there is joy

There is joy

We take everything for granted so, including the existence of emotions, and yet they are mysterious, amazing. Of course, all of our conscious experience is really miraculous, something that science cannot explain. Even given the existence of consciousness, though, a conscious experience of life, it seems more likely, somehow, that a conscious experience would be devoid of emotion, seeing the world in a neutral way all of the time, without passion, without excitement, without depression and without joy. Simple pain and pleasure, in a way, is understandable. It's a mechanism to steer our activity, moment to moment and day to day. But these deeper emotions, like joy, are even more miraculous.

A moment ago I was listening to the waves, just the sound of the waves, crashing on rocks. In a way, such a sound should signal danger to me. If anything it should trigger a sense of fear. Instead there were waves of joy in me, a beautiful pleasant sensation in the body. It was a moment of profound contentedness, happiness. And this joy runs so deep. And why is it there? It's amazing. It's a miracle. And really this goes for all the important things in life. Love is another good example. It's miraculous that we feel such things, a deep mystery. And yet it is in such emotions, such feelings that the value of life lies.