Joseph Goldstein tells this story in his book titled Mindfulness
Joseph Goldstein tells this story in his book titled Mindfulness, page 113. There are many examples of how we can develop wholesome mind states through practicing mindfulness externally. On one of my stays at a meditation center in Burma, I met a friend from America, who had already been living there as a monk for several years. It took some time for my mind to settle down, and when I observed how calm and concentrated my friend was, the comparing mind sprang to the fore, tinged with envy and self-judgment.
But after noticing this pattern with its attendant suffering, I started doing the meditation on empathetic joy. This is the practice of wishing the happiness and success of others to continually grow and increase. It was surprising to me how quickly the mind shifted from the suffering of envy to the happiness of joy in my friend's success. It was another lesson in the power of the practice to choose and cultivate what is skillful. It’s possible to change the channels of our minds.
Neuroscience Supporting The Benefits Of Practice
Based on the teachings of Dr. Dan Siegel and Dr. Rick Hanson.
Meditation and mindful movement (yoga, breathwork, Qi Gong are some examples) can help engage the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting a state of calm which is conducive to optimal nerve function. Think of building a muscle through practice. The muscle is your nervous system and it is being strengthened and toned for resilience. This allows you to be more aware when patterns are arising or when stress and anxiety are present and respond with equanimity.
Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to form new connections and new neural pathways and change how its circuits are wired. Patterns of behavior that have a negative impact on your life can be mindfully transformed.