GRATITUDE AND THANKSGIVING : STORY OF NARADA AND SAGE IN INDIAN MYTHOLOGY

GRATITUDE AND THANKSGIVING

Table of Contents

CULTIVATING HABIT OF GRATITUDE AND THANKSGIVING

Thanking people are ways to appreciate them of what they are at the present

ACKNOWLEDGE THE GOOD THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE IN YOUR LIFE IS THE FOUNDATION FOR ALL ABUNDANCE .. ECKHART TOLLE

‘ THANK YOU‘ word should be a recorded statement in your mouth always whether you are inside or outside the house

thanking to the material things that add value to your life – be it your books, car, laptop, furniture etc. whatever that forms part of your daily life

there is an ancient story in indian mythology

that shows how gratitude is so important in life

the story goes…..

once narada, the great indian mystic, was going to see god .

playing on his veena he passes through a forest and comes across a sage who was sitting under a tree

on seeing narada, the old man said, “you are going to meet god. please ask one question from me. i have been doing all kinds of tapas and sadhana to achieve liberation, now how much more is needed. how longer should i wait.?”

narada laughed and said “okay”

as he moved further, he saw another young man under a tree dancing and singing with his ektara

narada asked whether he would also like to ask any question to god since he was going to meet him

the young man didn’t reply but instead danced in ecstasy

after a few days while returning back, narada came to the old man and told him, ” i asked god about you. he said you had 3 more lives”

at that time the old man was doing his japa on his beads.

hearing what narada said, in a fit of rage, he threw away his beads, the scriptures he had and said ” this is absolutely unjust ! three more lives ?”

narada then moved to the young man who was dancing and said ” although you had not answered me and not asked me any question, i still asked god about you. “

and god said, ” tell the young man, he will have to be born as many times as there are leaves on the tree under which he is dancing”

hearing this, the young man danced even more ecstatically and said, ” so fast . there are so many trees in the world and so many leaves—only this much? only these leaves? only these many lives? i have already attained. whenever you go to him, thank him”

ecstatic with appreciation, he transcended the mind and attained his liberation that very moment

https://reflectwithsmitha.com/powerful-thoughts-secret-to-being-a-powerful-magnet/

MORAL OF THE STORY

the first old man was on the path of depreciation, in the mode of complaining and cribbing. for him the pot was half empty

and for the second, immersed in thankfulness, the pot was Half full

appreciation is a beautiful soulful quality available to everyone in every circumstances

being thankful for life’s little treasures, Grateful for the opportunity to begin the day where you are

thanking and appreciating is life giving

when we are soul conscious, we give Thanks for whatever we have, no matter how little or how more we have

but when in ego consciousness, we are never grateful or satisfied, no matter how much we have

students to teachers and vice versa, husbands to wives, wives to husband, both to their children, etc… etc….

it is far more effective to praise others and appreciate with what we have rather than finding fault and complaining about what we don’t have

thankfulness and appreciation are key words for a better life

it is the medicine which heals the subjective state of mind, restoring self respect, confidence and security

https://reflectwithsmitha.com/what-better-can-i-do-today-for-constant-growth/

mY EXPERIENCES wITH BEING IN GRATITUDE AND THANKSGIVING

thankfulness has bought a sense of Calmness and peacefulness in me. i am able to handle situations much maturely, much better than before

but this comes with practice, persistance and constant awareness

more to add, i always meet people and situations much FAVORABLE to me. thanks to my gratitude practice

surprising after effects of giving THANKS

1. brings peace of mind

2. builds stronger relationships with other people

3. helps bonding in relationships

4. lessens depression and stress and gives more energy and optimism

5. thanking glorifies god’s gift and helps us see god’s hands to be always with us in all situations

6. ignites our spiritual side

7. brings a sense of contentment within us helping us to be in a happy space within us

8. the more we thank him, the more we see HIM working in and around us

IF THE ONLY PRAYER YOU SAID IN YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS ‘THANK YOU’ THAT WOULD SUFFICE…… ECKHART TOLLE

https://reflectwithsmitha.com/living-a-powerful-life-karma-yoga-by-swami-vivekananda/

CONCLUSION ON GRATITUDE AND THANKSGIVING

i am no teacher or saint to preach or teach people

but by god’s grace i come upon such references from books and teachings from spiritual books which gives us a lot of wisdom and ways to live our valuable life meaningfully

and teach our ourselves and the people whom we associate with to live with right code of conduct and to raise our standard of living

making smaller changes in life will not only help us be a better individual but also bring a valuable change in the society in the current scenario which is very much required

however small it may be but let’s atleast start from OURSELVES

let’s make the world a better place with our small efforts in all aspects of living