"But if his boon companion or the dear person was happy in the past but is now unlucky and unfortunate, then gladness [muditā] can still be aroused by remembering his past happiness and apprehending the glad aspect in this way: “In the past he had great wealth, a great following and he was always glad.” Or gladness can be aroused by apprehending the future glad aspect in him in this way: “In the future he will again enjoy similar success and will go about in gold palanquins, on the backs of elephants or on horseback, and so on.”"
~ Buddhaghosa (transl. Ñāṇamoli) "Visuddhimagga IX.86: The Path to Purification: The Divine Abidings" (5th Century A.D.)
Pollyanna, a young girl who tries to find something positive in every situation — a trick she calls "the Glad Game" — is bedridden after being hit by a car:
"Why, Pollyanna, I think all the town is playing that game now with you — even to the minister! I haven't had a chance to tell you, yet, but this morning I met Mr. Ford when I was down to the village, and he told me to say to you that just as soon as you could see him, he was coming to tell you that he hadn't stopped being glad over those eight hundred rejoicing texts that you told him about. So you see, dear, it's just you that have done it. The whole town is playing the game, and the whole town is wonderfully happier — and all because of one little girl who taught the people a new game, and how to play it.”
Pollyanna clapped her hands. “Oh, I'm so glad,” she cried. Then, suddenly, a wonderful light illumined her face. “Why, Aunt Polly, there IS something I can be glad about, after all. I can be glad I've HAD my legs, anyway — else I couldn't have done — that!”"
~ Eleanor H. Porter "Pollyanna", Project Gutenberg 1913.
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