<p>Meditation involves mastery over the mind (concentration) and to know things as they are (wisdom).</p>

<p>When developing <strong>concentration</strong> the the <em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhy%C4%81na_in_Buddhism" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Jhana Factors</a></em> arise of which one is Joy. Also when <strong>wisdom</strong> increases the <em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Factors_of_Enlightenment" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Enlightenment Factors</a></em> develop out of which Joy is one. Meditation does induce Joy and in <strong>progress</strong> where one <em>stage you encounter</em> is Joy: <a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/6.12-Upanisa-S-s12.23-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Upanisa Sutta</a>, <a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/33.3b-Ekadasaka-Cetanakaraniya-a11.2-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(Ekā,dasaka) Cetanā’karaṇīya Sutta</a>, <a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/41.6-Dasaka-Cetanakaraniya-S-a10.2-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(Dasaka) Cetanā’karaṇīya Sutta</a>, etc.</p>

<p>Nirvana is the final goal. There is no Joy associated with it but is a good thing as there is no suffering but Joy is included in suffering as it is impermanent, can come to an end, pass away, fade away, cease, change as described in <a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/33.6-Rahogata-S-s36.11-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Raho,gata Sutta</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-23T14:43:18.447Z
In that sense, would you say that people should consider (as a goal) freedom from samsara an antonym of joy?
William
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-23T14:47:00.710Z
The feeling of Joy can come to and end hence the suffering of parting. Freedom from Samsara is Nirvana in which there is no feeling or perception. Hence the presence of feeling and / or perception is the opposite of freedom from Samsara.
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-19T04:22:42.153Z
2016-02-19T04:57:32.400Z
2018-08-14T22:06:13.773Z
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
<p>Both. Meditation when done properly will allow one to abandon the <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nyanaponika/wheel026.html">Five Hindrances</a> (greed, anger, sloth/torpor, restlessness, doubt); and give rise to the Five Jhana Factors where each factor counters a particular hindrance:</p>

<ul>
<li>Applied Examination to counter sloth/torpor</li>
<li>Sustained Examination to counter doubt</li>
<li>Joy to counter anger</li>
<li>Happiness to counter restlessness</li>
<li>One-pointedness to counter greed.</li>
</ul>

<p>It's important to notice that meditation alone will not lead one to nibbana. It's only 1 out of 8 limbs of the <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/waytoend.html">Noble Eightfold Path</a>, which a practioner will need to train to perfection. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-12T23:34:34.257Z
2016-02-12T23:37:49.453Z
2016-02-12T23:37:49.453Z
santa100
<p>Let's say that the summon of meditation is enlightement or nirvana. It is supposed to be a good 'thing'. But is it good because there is no suffering any more, or did you get something instead of it that is good in itself?</p>

<philosophy>
Does meditation giving you 'joy' because there is lack of suffering, or does it give something positive?
# Does meditation giving you 'joy' because there is lack of suffering, or does it give something positive?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-02-12)

Let's say that the summon of meditation is enlightement or nirvana. It is supposed to be a good 'thing'. But is it good because there is no suffering any more, or did you get something instead of it that is good in itself?

**Tags:** philosophy


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-02-19. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

Meditation involves mastery over the mind (concentration) and to know things as they are (wisdom).

When developing **concentration** the the *[Jhana Factors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhy%C4%81na_in_Buddhism)* arise of which one is Joy. Also when **wisdom** increases the *[Enlightenment Factors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Factors_of_Enlightenment)* develop out of which Joy is one. Meditation does induce Joy and in **progress** where one *stage you encounter* is Joy: [Upanisa Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/6.12-Upanisa-S-s12.23-piya.pdf), [(Ekā,dasaka) Cetanā’karaṇīya Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/33.3b-Ekadasaka-Cetanakaraniya-a11.2-piya.pdf), [(Dasaka) Cetanā’karaṇīya Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/41.6-Dasaka-Cetanakaraniya-S-a10.2-piya.pdf), etc.

Nirvana is the final goal. There is no Joy associated with it but is a good thing as there is no suffering but Joy is included in suffering as it is impermanent, can come to an end, pass away, fade away, cease, change as described in [Raho,gata Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/33.6-Rahogata-S-s36.11-piya.pdf).

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: In that sense, would you say that people should consider (as a goal) freedom from samsara an antonym of joy?  
> **username_1**: The feeling of Joy can come to and end hence the suffering of parting. Freedom from Samsara is Nirvana in which there is no feeling or perception. Hence the presence of feeling and / or perception is the opposite of freedom from Samsara.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2016-02-12. Score: 6

Both. Meditation when done properly will allow one to abandon the [Five Hindrances](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nyanaponika/wheel026.html) (greed, anger, sloth/torpor, restlessness, doubt); and give rise to the Five Jhana Factors where each factor counters a particular hindrance:

* Applied Examination to counter sloth/torpor
* Sustained Examination to counter doubt
* Joy to counter anger
* Happiness to counter restlessness
* One-pointedness to counter greed.

It's important to notice that meditation alone will not lead one to nibbana. It's only 1 out of 8 limbs of the [Noble Eightfold Path](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/waytoend.html), which a practioner will need to train to perfection.


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