Cultivating A Grateful Heart

Gratitude Meditation The aim of spiritual life is to awaken to joyful freedom and to cultivate a compassionate heart in spite of everything.

Gratitude is the gracious knowledge of all that sustain us,

Above our blessings,

Great and small,

An appreciation of the moments of good fortune for ourselves and others.

Gratitude is confidence in life itself.

It is not sentimental,

Nor jealous,

Nor judgmental.

Gratitude does not envy or compare.

Gratitude receives in wonder the many offerings that support every single moment of life.

As gratitude grows,

It naturally gives rise to joy.

Joy is natural to an open heart.

Let yourself sit quietly and at ease.

Allow the body to be relaxed and open,

Your breath natural and your heart easy.

Now allow yourself to begin to acknowledge all that has supported you in this life with gratitude.

Remember the care and labour of a thousand generations of elders who came before you.

Offer your gratitude for the safety and wellbeing you have received.

Offer your gratitude for the blessing of this earth you have received.

Offer your gratitude for the measure of health you have received.

Offer your gratitude for the family and friends you have received.

Offer your gratitude for the teaching and lessons you have received.

Sense the joy and caring in each praise.

For all beneficent karma you have manifested through me,

I am grateful.

May this gratitude be expressed through my body,

Speech,

Mind,

With an infinite kindness to the past,

Infinite service to the present and infinite responsibility to the future.