of life, people in our lives, each day, as to nourish the inner environment of our spirits to be free to experience and feel any emotion that comes up, and see how the joy will bubble up and surprise us more often than we might expect. …just some thoughts and observations on the topic, not sure if they are all true
We can receive the support and love of truth each day, as if truth were the loving presence of a parent of the inner little child that is our true eternal human spirit (eternal as in, the same when we were just born as it is when we are 92). May we create the receptive environment of love and truth and support somewhere in our lives each day, allowing space for that spontaneous nature within to spring to life naturally…As a seed naturally sprouts up without effort and can’t be anything other than the life is was created to be when its nestled in its proper growing environment. Although the outer world around us is constantly changing, taking us through tumultuous seasons, times of uncertainty and also high joyous times, there is an untouched inner wellspring that never changes, where conditions are eternal, giving life to the growing seed of our human spirit.
????!
blessings…”the impeded stream is the one that sings”…
babies can feel , see, taste, hear, know , perceive all that in their innocence…
joy to them is instinctive
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