Thich Nhat Hanh often teaches about how mindfulness can cultivate joy when engaging in even the most mundane things, how love and sex can be beautiful (as long as there is a firm commitment to making one another). In his book No Mud No Lotus he talks about how there can be no joy without skillful suffering. To myself, a Westerner, the emphasis on joy seems optimistic. to reflect an appreciation for existence, though not attachment to it, and by no means all aspects of it.

It also seems to be in opposition to Theravada/Mahayana sentiments. This monk talks about how when you see the nature of reality for what it really is, the thought of continuing is exhausting. Though the intent may differ, it suggests to me that engaging in anything other than the sole pursuit of cessation of being, do not inspire joy.

DISLAIMER: I'm not asserting that the following is true, but the latter comes across to me as more life-denying, the odea that all suffering outweighs pleasure. Whereas Thic Nhat Hanh's perspective suggests that seeking engaging with our human nature is valuable, as long as we reject hedonistic pursuits in favour of mindful training.