Gratitude: The Only Prayer

A deep thought, nay a realization, makes me sit up in deep remorse. Why am I so ungrateful? What is gratitude? Why is it so difficult to manifest it in our daily life? In the English language, it means "feelings of thankfulness and appreciation". I relate better with the description of gratitude in the Pali language, katannuta. Kata means that which has been done, especially to oneself, and annuta means knowing or recognizing. Essentially, katannuta means 'acknowledging the benefit' that one has received. Only by recognizing the benefit that has been bestowed upon us, then can we feel it and thus be grateful to the benefactor. The key is to acknowledge the benefit that has been received by us.

Ironically, we do not even realize that life itself is a gift. Mother nature is always reminding us that we are a part of the whole. We do our part and the whole will take care of the rest. Unfortunately, our human nature keeps seeking for more. And when we receive, we forget very quickly. We never have enough. We are lower than even the dog who is more loyal and grateful than us!

There are many reasons for ingratitude but the four most significant are: not seeing a benefit as a benefit; taking benefits for granted, egotism, and forgetfulness. Our ego asserts that what we have benefited, is owed to us. Thus we do not recognized them as benefits. We take what we have received for granted and forget them easily. The cycle of ingratitude continues.

We already have so much – eyes that see, a mind that evaluates and contemplates, breath that keeps us alive, access to food, clothing and water and much that we take for granted. Yet, we do not pause to say a silent prayer to the Universe that gives us all? I am asking myself: how can I reciprocate the kindness and wonderful gifts that are continuing to shower over my ungrateful self?

Gratitude starts at home. We can be grateful to our parents by giving as much to our children as our parents gave to us. Most importantly, gratitude has to be expressed. Buddha expressed his gratitude to the Bodhi tree that sheltered him. We can share our love, our positiveness, our fortune, our happiness, our prayer, our wisdom with people, with animals, with rocks, with the oceans. Seeing the beauty in all that is before us and not pick on trivia that does not jive with us. A gratitude expressed by sharing with others is a way to repay to the Universe for all the we have.

One special thought hit me: I can be grateful by improving myself everyday. I must do all I can to grow and rise to the highest I am capable of. I must live in gratitude constantly. The quote below is more than two thousand years old and is still so true:

“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.” – Buddha