GRATITUDE
Gratitude
எந்நன்றி கொன்றார்க்கும் உய்வுண்டாம் உய்வில்லை
செய்ந்நன்றி கொன்ற மகற்கு. (௱௰ - 110)
Ennandri Kondraarkkum Uyvuntaam Uyvillai
Seynnandri Kondra Makarku
ennaṉṟi koṉṟārkkum uyvuṇṭām uyvillai
ceynnaṉṟi koṉṟa makaṟku.
One may slain every goodness and yet escape, But no escape for one who
slain gratitude.
Tamil (தமிழ்)
எந்த அறத்தை அழித்தவர்க்கும் தப்பிப் பிழைக்க வழி உண்டாகும்; ஒருவர் செய்த
உதவியை மறந்து அழித்தவனுக்கு உய்வு இல்லை. (௱௰)
Hindi (हिन्दी)
जो भी पातक नर करें, संभव है उद्धार ।
पर है नहीं कृतघ्न का, संभव ही निस्तार ॥ (११०)
Telugu (తెలుగు)
దేనినైన మఱువఁ దెరవుండు బ్రతుకంగ
మేలు మఱచి బ్రతుక వీలుగాదు. (౧౧౦)
Malayalam (മലയാളം)
പെരും ദുഷ്ടത ചെയ്താലും പാപമുക്തി ലഭിച്ചിടാം; നന്ദി കാട്ടാത്ത ദുഷ്ടർക്ക്,
മോചനം സാദ്ധ്യമല്ല കേൾ (൱൰)
Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ)
ಯಾವ ಅಧರ್ಮ ಕೆಲಸಗಳನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿದವರಿಗೂ ಉದ್ಧಾರದ ಹಾದಿಯುಂಟು. ಒಬ್ಬರು ಮಾಡಿದ ಉಪಕಾರವನ್ನು
ನೆನೆಯದೆ ಅಪಕಾರ ಮಾಡುವವನಿಗೆ ಉದ್ಧಾರವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. (೧೧೦)
Sanskrit (संस्कृतम्)
धर्मान्तरविहीनानां विद्यते पापमोचनम् ।
कृतज्ञताधर्महीने नास्ति वै पापमोक्षणम् ॥ (११०)
II In Sanskrit, the word for “grateful” is kritajna, which literally
means “one who remembers the past deeds of another.” “If you wish to live
in this world with a peaceful mind and a heart full of love, there are two
things you must try to forget and two things you must strive to always
remember.”
2 The first thing to try to forget: “The bad that has been done to
you, try to forget that.” Let me clarify here. I don’t read the Holy Man’s
advice to suggest that we allow ourselves to be mistreated or excuse
inexcusable behavior. I don’t think he is asking us to forego processing
our grief or hurt. We must do that in order to heal. But what happens once
we are done processing? Are we willing to move into a space of letting go,
and perhaps even forgiveness? Or are we still holding on to the hurt,
nursing the wound, and even plotting revenge? I read “forgetting the bad
done to us” as an act of compassion and self-compassion that allows us to
let go and re-vision the challenging experience as something that came into
our lives to teach us something. If we can do that, perhaps we can even
feel grateful for it.
3 What about the two things to always remember? The Holy Man
instructed, “We must always try to remember the bad deeds we have committed
to others.” Why hold on to the memories of our misdeeds or remind ourselves
of how we’ve hurt others? Of course, beating ourselves up doesn’t do anyone
any good. Still, we might take this as a call to own up to our past
mistakes rather than to try to avoid them or gloss over them. Let us be
cognizant of the ways we have fallen short, take responsibility for
addressing what needs to be addressed, and keep those memories vivid as a
way of guarding against repeating our mistakes.
4 And finally—“always remember the good that others have done for us.”
No matter how small or seemingly insignificant, let us not take it for
granted. If we are honest, everything we benefit from—from the food we eat
and feed our families, to our jobs and finances, to our ability to live
with safety and security, to the clothes on our back and the phones in our
pockets—all of it is the result of the hard work and sacrifices of others. We
are tiny parts of a larger circle of life. When we are grateful, we honor
that circle, acknowledge the sacrifices of others, and step up to make
sacrifice when we are called to do so. That is always true, but perhaps
even more starkly clear in these days of the pandemic, when we cannot deny
that we are recipients of gifts and beneficiaries of those on the
frontlines.
5 Hindu scripture reminds us that Ishvara, the Supreme Lord, is
infinitely grateful. He remembers our efforts, honoring even the smallest
attempts and forgiving us our shortcomings or failings. When we choose to
be grateful—to remember the deeds of others—we reflect his love for us, and
act as his instruments to share that love with others. God doers not punish
and forgives forever; we do our Karma to live our life and GOD does not
punish.
