Embracing Gratitude

The dawn that crackles every morning, waking the world up to a new beginning—does it ever expect anything in return? A river that flows perennially, touching all the grasslands, fetching clean fresh water from the top of the mountain through the lands and finally to the seas—does she ask anything in return? The air, the water, the land, the sky, the sun, the moon, nature—none of these expect anything in return!

We are free-riders! We enjoy many things freely and still feel the universe owes us plenty! We woke up this morning though we didn’t request to be woken up. It wasn’t the alarm clock; it’s the universe within us that woke us up. But are we happy about the simple event that we woke up?

We have an abundance of everything within us, yet we seek ourselves outside of us. We expect. And when we receive, we expect more. This is one of the tricks of the mind—‘maya’—the illusion that nothing is sufficient. Greed (lobha).

What happens if, at this very moment, we cut ourselves off from the mind’s expectations? We stop running! More importantly, we start living. The advent of technology has also, somewhere, taught us to expect more. True human nature is complete in its existence. It does not need anything. Therefore, there is no question of expectation. There is only an immense feeling of gratitude.

Being grateful that we woke up this morning to a lovely day while millions could not.

Being grateful that we are loved by all creation around us.

Being grateful that we can think, unlike any other animal.

Being grateful that we can close our eyes and dive inward for discovery. Only we humans can do it!

When the mind and heart are filled with such gratitude, we will find a perennial source of compassion within us! This is what the world needs in abundance.

The Rigveda, one of the earliest texts reflecting a highly evolved human mind, is filled with joyous hymns that celebrate gratitude. The thoughts expressed in these texts praise nature. They express gratitude for all that nature provides and thank her for prosperity and growth.

For instance, the joyous celebration of the ancient river named Saraswati. This perennial river provided abundantly to many regions of ancient India. There are many hymns in the Rigveda dedicated to this river, simply expressing gratitude for its existence and its provisions!

One such expression reads thus:

“O mother! You protect us with your perennial supply. You are the best of the rivers, best of the mothers, and best of the Goddesses. You help all generations exist. Accept our humble gratitude for existing and providing us with progeny!”

“You feed us like a mother feeds her child. Guide us, O Saraswati, to the glorious treasure of inward discovery. Do not refuse us your love, nor reject us with disdain. Gladly accept our friendship and obedience and let us live with you in harmony. Do not let us go away from you into some unknown territories!”

The above verses celebrate the harmony in which an evolved mind dwells! The wonderful thought process, the plea to co-exist, the gratitude for the abundant supply, the ask for true treasure...

Life should never be about setting expectations. It should rather be about celebrating existence! Don’t you think?

Source:
1.Rigveda (2.41.16)
2. Rigveda (6.61.14)