THANKFULNESS

The feeling or expression of gratitude for something or someone.

Gratitude is a warm feeling of gratefulness towards God or Guru.

Someone said that if the only prayer you ever said to God was

`Thank you God' that would be enough. It is a wonderful feeling to

be overwhelmed by gratitude towards our Creator.

To become a better human, one must develop a sense of utmost

gratitude for His Maker. This gratitude is a blessing in itself

because by acknowledging His kindness we are opening our hearts

to His Grace. Our Gurus have sung countless hymns in gratitude to

God's glory.

Examples from the Gurus:

Guru Arjan Dev Ji says: The Lord takes care of each one of His

Creatures. He is our eternal protector and ever compassionate

Lord. I am ever a sacrifice unto Him. (p. 12 71, Malar M.5)

In the sixth astpadi, Guru Arjan Dev Ji writes about the greatness

of God who takes care of our routine necessities and also meets

our spiritual needs.

Gratitude should be practiced by everyone at all times. While

sitting or standing, eating or playing, say "Thank You, dear God."

God hears us whenever we reach out to Him.

Always say thank you any time someone does something for you.

Do not take things for granted. Look around you and see how

much God has given you without your asking for it.

Thank Him again and again in your mind. Each time you sit down

for a meal pause to think about who gives you appetite and then

fulfills your needs and desires. Thankfulness is a natural state that

leads to love. It breaks the barrier of the ego and finds oneness

with the Supreme source. Thankfulness leads to contentment and

non-grasping.

We should also learn to thank Him in difficulties, because through

those times, He is blessing and teaching us.