III Sanskrit plays the words so subtle; Kṛtajñatā (कृतज्ञता).—f.
(-tā) Gratitude. E. kṛtajña, and tal affix; also kṛtajñatvaṃ. Kṛtajñatā (
कृतज्ञता).—[kṛtajña + tā], f. Gratitude, [Rāmāyaṇa] 5, 35, 16.
Kṛtaghna (कृतघ्न) refers to “ungrateful men”. Kṛtaghna
(कृतघ्न).—a.
1) ungrateful; Manusmṛti 4.214;8.89. 2) defeating all previous measures.
Kṛtaghna is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms kṛta and ghna (घ्न).
IV Gratitude can be valued and sought at four distinct levels of
increasing depth:
A positive emotion: Focusing on the good things in our life infuses us with
positive emotions such as contentment and cheerfulness.
An appreciative disposition: Going beyond an occasional or circumstantial
positive emotion, we seek a consistent disposition that looks toward the
good in every situation.
An effective reminder: Going beyond merely changing our inner
disposition, we base this disposition on curated perception of outer
reality. We all need reminders that goodness still exists in the world.
Why? Because the daily news — and especially the breaking news — usually
highlights deceit, distress and destruction in the world. Moreover, though
we all sometimes experience goodness through others’ acts of kindness,
sometimes unsolicited kindness, that others have done to us, our mind
gravitates toward the bad things that have happened to us. Remembering
other’s goodness through gratitude can protect us from toxic cynicism.
A persuasive pointer: Reminders of the goodness in the world are great, but
they become most potent when they point us to the greatest being, Krishna,
who sources and sustains all of existence. The Bhagavad-Gita (10.41) states
that everything attractive manifests a spark of Krishna’s
all-attractiveness. Applying this insight, we can infer that because good
things in the world are attractive, such goodness manifests a drop of the
oceanic goodness of God. Thus, if a family member or colleague or even
stranger is kind to us in our moment of weakness, we see God’s kindness
acting through them. This vision nourishes our devotion and powers us
toward the One who alone can provide us enduring safety, meaning and
fulfillment.
Gratitude is not just a positive emotion or an appreciative disposition; it
is also an effective reminder that goodness still exists in the world and a
persuasive pointer to the goodness of the Divine who underlies and unifies
existence.
प्रथमवयसि दत्तं तोयमल्पं स्मरन्तः
शिरसि निहितभारा नारिकेला नराणाम् ।
सलिलममृतकल्पं दद्युराजीवनान्तं
न हि कृतमुपकारं साधवो विस्मरन्ति ।।
Coconut tree takes a little water in the initial years to grow but never
forgets that help it got. It bears the burden of the fruits throughout the
lifespan to bestow upon people the sweet and nourishing watery juice of its
fruits comparable to Amruta, the nectar of Gods. In the same manner noble
and righteous persons also will never forget the favour and help however
small it is, rendered to them and continue to serve the mankind throughout
their life. Ouvayyar said the same thing:
நன்றி ஒருவர்க்குச் செய்தக்கால் அந் நன்றி
'என்று தருங்கொல்?' என வேண்டா- நின்று
தளரா வளர் தெங்கு தாள் உண்ட நீரைத்
தலையாலே தான் தருதலால்.
நன்றி ஒருவருக்கு செய்தோம் என்றால் அந்நன்றியை என்று தருவார் என்ற எண்ணம்
வேண்டாம். ஓர் இடத்தில் இருந்தபடியே வளரும் தென்னை தான் தாளான வேரில் உண்ட நீரை
தலையாலே தருவதால் உதவி பெற்றவர் என்றாவது உதவிடச் செய்வார்.
If we thank someone, we should not expect them to return the favor. Just as
a coconut tree, which grows in one place, gives back the water it has
absorbed through its roots, the recipient of help will eventually ask for
help.
K Rajaram IRS 16225
On Sun, 16 Feb 2025 at 04:23, Jambunathan Iyer <[email protected]>
wrote:
> Expressing gratitude has been shown to boost mental well-being and
> focusing on the positive aspects of your life rather than dwelling on
> stressors will reduce stress and take you to your Goal for a success.
>
> N Jambunathan Rengarajapuram-Kodambakkam-Chennai-Mob:9176159004
>
> *" What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you
> become by achieving your goals. If you want to live a happy life, tie it to
> a goal, not to people or things "*
>
>
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