Thnx4 is an online gratitude journal that makes it easier to say thanks, enjoy the benefits of thankfulness, and see what happens when you strengthen your habit of feeling and expressing gratitude.
Thnx4 was created by the Greater Good Science Center (GGSC) at the University of California, Berkeley. It draws on two decades of research suggesting that people who regularly feel grateful:
report better health, reduce their risk of heart disease, and get better sleep
strengthen feelings of connection and satisfaction in their relationships
feel more satisfied with their lives, more joy and optimism, and less anxiety.
What does this have to do with the EBTs?
We are all still here.
The good person is grateful and thankful, for the virtuous only know how to be grateful and thankful.
AN2.32
āMendicants, the appearance of three people is rare in the world. What three? A Realized One, a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha. A person who teaches the teaching and training proclaimed by a Realized One. A person who is grateful and thankful. The appearance of these three people is rare in the world.ā
AN3.114
Yesterday, a friend asked me about meditation and my own practice in particular. After chatting for a bit, I forwarded him a link to some Dhamma talks recorded during a recent retreat conducted by one of my long-term teachers.
Also, my father sent me a message from Thailand where he is holidaying. For the first time (I assume), he saw some people doing walking meditation and joked that their slow pacing on the grass made them look like zombies! I replied with a funny anecdote about Ajahn Chah.
Iām really grateful that I had two small opportunities to share something of the Dhamma in a very relaxed and natural way. Who knows what might resultā¦?
I cannot express how deep my gratitude is for the existence of this forum and for the good Sangha of Bhikkunis and Bhikkhus that continue to gather here. It is a great benefit and a source of joy that they offer their time, their thoughts and views.
Today I am grateful that I can send metta and karuna to all beings, be they great or small, have no legs, 2 legs or more.
I am grateful to the Buddha, and all his disciples over the millenia that have preserved and shared the Buddha Dhamma.
I am grateful to all the kalyanamittas, and the admins/moderators of Sutta Central, and all members of the forum, who share their love and appreciation for the Dhamma
Todayās news that fire stepped away from NSW Santi Monastery Iād like to add some āgratefulnessā-msg here.
But - is it not rather of a āreliefā - type : because, to whom is the emotion of āgratefulnessā adressed to at all?
Well, going a bit into it with meditation: let the impulse of āgratefulnessā flower when it is here and even if it has no adressee: read the Buddhaās advice about it as being a wholesome mental state. And even more: get in friendly contact with it. Such mental state, how short ever, is good for your and your contemporaries fortuneā¦ ā¦ (end-of-selfadvice)
(taking breath and release breath)
(taking breath and release breath)
(taking breath and release breath)
Now, go back to the observation of the further news about the bushfires as long as it fits needā¦
Today I am grateful for Dhamma talks, chanting, sutta classes and guides and study aids, available online (especially those of SuttaCentral.net and BSWA.org and santifm.org and alokavihara.org but also good sources anywhere). Itās very helpful in this life.
Today I am grateful to my very dear friend who is just one month older than me. He has cancer and has been given a week or less to live. And also to my life partner who has cancer too, but with a better prognosis.
Death is rushing in from all sides, bearing down upon me. Better practice like my headās on fire.
Today I am grateful to the broccoli plant some of whose broccoli I will take for dinner. And I will invite it also to stay in the garden as long as it wishes for generations to come, tending it as I may.
Iām not sure what to do about the live christmas tree, that my wife bought, however. They grow to 100ā and I donāt think we have room for that. But for now I am grateful we didnāt chop down a tree, so it is sitting in the back yard, repotted.
Perhaps i can depart and let it be someone elseās problemā¦but they might not be grateful. See where overthinking leads?
IMO itās actually really important from time to time.
with the capacity to kill, chose to hold back and not bite me yesterday 
Perhaps i can depart and let it be someone elseās problemā¦but they might not be grateful. See where overthinking leads? 