Gratitude Meditation
Expression of gratitude is the greatest meditation that there is. No prayer is really a prayer unless it is in sheer gratitude; otherwise it is a beggar's song. A prayer becomes meditation when it is pure gratitude and nothing else.
When a disciple becomes enlightened, he reaches the same level as the master. The disciple does not need the guidance of the master any longer. Yet, the disciple chooses to be part of the master's lineage.
All that remains after enlightenment is a deep sense of gratitude and surrender. An unenlightened person has free will. He can do anything he wishes. An enlightened being has no free will. He has surrendered to Existence. Everyone of his movements is now at the will of Existence.
This state of surrender to Existence, this surrender of free will to Existence, is the ultimate liberation; it is the only real freedom that one can have.
May you have a glimpse of that ultimate liberation through this gratitude meditation.
Instructions
Sit straight and close your eyes. Concentrate on your sahasrara chakra – crown center. Forget all other parts of your body. Concentrate only on your crown center and relax there. Wear a smile and relax.
- With your whole being, offer your gratitude to your mother for giving you this body. Remember her with deepest love and affection and give your gratitude to her with all your being.
- Offer your gratitude to your father for giving you this life and providing for all your needs.
- Offer your gratitude to your siblings who helped you grow in love.
- Offer your gratitude to your spouse, your life partner and greatest love, for giving you love and security in your life.
- Offer your gratitude to your children for all the joy that they have given you.
- Offer your gratitude to all relatives and friends who supported you at various times of need.
- Offer your gratitude to all the doctors and nurses who received you when you came to planet Earth.
- Offer your gratitude to all the people who took care of you when you were an infant.
- Offer your gratitude to all those who worked for your food, clothes and living when you were young.
- Offer your gratitude to all the teachers who gave you primary education.
- Offer your gratitude to all your young-age friends who made your life happy and blissful, who shared their innocence and joy with you.
- Offer your gratitude to all the people who gave you professional education, who helped you to stand in your profession, who gave you the courage to stand on your own feet.
- Offer your gratitude to all the people who helped you financially, whenever you needed it.
- Offer your gratitude to all the doctors and nurses who took care of your health, who gave you medical assistance whenever you needed it.
- Offer your gratitude to all the people who encouraged you and gave you inspiration in your spiritual life.
- Offer your gratitude to all those who have served you in one way or another all through your life: the milk man who delivers milk, the grocer, the laundry man, the garbage collector, your servants, your driver, all the people who you take for granted.
- Seek each one's forgiveness for any hurt that you may have caused intentionally or unintentionally, consciously or unconsciously.
- Offer your gratitude to your enemies and those who have hurt you, for making you strong and determined.
- Offer your gratitude to all those who helped you physically, mentally, socially, economically and spiritually.
- Remember each one of them and offer gratitude taking your own time.
- Offer your gratitude to your body and all its parts one by one.
- Offer your gratitude to your mind for its miraculous functioning.
- Offer your gratitude to the Divine, to the Whole, to God, for making all these things possible in your life.