Gratitude as a Source of Joy
Gratitude as a Source of Joy
We have a saying in my country: “Being grateful is [a
sign of] being well-born”. I always think that there is a lot of wisdom in
these traditional sayings. The importance of gratitude is unfathomable, until
the point that being or not being grateful draws the line between a happy and
an unhappy person or even a pleasant and an unpleasant person. Being grateful
is an incredible quality that brings joy to oneself and others, since one is
able to appreciate what one has and how one got it, thanks to others.
When we get to know about the interdependence of
phenomena, we learn to appreciate the immense kindness of others. When
acknowledging the effort, work and time invested by others so that we can enjoy
a simple plate of food, for instance, we cannot but value and respect all the
people who participated in the process of creating that plate, and feel
extremely lucky for receiving that meal. Similarly, when studying at Rangjung
Yeshe Institute, I cannot but feel extremely grateful for the generosity of
Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche providing a place for intense Buddhist studies so that
students from all over the world could access the extensive knowledge of the
Buddha’s teachings. In the same way, I feel extremely grateful to all the
people who are working to make it possible. Moreover, I cannot put words to my
deep appreciation towards the sponsors who are funding the studies of all those
students that otherwise would not be able to access to that precious knowledge.
It is thanks to all of these conditions that a student like me, coming from a
place where the academic study of Buddhism is very limited, can get the chance
to learn about the immense wisdom of Buddha’s teachings.
Therefore, being aware of the endless causes that make
this precious opportunity possible and knowing that this is a very rare
opportunity, very difficult to obtain, I feel like the richest person in the
world, extremely grateful and full of joy.
~ Maite from Spain
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