Meditation and Qi Gong

Gratitude is Within You

“Gratitude is the experience of our true self.” ― Gina Lakes

CENTERING THOUGHT All good things bring gratitude

SANSKRIT MANTRA Kripa Hum ~ I am divine grace

Oprah Winfrey:

“Have you ever paused and noticed how you feel when you are thankful for someone or something?  Take a moment and consider this…when you are present in that feeling of gratitude, you feel more open, more generous, more connected, more aware and alive.  Welcome to Day 2.  Gratitude is Within You.

Deepak Chopra:

“Discovering that grace can bring transformation isn’t new.  For centuries in many cultures, there has been a tradition of thanking God every day and in return, God bestows grace which in Sanskrit is called Kripa.  Offering gratitude starts an inner conversation.  On one side of the conversation is thanks and devotion for the good things in your life.   On the other side is the response which is to bring you more good things o be grateful for.  So let’s begin the conversation this moment.  Think of 3 good things in your life.  They don’t have to be the most important things – just whatever you feel in your heart.  If it’s a beautiful morning and you have a rose sitting in a vase and breakfast sitting in front of you, there are there things already.  Now, take the first things, whatever it is.  If it isn’t sitting in front of you, visualize it in your mind.  Send thanks to it.  You can say the words Thank You if you feel comfortable starting that way but the real key is feeling.  Letthe feeling of gratitude come from your heart.  It’s a warm, gentle sensation that brings a smile.

Now comes a new element.  Imagine that whatever you’re grateful for – a person, a precious memento, something beautiful in nature, is aware of your thanks.  See it smiling back at you shimmering with the same warm feeling.  Your thanks has been received and welcomed.  After a moment, go the second thing and give thanks for it and then see it receive your thanks.  Move on the to third thing and repeat again. You have successfully started the flow of grace.

Grace, when it is alive and flowing, works like a feedback loop.  You give something to the source and in turn a response comes back to you.  The secret is that every time you do this, you change the pathways in your brain.  These new pathways change your perception.  They allow you to pay attention to the good things you are grateful for and in return, grace welcomes you.

Now that you know the method, make it part of your routine.  Start paying attention during your day-to-day activities, taking a moment for each thing you are thankful for.  Feel the emotion, don’t just have a passing thought.  The best way to feel gratitude is in mind and body.  Let the warmth of gratitude begin in your heart and spread outward.  It helps to visualize what you are grateful for.  Honoring how you are supported, even in the smallest ways connects you emotionally with the flow of life.  Gratitude brings the support you need in life.  This is how grace becomes real ad practical.  You are learning the truth behind the teaching of Kripa which goes back thousands of years.

As we prepare to meditate together, lets take a moment to consider our centering thought,

All good things bring gratitude All good things bring gratitude

As you continue with your day, contemplate the centering thought All good things bring gratitudeAll good things bring gratitude All good things bring gratitude

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JOURNAL QUESTIONS

1.  “Describe three qualities about yourself that you are most grateful for. 2.  “Write about a time when your gratitude or appreciation was received and reflected back to you, and you felt the situation was transformed by grace.” 3.  “List the people you would like to share your gratitude with more fully and more frequently. Then, write some specific ways you can do that.” 4.  “Reflect further on today’s experience.”

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