Gratitude means being thankful for all I have. It is expressed toward others by showing my appreciation. Its opposite is thanklessness.§
Comparing the actions of one who is grateful to one who is thankless§ |
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|---|---|---|
Situation§ |
Gratitude§ |
Thanklessness§ |
Having received a gift from a distant friend, you…§ |
send a thank-you note and express gratitude in person at the first opportunity.§ |
neglect to send a thank-you note.§ |
In your silent prayers to God, you…§ |
frequently express gratitude for all that you have been given, then ask guidance.§ |
think only of how God can further help you, not pondering the many gifts already received.§ |
For the loving guidance of your parents, you…§ |
make it a point to periodically express heartfelt thanks.§ |
take the guidance for granted, thinking, “That’s what parents are supposed to do.”§ |
Gurudeva explained: “Gratitude and appreciation are the key virtues for a better life. They are the spell that is cast to dissolve hatred, hurt and sadness, the medicine which heals subjective states of mind, restoring self-respect, confidence and security.”§
“The person of perfect understanding accepts all happenings in life as purposeful and good. We must be grateful to others for playing back to us our previous actions so that we can see our mistakes and experience the same feelings we must have caused in others. It is in this way that we are purified and trained not to commit the same adharmic acts again.”§
ASSIGNMENT: During these two weeks, enhance your level of gratitude by watching for expected or unexpected gifts or help and expressing heartfelt thanks, and also be grateful to the Divine for life itself.§
Date you began this assignment ____________________§
MY THOUGHTS ON THE BENEFITS OF GRATITUDE: 
§
