Dualistic and Transdual Joy
Transdual Joy
When awareness awakens to its own nature of spacious awareness, it naturally functions in a more transdual way which..
Brings up spontaneous joy and bliss, independent of the external/internal situation of the self. Indeed, when there is no resistance to our experiences (how can there be if there is no separation, when we are the experiences), then all experiences becomes bliss. We realize that suffering comes from our resistance to the experiences.
Brings up spontaneous compassion and empathy. There is no separation, so there is a natural compassion for all beings.
Dualistic Joy
When awareness is exclusively identified with - or caught up in - the small self, it functions in a dualistic way. It only knows experiences of joy, bliss, compassion etc. as being triggered by a specific combination of external and internal circumstances. It believes in thoughts, and only allow experiences to come up that match the current combination of beliefs and situations. Otherwise, it closes itself off from them.
When transdual joy, bliss, compassion etc. is expressed through another self, the awareness which is still exclusively identified with and caught up in the small self places labels on the behavior. It calls it "joy", "compassion", and maybe "holy", "spiritual", etc. And from this, it may try to emulate it by creating a "spiritual" identity for itself. It closes itself off from anything that does not fit with the label and the image, and tries to force an expression and experience that does. This does obvisouly not work for very long, and only creates more suffering.
The only solution is to awaken to the nature of mind, from where it can soften and let go of any fixed identity and express itself more fluidly. Which in turn will be "fixed" into labels and images by awarenesses which are still identified with other small selves.