Gratitude
“कृतज्ञता”
-तिरुवल्लुवर के द्वारा
किया गया एक अच्छा काम एक स्वर्ग-जन्मा उपहार है,
जिसे आप संजोकर रखते हैं।
पूछें 'क्या (वे) इसे चुकाएंगे?' और यह नष्ट हो जाएगा।
एक सहायक कार्य, चाहे वह कितना भी मामूली क्यों न हो,
समय आने पर सही ऊंचाई प्राप्त करता है।
बिना यह सोचे मदद करना कि 'इसमें मेरे लिए क्या है?'
सहायता प्राप्त करने वाले व्यक्ति के लिए,
समुद्र से भी अधिक विशाल होता है।
निस्वार्थ मदद, बाजरे के बीज की तरह, स्वयं छोटी हो सकती है,
लेकिन इसकी आत्मा ताड़ के पेड़ की तरह ऊंची होती है।
सहायता को उसके आकार या आकृति से मत आंकिए
- 'यह बड़ी है या छोटी है?'
देखें कि इसने किसी आवश्यकता को कैसे पूरा किया,
यदि इसने उसे पूरा किया हो।
जब दुर्भाग्य से आपको अत्यधिक पीड़ा महसूस होती है,
बस उन पवित्र लोगों को याद करो
जिन्होंने तुम्हारी विपत्ति में तुम्हारी सहायता की थी।
आप अपने सात जन्मों तक आशीर्वाद देंगे,
जिन्होंने आपके संकट में आपकी मदद की है।
यदि आपकी मदद की गई है, तो इसे एक दिन के लिए भी न भूलें,
लेकिन अगर आपके साथ अन्याय हुआ है,
तो आपको इसे भूल जाना चाहिए - और तुरंत!
जब आपके साथ किया गया गलत काम,
एक घाव की तरह दर्द देता है,
गलत काम करने वाले द्वारा किए गए एक अच्छे काम को याद करें,
और दुःख को भूल जाएं।
अच्छा करना भूल जाओ फिर भी तुम्हें मोक्ष मिल सकता है,
लेकिन कृतज्ञता को भूल गए तो तुम विनाश के जाल की ओर बढ़ रहे हो।
चिंतन के लिए बीज प्रश्न: आपके लिए कृतज्ञता का क्या अर्थ है? क्या आप आपको प्राप्त दयालुता के लिए कृतज्ञता की कोई व्यक्तिगत कहानी साझा कर सकते हैं? उन लोगों की भी अच्छाइयों को याद करने में आपको किससे मदद मिलती है जिन्हें आप 'गलत करने वाला' मानते हैं?
by Tiruvalluvar, in The Tirukkural: A New English Version, Chapter 11: Gratitude. Translation by Gopalkrishna Gandhi.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: What does gratitude mean to you? Can you share a personal story of gratitude for a kindness you have received? What helps you recall the good of even those you consider a 'wrong-doer'?
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12 Past Reflections
On Nov 29, 2023 M K Sudarsan wrote :
I have been blessed immensely that I have been pulled out of tough situations by total strangers many a times... I doubt if I would have done the same to others as many times or in as critical situations... Between material help and non-material, I still have not grown enough to accept or come to terms when a material help, esply a loan is not repaid while it was promised on no terms but trust when the transaction is made...
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On Nov 29, 2023 Anil Pandit wrote :
Gratitude to me is having a Great-Attitude of always being thankful to the Godliness that prevails in everyone, which helps to realize it.
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On Nov 28, 2023 francis dacosta wrote :
All the trillions of living beings in Nature are driven by service, I feel. We are sort of like lost orphaned children lost in ourselves. Our religions are point us to true North but we seem to have an erratic ant-like meandering. But within all of this there are spaces like this community to help us self correct . For that I am grateful
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On Nov 28, 2023 stream wrote :
My life is amazing and delightful and I can not even begin to count my blessings. This has been enhanced by experience. I learned that I am 100 percent responsible for my experience. And if my gratitude exceeds my expectations I am always happy. This week I realized I was especially grateful for being able to grieve.
My recent story in New York City was an elder with cane whom I asked for directions leading me onto subway and off subway to the door of my destination.
