Seven Buddhist Lessons in Gratitude

Be especially grateful for having to deal with annoying people and difficult situations, because without them ... how could we practice patience, exertion, mindfulness, loving-kindness, or compassion? It is by dealing with such challenges that we grow and develop. 

“These two people are hard to find in the world. Which two? The one who is first to do a kindness, and the one who is grateful and thankful for a kindness done.”

Train yourself to see a positive in the presence of many negatives.

Every circumstance, no matter how complex, challenging, and frustrating, contains a positive seed that should be nurtured.

Take a few minutes at the end of each day to mentally note the many people who have invisibly served you by providing medicine, shelter, safety, food, and education.”

Many Buddhist monks begin each day with this chant of gratitude:

“With gratitude I remember the people, animals, plants, insects, creatures of the sky and sea, air and water, fire and earth, all whose joyful exertion blesses my life every day. 

With gratitude I remember the care and labor of a thousand generations of elders and ancestors who came before me…..