T175 PNC - Highest Crying Stems From Joy — Joy-Born Regret Heals and Elevates (1 seg)

The highest level of crying is when it arises from joy — from an overflow of gladness that becomes so full it spills over into tears. Even remorse and regret are best when they emerge from joy: when, from great joy in God and love of God, a person regrets and longs over having rebelled and strayed in earlier days. This joy-born regret is not depression or self-punishment — it is the opposite. The person is so full of joy and closeness to God that the contrast between this holy state and his past distance causes a natural, healing weeping. This type of crying is transformative: it deepens the joy and purifies the soul simultaneously. The person who cries from joy is not diminished by the tears; he is elevated. Contrast this with crying from sadness or despair, which drains the spirit. The teaching: cultivate the joy first, and let the healthy contrition arise naturally from the fullness of that joy.