Attitude of Gratitude

We have so much to be grateful for that it’s amazing some people go about their day without expressing gratitude.  Every one of us receives many benefits daily without asking for them.  Somehow, we tend to forget how fortunate we are as receivers which is very unfortunate.  

Here’s an idea: 

Try this when you feel like things are not going in your favor.  When you’re feeling dejected or think you’re a failure, write down things you can be grateful for on a piece of paper.  The answers will amaze you.  You will realize that there is a long list of things to be grateful for.  

The word “gratitude” has been plastered all over magazines, billboards, the internet, television, nonprofit organizations, and by motivational speakers.  But it is not a new idea!  In fact, for thousands of years, it has been practiced and heavily promoted by the Samskriti culture of the Hindus.  In fact, the “attitude of gratitude” is a major behavioral lifestyle found in the Vedas, the Puranas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Manu Smriti and the other Dharma Shastras (scriptural texts on Dharma).  One of the meanings of the term dharma is; that idea or action that brings harmony and benefits to one and all.  Dharma or dharmic actions are those actions that keep the culture’s values alive while protecting the culture from self-destruction.  This practice of Dharma maintains the social order of harmony and equality.    

For centuries, the Samskriti culture has been teaching, professing, and encouraging people to have an “attitude of gratitude” as an integral part of their spiritual growth.  Just look at the Bhagavad Gita’s ideas on Karma Yoga (Karma=action, Yoga=an action that helps to bring you closer to divinity).  Karma Yoga has numerous spiritual and emotional benefits for the practitioners along with social benefits to the recipients.

  Let’s look at the basics of karma yoga.  In “Karma Yoga”, there are 5 spiritual practices that express gratitude.  It is called panca mahayajna (panca=5, maha=great, yajna=sacrifices or services).  Just by the name "mahayajna" (great actions of services), you get an understanding of its importance.  Here are the 5 great acts of gratitude:

1. Brahma yajna  

2. Deva yajna  

3. Pitri yajna

4. Manushya yajna  

5. BhUta yajna

Brahma yajna refers to: 

a). studying and teaching the knowledge that has been passed down to us by the great minds of the past

b). exploring new ideas and innovations for the benefit of all of us

c). teaching any newly discovered knowledge to the next generation

By being aware of and practicing Brahma yajna, we benefit from the vast amount of knowledge systems that we received from the time we were born.  We should be very grateful for all this knowledge that has been passed down to us from generation to generation.  In the Hindu system, there is a ritual that gives you the opportunity to show your gratitude by placing various books on the altar.  You then place a dipa (oil lamp) or tea light and a flower as an act of gratitude.

Deva yajna is the ritual of remembering “God” and thanking God for all that he/she has given to you, without you asking.  Performing Deva yajna is the act of showing your gratitude to the divine, if you are theistic.  If you are atheistic or agnostic, Deva yajna is the gratitude shown to the natural laws of nature that have manifested as this marvelous Universe and this bountiful Earth that you and I live on.  In fact, in the Hindu system, there is no real separation between theists and atheists.  You can be either theist or atheist and still be a Hindu.  In both cases, you can show your gratitude for this wonderful Universe.

Pitri yajna is the ritual designed to remember our parents, grandparents, and ancestors and thank them for providing us with our DNA, this beautiful body of ours, and the knowledge that they have developed over thousands of years (which we now benefit from).  It gives us the opportunity to thank them and repay them as best as we can to show our gratitude.  The intended effect of this yearly ritual is for us to show our love and take care of our parents and grandparents every day as an act of gratitude or an act of Dharma.

Manushya yajna is the ritual that brings out the act of sharing and caring for our fellow humans.  We can do so by providing food, clothing, and housing to those who are less fortunate and those who cannot afford these basic necessities of life. This is called Seva, meaning service or taking care of.  In serving our fellow beings, we are reminded that everyone is a part of our community, even if they are poor, suffering, or unfortunate.  We serve others knowing that there is a possibility that we may one day be in a similar position and might need the help of another gracious and charitable person.  This wonderful act of Dharma brings out the best in us and is important to guarantee a civilized and refined society.

BhUta yajna is the ritual that gives us the opportunity to be kind, considerate, and most importantly, not exploit the other species living around us.  This includes animals, like birds, reptiles, and fish.  By living in harmony with them, we can increase our happiness and reduce sicknesses and diseases.  By being considerate and sharing the planet with them, we all benefit.  

We have so much in life to be grateful for.  By showing our gratitude for all that we receive, it brings out the best of our humanity.  I am grateful that I have a roof over my head, I am healthy, I can see, speak, walk, dance, sing, eat tasty food, watch the sunrise and sunset, smell the flowers, listen to the birds sing, sit on the beach, enjoy the mountains, the wind, the rain, and so much more.  How about you?

Om ShantiH ShantiH ShantiH.

-Sri Rajaji