It could be argued that we don’t really receive anything unless we feel gratitude. Why might this be? Recognition perhaps of a gift freely given. In order to recognize something it follows that we must be alert and intensely awake. Spiritually, this might be called the practice of the presence of the divine in all things. It is the reverse of sleepwalking through life – a somnambulistic state of not noticing, of being on automatic pilot. Such a state sees us moving away from the Now, the present moment, with all its immediacy, vibrancy and vitality.
To be truly awake means that we are alert to the possibilities and opportunities of the moment. And not only this, we are moved to consider the best ways to give, appropriately and unconditionally and the best ways to make use of what we are given. It also allows us to feel, and express gratitude, for even the simplest things in life – the blueness of the sky; the gentle breeze; the tender hold of a baby’s fingers entwined around our own. The livingness of each thing, as it happens, shines out and we feel bubbling up within us the joy of gratitude.
Is it possible to feel, and express, gratitude for people and events in the past – perhaps not valued at the time? The answer is a resounding ‘yes’. We can go back in time by re-visiting these in consciousness and expressing our heartfelt thanks. This is done on a collective level whenever nations honour their heroes and remember individuals for their special talents and contributions to society. In the recognition of a gift freely given we feel gratitude, but how do we express that gratitude? Often, through service of some kind – we put ourselves out to go that extra mile or do something above and beyond what is strictly required. The simplest, and most immediate, expressions of gratitude are probably through the words thank you, or a smile or hug. There are so many ways to express gratitude, but the deepest gratitude, perhaps, we show to the Divine through practicing that presence in the way in which we live.
At the heart of gratitude is the Sanskrit word Namaste – meaning the light in me bows to the light in you. We may even put our hands together in reverential adoration as we honour that light.
