Today I do have access to the web and don't have problems with Fair Use of another's web pages. Thanks to the miracle of Google & the web, I have quotes from Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and more—all with about 2 minutes worth of research.
I was going to post definitions of gratitude. Surprisingly, such as powerful concept has only one definition per several different dictionaries. Gratitude definitions might be worded differently, but they all mean "a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation". Gratitude seems to be a universal emotion across all cultures, it seems like that would lead to many definitions. Some languages do have happiness synonymous with gratitude, but that is a different definition of happiness from ours, not a different definition of gratitude.
My goal is to blog on gratitude 5x/week. I am incredibly grateful for the internet which translates my writer's block time into Googling (reading) time with the net result of all of us learning a little more about gratitude. How cool is that?
Kevin
January 13, 2011
January 13, 2011
The following is from http://www.unification.net/ws/theme108.htm (gotta love that Fair Use!)
GRATITUDE
A sense of gratitude and indebtedness to others is an important wellspring of a generous and virtuous life. All people can recognize that they are indebted to their parents, who gave them birth and raised them at considerable sacrifice. But our indebtedness extends much further than that. Fundamentally, we are indebted to God our Creator and the powers of nature that nourish and sustain our life. Then, since the food we eat travels from the soil to our dining table by passing through many hands--that cultivate, harvest, clean, package, transport, sell, and prepare it--we should recognize that we rely on the labors of many people in order to survive. A sense of gratitude to others is thus acknowledging our interdependent existence; it is an antidote to the illusion of egoism. Such gratitude is recalled and expressed in the prayer of grace or thanks offered before meals.
Another dimension of gratitude is directed towards those who are responsible for our education and enlightenment in the way of truth and salvation. Gratitude towards one's teachers, and especially towards the sages and founders of religions who offered their lives to find the truth, is a proper attitude of faith. Most of all, we should be grateful to God, who quietly has been guiding and nurturing each person toward salvation, and without whose grace the world would be plunged in darkness.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the
Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Christianity. Colossians 3.17
O you who believe! Eat of the good things that We have provided for you, and be grateful to God, if it is Him that you worship.
Islam. Qur'an 2.172
God created foods to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving; for then it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
Christianity. 1 Timothy 4.3-5
Abraham caused God's name to be mentioned by all the travelers whom he entertained. For after they had eaten and drunk, and when they arose to bless Abraham, he said to them, "Is it of mine that you have eaten?
Surely it is of what belongs to God that you have eaten. So praise and bless Him by whose word the world was created."
Judaism. Talmud, Sota 10b
The unworthy man is ungrateful, forgetful of benefits [done to him]. This
ingratitude, this forgetfulness is congenial to mean people... But the
worthy person is grateful and mindful of benefits done to him. This
gratitude, this mindfulness, is congenial to the best people.
Buddhism. Anguttara Nikaya i.61
One upon whom We bestow kindness
But will not express gratitude,
Is worse than a robber
Who carries away our belongings.
African Traditional Religions. Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria)
Be not like those who honor their gods in prosperity and curse them in
adversity. In pleasure or pain, give thanks!
Judaism. Midrash, Mekilta to Exodus 20.20
Even if you cry your heart out, hurt your eyes by constant weeping and
even if you lead the life of an ascetic till the end of the world, all
these untiring efforts of yours will not be able to make compensation for
a tithe of His good will and kindness, for His bounties and munificence
and for His mercy and charity in directing you towards the path of truth
and religion.
Islam (Shiite). Nahjul Balagha, Khutba 57
It is God who has made the night for you, that you may rest therein, and
the day, as that which helps you to see. Verily God is full of grace and
bounty to men, yet most men give no thanks.
It is God who has made for you the earth as a resting place, and the sky
as a canopy, and has given you shape--and made your shapes beautiful--
and has provided for you sustenance of things pure and good; such is
God, your Lord. So glory to God, the Lord of the Worlds!
and has provided for you sustenance of things pure and good; such is
God, your Lord. So glory to God, the Lord of the Worlds!
Islam. Qur'an 40.61, 64
O my Father, Great Elder,
I have no words to thank you,
But with your deep wisdom
I am sure that you can see
How I value your glorious gifts.
O my Father, when I look upon your greatness,
I am confounded with awe.
O Great Elder,
Ruler of all things earthly and heavenly,
I am your warrior,
Ready to act in accordance with your will.
African Traditional Religions. Kikuya Prayer (Kenya)
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