"I was in a little village once where there was a special bell attached to the temple. Whenever anyone in that village had some good fortune, they would go and ring that bell. If the harvest was brought in, or the daughter got married, if someone came back from the hospital, or a good business deal had been arranged, if the roof had been reshingled, anything at all that gave then joy. When the bell was rung everybody would come out, look in the direction of the person who was ringing the bell and say, 'Well done. Well done.' The one who was ringing the bell was making good kamma by making it possible for the others to share his joy. The others were making good kamma by sharing another's joy." --- Ayya Khema, from "Being Nobody, Going Nowhere"

This is a great meditation to do when we have been caught up in comparison, competitiveness, envy or resentment or when we simply want a sweet meditation to lift our spirits.

How to Practice

In this meditation we repeat phrases silently to ourselves, starting with ourself and then moving outward to others. We may use phrases such as, "May your happiness not leave you. May your good fortune not diminish. May your joy continue." Choose ones you like. Repeat about three times for each, very slowly.

Start by rejoicing in your own happiness. Find something, however small, that you find joy in. As you allow this feeling of joy and appreciation fill you, repeat the phrase you have chosen:
    May my happiness not leave me.
    May my good fortune not diminish.
    May my joy continue.

The meditation then moves to others. First you repeat these phrases while keeping someone in mind who is close to you and to whom it's easy to appreciate their good fortune. Silently repeat the phrase, using "you" instead of "I".
    May your happiness not leave you.
    May your good fortune not diminish.
    May your joy continue.

Then you move on to people who you see but have no feelings for, one way or another. A bank teller, a stranger on the street, a neighbour. Again take pleasure in their good fortune or joy.
    May your happiness not leave you.
    May your good fortune not diminish.
    May your joy continue.

The meditation then moves to people you may have trouble with. Perhaps someone who has won a lottery. This may be harder, but it is here that our hearts really begin to open. See if you can take pleasure in their good fortune. Don't expect anything. Just see where the phrases lead you.
    May your happiness not leave you.
    May your good fortune not diminish.
    May your joy continue.

The final stage is to bring your awareness to all beings - animals, plants, birds and fish and even the beings you can not see. Everyone. Everything. Then repeat your phrases with these in mind.
    May your happiness not leave you.
    May your good fortune not diminish.
    May your joy continue.

Notes

What we find when we do this exercise is that instead of exhausting our kindness, it expands it. It frees us from resentment and allows us to rediscover our joy.