Last night a good friend passed away. So many years ago, when I first met luang por, I was in such a state of sadness and despair at the passing of another loved one and luang por set me on the straight path. Today as I contemplate how clear headed I am even though my beautiful friend has passed, I am overwhelmed by the transformation of my heart over the years. Today instead of sadness and tears at my friendās passing, there is joy and celebration of a life full of decency and generosity having come to an end, and compassion for all who suffer. I am beginning to know for my self the value of the dhamma - and Iām just getting started! Thank you Ajahn K and all my subsequent teachers for handing on this precious gift.
I recently have used an Android app which appears to be a well designed tool for cultivating an attitude of daily gratitude. It is called Presently: A Gratitude Journal. Free, works offline.
"Wishing: In gladness and in safety,
May all beings be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be;
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,
The seen and the unseen,
Those living near and far away,
Those born and to-be-bornā
May all beings be at ease!
Let none deceive another,
Or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will
Wish harm upon another.
Even as a mother protects with her life
Her child, her only child,
So with a boundless heart
Should one cherish all living beings;
Radiating kindness over the entire world:
Spreading upwards to the skies,
And downwards to the depths;
Outwards and unbounded,
Freed from hatred and ill-will.
Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down
Free from drowsiness,
One should sustain this recollection.
This is said to be the sublime abiding.
By not holding to fixed views,
The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,
Being freed from all sense desires,
Is not born again into this world."
Gratitude for all kalyanamittas,
be they old or young, short or tall, fat or thin,
here or there, and just everywhere
Both living and breathing or just a digital presence.
For those who still suffer and those who have left suffering behind
Gratitude for those who teach, those who provide an example
for those who admonish and for those who support,
For those that are easy, and those that are hard,
and especially to those few precious jewells who
push all our āred buttonsā at once.
For those in the past, that I didnāt appreciate at the time,
and those in the present that were not easily understood
And still for those in the future, who are as yet unknown.
Today I am grateful to be able to spend some quiet time alone and for having friendly stray dogs near my home, who gives me ample opportunity to serve them, which makes me happy.
Iām grateful to have stumbled upon this thread! And I am grateful to all of you here and anyone anywhere who reminds us all of the power of this emotion, and who also contributes to the worldās well being by cultivating it.