I know that any one who does what I judge as wrong is just confused so I can hold them in my heart with forgiveness and bless them even if I do not like them or want to be with them.
My recent story in New York City was an elder with cane whom I asked for directions leading me onto subway and off subway to the door of my destination.
I know that any one who does what I judge as wrong is just confused so I can hold them in my heart with forgiveness and bless them even if I do not like them or want to be with them.
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On Nov 28, 2023 Shobhana wrote :
A story ....... it would be hard to do..... every breath I take is a gift ..... everything that comes my way..... what is there for which I am not grateful? At this stage in my life, I see everything is a gift and this life with all of its ups snd downs is one amazing marvel and the world keeps spinning and will go on without me .... its up to me to enjoy it snd know that every little thing I have is a loan to enjoy ..... so yes i am grateful for everything for now I know 'I 'am nothing and nothing belongs to me but is certainly a reflection of the genious, kindness, love of our Maker.
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On Nov 28, 2023 Melissa wrote :
Sharing my time delivering meals on wheels to the elderly and people in need always filled my heart overflowing I always went beyond just delivering meals by visiting them besides delivering just meals sending them birthday cards and giving them little gifts just to make their days a little brighter
The person that helped me deliver the meals was my partner have 20 years that I forgave after he had a two-year affair and was not easy but I'm still with him and every day I'm very grateful that I have forgiven him
The person that helped me deliver the meals was my partner have 20 years that I forgave after he had a two-year affair and was not easy but I'm still with him and every day I'm very grateful that I have forgiven him
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On Nov 27, 2023 Mariette wrote :
The line that moved my heart the most: "To help without thinking 'What's in it for me?' Is to be, for the helped one, vaster than the sea". Yes, there is a vastness of the sea that we most of the time don't measure. I LOVE that mystery, that unknown, that often never-known about service. Its impact often extends beyond what I can think or imagine. And that is part of the excitement and treasure of service "without thinking." :-)
1 reply: Melissa | Post Your Reply
On Nov 25, 2023 David Doane wrote :
Gratitude means to me to be thankful, not guilty or indebted, but thankful. I believe it is important to live with a sense of gratitude. There are so many kindnesses I have received, so many incidents of people helping me, for which I am grateful. I didn't ask for or earn so much of what is, or what I use and I am. I was given the understructure of me and given a great deal of help in putting together a structure. for me. I am gift. I am grateful to be thinking about this because it enhances my gratitude now. I experience a peace and calm in gratitude. I believe there is an essence of good in each and every one of us -- that awareness helps me be grateful, and gratitude enhances that awareness.
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On Nov 25, 2023 Pat Ha r dy wrote :
No matter how little your "kind deed" may be, it will have an impact on the receiver in some way, maybe never forgotten. Jo G. and I worked together. She was much older than I at the time she presented me with a small mother of pearl circle pin out of the blue. It wasn't a holiday or a birthday, it was just a sweet gesture. I no longer have the pin, except in my memory, but I have cherished them both, Jo and her gift, all the days of my 84 years!! Just keep "giving" in some small way or large way, and we will all benefit in ways we never know.
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On Nov 24, 2023 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
Reading this passage reminds me of David Thoureau who wrote about gratefulness, " I am grateful for what I am and what I have. My thanksgiving is perpetual." When I help someone in distress I do not expect anything in return. My heart is filled with deep joy. When someone offers a helping hand to me my heart is filled with deep gratitude. As the author Tiruvalluvar says," A good turn done is a heaven-born gift you cherish... Ask 'Will (they) repay it?' and it will perish." I always gratefully remember the person who has helped me and has been kind to me. I forget right away who has wronged me. Kindness is not measured by size and shape. Small acts of kindness are as valuable as big acts of kindness. Kindness wishers quietly in my ears," I am here for you."
I have been blessed by having people who have extended their helping hands joyfully whenever I need their help. And the same way I am vey happy to hold sombody's hand when he is in distress. It is a very fulfilling and enrichin... [View Full Comment]
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On Nov 24, 2023 stan 79 wrote :
The millet seed to be used..eaten...first is usually ground... If we.... as the millet seed, ...usefully must first be ground...die/sacrifice ourselves for the good of others a a confronting but necessary step as we pursue the path of service and sacrifice