Gratitude Journal

Last updated on: September 2, 2009 at 4:20 pm by Justin Whitaker

Gratitude Journal 2009-09-02T16:20:00-06:00 Justin Whitaker

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I am long overdue for a post specifically on Gratitude. It is gratitude that connects our heart with the world around us. Anxiety, fear, anger, greed, and so on all come from a lack of or weakness in this connection.

I am working on a conference paper on the Buddhist practice of Metta Bhavana, the Cultivation of Loving Kindness. One of the stanzas there is:

Mātā yathā niyaṃ putthaṃ
Āyusā ekaputtam anurakkha,
ewam pi sabbabhūtesu
mānasam bhāvaye aparimāṇaṃ.

Which is well translated as:

Even as a mother protects with her life
Her child, her only child,
So with a boundless heart
Should one cherish all living beings;

Practically all of us have had difficulties with our mothers at some point. But the underlying fact of the enormous hardship she went through to make US a possibility is worth calling to mind. How much would you have to do for another person to equal the time and care and suffering invested in you by your mother?

The following came to me the other day from Bhikkhu Samahita (you can sign up for his daily dhamma and read past emails here).

Appropriate Appreciation is Gratitude!

One should be grateful towards one’s Parents! Why so?
They have worked hard and very long raising one into being!

One should be grateful towards one’s Teachers! Why so?
They do much to make one learn and understand the good…

One should be grateful towards one’s Friends! Why so?
They have shown one an open kindness and much goodwill!

One should be grateful towards one’s Spouse! Why so?
They have loyally accompanied one along a long way…

Your job is to reflect on each of these (or add more categories) and how each has contributed to and altered the flow of your life. Remember, there is no YOU separate from these and other parts of the world out there. All of them are you, and you are nothing more.

As for me, here goes:

Parents. I’ve written about them many times, but it’s always worth recalling how great my parents have been to me. My father set aside many of his own dreams, artistic ambitions, and a great deal of fun that he could have had in order to raise his family. He worked six days a week for most of his life, often even working a seventh, to support us when times were tough. He has been a fountain of “take life a day at a time,” “don’t put up with other people’s BS any more than you have to,” “people are basically good,” – and much more – wisdom.

My mother, too, has invested herself greatly in her family. Her own family was a bit screwed up, so early on she made the conscious decision to distance herself from them and their drama. She worked her way through a Masters in Social Work, dedicated to healing the wounds in children who had it even worse off than herself. She has taught me to trust in love and seek the heart of each person I meet, beyond whatever wounds may lie at the surface.
Teachers… Too many to name. Mrs. Briggs, Mrs. Sharpe, Mr. Hanson, Mrs. Shultz in grade school. Mrs. Hauke, Mrs. Baumgarten and my crazy Spanish teacher whose name escapes me now in Middle School (I do recall that my chosen Spanish name then was Domingo, Sunday, Day of the Lord). Way too many to name in High School, but Mr. Goodman, my math and computer programming teacher stands out as one of the best. Mrs. Slattery, who taught accounting and encouraged me down that ill-begotten path, was also a joy to learn from.

In college, where I’ve now spent about half of my life, there are again too many to name. Certainly all of my Buddhism teachers: Dr. Sponberg, Bodhipaksa (UM), Profs. Williams, Langer, Gethin, and Peacock (U Bristol), and Dr. Keown at London. Just looking at that list, I realize that I should know a lot more than I do at present; a good reminder to re-double my academic efforts. Philosophical teachers: Drs. Elliott, Townsend, Borgmann, Appelbaum, McGlynn, Slicer, Sherman, Preston, (all UM) and now Caygill (U London).

‘Spiritual’ or Life teachers have also been countless. Ken Robinson in Bristol and Larry McKay here in Missoula stand out there. Matthew Flickstein is the closest I’ve come to a direct Buddhist teacher.
Friends! Aye de mi… “Friendship is the Greatest,” Bhikkhu Samahita always says. I’m kind of re-entering a quiet phase of life, which is difficult with the many exciting activities and wonderful people around me. But it’s a necessary step. My friendships thus turn from those of activities to those of contemplation, growth and practice (Aristotle’s discussion of friendship plays a role here as much as the Buddha’s). Here are some such words, regarding “The Wise” from the Dhammapada.

Few are the people
who reach the Far Shore.
These others
simply scurry
along this shore.

But those who practice Dhamma
in line with the well-taught Dhamma,
will cross over the realm of Death
so hard to transcend.

Forsaking dark practices,
the wise person
should develop the bright,
having gone from home
to no-home
in seclusion, so hard to enjoy.

There he should wish for delight,
discarding sensuality —
he who has nothing.
He should cleanse himself — wise —
of what defiles the mind.

Whose minds are well-developed
in the factors of self-awakening,
who delight in non-clinging,
relinquishing grasping —
resplendent,
their effluents ended:
they, in the world,
are Unbound.
Finally, our Spouse. Being single, I could claim exemption from this, but for those “almosts” and “could have beens” in my spousal category, I am deeply grateful. To Rachel, for teaching me to aim high in life and to serve others. To Toni for always making me laugh and her philosophy of “make haste, slowly” (Latin: festina lente). To Ana for her confidence, love of life, smile and spontaneity. To Kelly for showing me to dream the unimaginable and work to make it real. To Julie for grounding me in the countless little pleasures of the world and the power of optimism.

The quest goes on for a loyal accompaniment, and one for whom to accompany loyally. And with all quests, as Julie’s blog name aptly describes, the joy is [and must be] in the journey.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

September 1, 2009

China: The Longest Way

Next Post

September 4, 2009 Shakespeare and Sunsets

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Academia Activism American Buddhism Art Book review Buddhism Buddhism Today Buddhist Ethics Burma/Myanmar China Christianity Commodification Environment Gender Happiness Health Humor India Interfaith Islam Japanese Buddhism Kant Media / News Meditation mindfulness Photography Poetry Politics quicktakes Running Teaching Technology Thailand Theism/Atheism Theravada Tibet Tibetan Buddhism Travels Uncategorized Unitarian Universalism video Western Philosophy Zen

Select a Month June 2021 January 2021 November 2020 August 2020 July 2020 March 2020 January 2020 October 2019 August 2019 June 2019 May 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 November 2004 September 2004 August 2004

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz