And please put the attention on the breath for just a few moments.
Look at all the good things that are happening in your life.
And be immensely grateful for them.
Such as good friends,
Good food,
A nice home.
No real poverty.
The body in fairly good condition.
Lovely weather.
The teachings of the Buddha.
All causes for great gratitude.
Find all the good things in your life.
And fill your heart with gratitude.
Don't take anything for granted.
Be grateful that you can see out of two eyes.
That you can taste the food that jested well.
Walk around.
Hear the birds.
Many,
Many things that we can be grateful for.
Think of them yourself.
Now focus your attention on the person sitting next to you.
And be utterly grateful to that person that he or she are supporting your spiritual practice by their presence.
And give them the gift of your gratitude.
Fill them with it.
See them as a companion on your path.
And you are grateful for that companionship.
Think of your parents.
Whether they are still alive or not.
Remember the good things.
And give them the gift of your gratitude.
Fill them with it.
Embrace them with gratitude.
Think of your nearest and dearest people.
Those that you might be living with.
Be utterly grateful to them that they are part of your life.
That they are supportive and appreciative.
That they listen to you.
That you can do things together with them.
That they care.
Show them your gratitude.
Letting it flow from your heart to their hearts.
Think of your friends.
Think of your friends,
Acquaintances and relatives.
Whoever comes to your mind.
Be grateful to them that they are part of your life.
That you can call on them.
That you can count on them.
That they are there for you to talk to.
That they are happy to know you.
Show them your gratitude.
By letting it flow from the center of your heart to their hearts.
Manifesting the togetherness,
The real friendship.
The care and concern that you have for them.
And think of those people whom you meet in everyday life.
Your neighbors,
The people at your work.
People you see over and over again.
In the shops,
In the offices,
Wherever you go.
Be grateful to them for their presence.
For their support.
When you think of it,
You will find how they help you.
How they try to show you their friendliness,
Their care.
So let them have the fullness of your gratitude for their presence.
Now think of a difficult person.
Anyone,
Whether they are a personal difficulty or a general difficulty.
Whoever comes to mind as a difficult person for you.
And then be very grateful to that person for the difficulty they are providing you with.
Because that is the most important learning situation for unconditional love.
Let your gratitude flow from your heart.
And feel and embrace the difficult person with that.
Because that person is the greatest teacher.
Be grateful to the farmers who provide us with our food.
They work in the fields with the animals.
And we have nourishment.
Be grateful to those people who process and then sell us the food.
Without them,
We wouldn't have it.
See our interconnectedness.
How we couldn't manage on our own.
Be grateful to those people who make our clothes.
Put them together and sell them to us.
Be grateful to those people who keep our roads in order so that we can drive on them without hindrance.
Those that keep our telephone system working,
The postal system in order.
Be grateful to the people who have built your house,
Made the furniture.
Realize that none of us can manage on our own.
Be grateful to any doctors or nurses that have either helped you or any of your loved ones that are trying better ways to help.
Be grateful to all your teachers who have taught you anything from learning to read and write to meditation.
Let the gratitude in your heart flow out to all these people.
Let it be a real connection between you and all the people that are necessary for you to live.
Feel that togetherness.
Feel that interconnectedness.
See the truth of participation,
Of not being able to stand alone,
But always being part of the whole.
Put your attention back on yourself.
And find out where your greatest gratitude lies.
And determine to show that gratitude in your life.
Gratitude is akin to lovingness.
They belong together.
And as you fill your heart with gratitude,
You can feel that this is a loss of a burden of judgment,
Of wanting,
Of rejecting and resisting.
You're just grateful for all the good things in your life.
Now anchor the gratitude in your heart so that it's always available,
That it's always part of your feeling.
May people everywhere have gratitude in their hearts.
