Expressing Gratitude Is Transformative....

[Gen01]

Many thanks to all.
Gassho

[Myoku]

Thank you for bringing up this gem again, Jundo
Gassho
Myoku

[Nengyo]

Another powerful practice.

On the down side, between smiling at people and being grateful for things, I barely have time to be angry anymore (although I sometimes manage in bad traffic!)

[Juki]

Thank you.

This reminds me of the old story about the identical twin children, one an extreme optimist and the other an extreme pessimist. The parents got worried and took them to a psychologist, to see if there was something that would balance their emotions. The psychologist advised the parents to try something at an upcoming birthday party for the twins. "Buy the pessimist everything he has ever dreamed of" he said, " and get the optimist a pile of horse sh#*!"

The parents did so, and on the birthday, the pessimist ripped open his gifts, only to exclaim " is that all there is?" The optimist, on the other hand, gleefully started digging through the pile of horse manure, smiling and laughing. When asked what he was so excited about, he said "where there's sh#*, there must be a pony."

Gassho,
William

[Heion]

Thanks for sharing!

It certainly shows the power of affirmations and what we 'steep' our minds in really determines how they 'taste'

This would be great for me to make into a regular practice,

Alex

[Ishin]

Great story William. Thanks all
Gassho
C

[Risho]

Thank you for this. I was definitely a complainer today. lol

Gassho,

Risho

[Jundo]

...The other is saying things like, "I'm really grateful for the opportunity to work; there are so many people these days who can't even find a job. And I'm sure grateful for my health. What a gorgeous day; I really like this fall breeze." ...

THIS IS VITAL:

I so appreciate the power of the above Practice. But I am going to say that we would miss the mark a bit if only expressing our ordinary sense of "gratitude". Better said, there is ordinary "gratitude", but then there is a "Buddha's Gratitude" which is not dependent on what we "like", seeing that the "pro's outweigh the con's", not based on "looking out for the positives" or experiencing the "gorgeous" day.

Ordinary human gratitude is what we are encouraged to feel in the above exercise, and it is fine. But it merely asks us to try to see the "silver lining" and the parts of things that please our little self.

A Buddha's Gratitude is Vast and Unlimited ... a Gratitude both for that which we love and that which we may not, a Jewel beyond yet holding mere "silver linings" "brass rings" and "lumps of coal". It is a Peace and Wholeness which transcends "pro vs. con", a Beauty which sees even the ugly times as "gorgeous day". We are grateful for life, for death, for health, for sickness. It is a Gratitude in the face of a cancer diagnosis, Gratitude that dances all disappointments, A Gratitude which comfortably holds even the tragedy of Syria or any other bloody field (a Gratitude that is Grateful, even as we seek to stop such tragedies in the world).

While it is a lovely Practice to not complain, and to learn to see the "bright side" ... this Light holds light and dark and all shades in between.

So, yes, please practice daily the expressing of gratitude, and complain less and see the "negatives" less ... yet also Sit a Buddha's Gratitude.

This is Vital!

Gassho, Jundo

[Myoku]

Thank you Jundo,
just to express my perspective: The excerpt is from Daido Loori's book bringing the sacred to life (which as you might remember I was trying to translate a few years back because it is so powerful). This excerpt is just an example in his introduction to services practiced in Zen. Prior to the example he writes "The service is also an expression of gratitude for the teachings of the historic buddha" and so on, an then he gives this example, saying "Imagine an experiment" ... so he's not selling this for the teaching or the practice but giving some example we all can imagine and try and find ourselves being transformed. So, from my point of view, Daido Loori is not missing the mark here, he's not even trying to express the mark in this what just is an example of how we are transformed by certain behaviours.
Gassho
Myoku

[Jundo]

Yes, Myoku, I changed my words to say that WE miss the mark if only expressing our ordinary human feeling of "gratitude".

Much gratitide tou you and Daido.

Gassho, J

[gwz]

Lol!

[Shokai]

Jundo, thank you for reiterating how the practice of gratitude can help our world view become a right view. As well, by following the links we discover Shankman's "The Experience of Samadhi" which is very timely ( and for which I am very grateful) in my re-introduction to the Abhidharma and considering its import to our daily practice of shikantaza.

[Ishin]

Thank you Jundo, that was very insightful.
( Buddhist Golf Clap)
Gassho C

[glow]

Thank you Jundo, Taigu, and everyone for this beautiful reminder.

Gassho,

Glow

[glow]

Thank you Jundo, Taigu, and everyone for this beautiful reminder.

Gassho,

Glow