by Smt. Mandira Lahiri
When we are infants our parents, grandparents, nannies, older siblings help us to grow up. Feeding us, cleaning us, putting us to sleep, making us burp, helping us to sit, walk, run, eat,
play, study and so on. In all this, the parents’ contribution are unlimited. Their constant hand holding, assistance and support help us to become what we are today. When the kid is in any discomfort, the parents spend
sleepless nights. Innumerable times it has been seen that parents pray to God to give them their child’s share of pain and sorrow and to always bless their children and keep them happy. But very often it has been seen
that we take our parents for granted. We forget about their contribution in our lives and abandon them in their twilight years when they need us the most. No gratitude, no acknowledgements, no love, no respect …. the
general apathy shown towards them by us is appalling. Parents are our Mahaguru (as revealed by Sri Sri Babathakur) and they should be treated with dignity which they so very well deserve.
Nature gives us so much, but we show no gratitude, no respect to it. We show no gratefulness for our community helpers also who are an integral part of the building. We should be thankful
for every little thing that has been provided to us by the Almighty. A person very dear to me told me once that we should not only thank the Lord when things happen according to our wishes, but also when it does not happen
so. Since every little thing that is happening is the wish of God, we should therefore be thankful to Him for all the gains and all the pains we experience. We should bow down our head in front of that Supreme Being and be
grateful for all that He has given us. Gratitude should emanate from every cell of our body.
Prajnanpurush Sri Sri Babathakur in his book ‘Science of Oneness’ reiterates the same thing. He advises the devotees to accept pain and pleasure with equal spirit. ‘Pain
and miseries are messengers of God. One cannot perform Tapasya these days and therefore the Divine Mother, out of grace, sees that this is done through suffering. Suffering itself is ‘Tapas’ for us, which once
agreeably and consciously accepted, conduces to realization of the underlying Essence of all beings and becomings in life.’
A long time ago, one of Sri Sri Anandmayi Maa’s ardent devotees was afflicted with a serious type of cancer……people would come to see him …. some would sympathize
…. few would empathize …. there were others who would exclaim, “Oh God! You are in so much of pain.” But the devotee would stay calm and composed and would fold his hands and say, “O Maa! You
have come to me in the form of this deadly disease. I can’t thank you enough for this grace.” Such profound words even in that situation of extreme pain and discomfort, left an indelible mark in my mind.
Another incident which touched my heart goes this way— a beautician by profession, this girl who came from a humble background, had a father who was an alcoholic. Very often he would
resort to domestic violence and was the cause of all the disharmony in the house. However, this girl was unfazed by all the unpleasantness and would instead very earnestly pray to the divine. I am presenting the prayer here—
“Oh Lord, thank you for giving me a man like him as my father. His not-so pleasant demeanor keeps me grounded all the time. Let me not try to change him. Let him exhaust all his previous negative baggage. You just
give me the strength and patience to tolerate and bear this situation. Please help me to be a witness consciousness to this entire game.” So much of wisdom was shown by a young woman to deal with a difficult situation
at home. Her heart overflowing with love and gratitude for the Lord at all times. A big learning for all of us who get rattled when they face the lows of life.
Excerpts from Janina Gomes’s article in “The Speaking Tree” which was published in The Times of India 16/1/2021— Kabir said, “When all the walls of greatness
and smallness fall down, when no distinction remains, a deep gratitude arises for everything in existence. When Kabir says, do not neglect a dust particle, it does not mean respect it out of fear. He simply wants to say, be
grateful towards even the smallest elements of existence.”
Gratitude is a quality that makes us appreciate all our experiences, whether good or bad. Tagore so aptly puts it: “If you cry because the sun has gone out of your life, your tears
will prevent you from seeing the stars.”
Gratitude has many positive outcomes and affects the quality of our lives. It improves physical health and gives our immunity a boost. It reduces toxic emotions that can eat into us and
spread venom throughout our being. It lessens the proclivity towards resentment, frustration and regret - and as a result, we are less likely to be depressed. It helps us avoid overreacting to negative experiences. It
enhances self- respect.
In times of crisis, we learn to adapt in the face of adversity and remain grounded. It reconnects us to people and our surroundings in a more meaningful way and expressing gratitude in
small ways can put everything into perspective. Therefore, cultivate the habit of gratitude for everything that has come your way, because it has contributed immeasurably to your advancement.
When we thank God and people, we are protected from resentment and realize how dependent we are on others and a force greater than ourselves. Even when not all things are well, we can still
be thankful. We either stagnate or grow in life. Gratitude helps us grow, especially in dark times. Then in times of difficulty we can say like Tagore: “Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or
to usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.”
Finally, I express my deepest gratitude to the Lord for having given me a Sadguru like Sri Sri Babathakur who was Divine Grace personified; whose divine words have given some direction to
my life and thereby helped me to proceed in my spiritual journey. I will end my piece now with these sublime utterances of Sri Sri Babathakur in his book – ‘Science Of Oneness’— ‘Words of the
light of My Self-Knowledge will inspire, enlighten those who will go through this (unfolded Supreme Wisdom) and accept this as their own and allow the essence of this to take full possession of them. One who remembers Me,
loves Me and accepts Me wholly without any restriction, limitation, condition, preference and reservation, dwells in Me forever, as One with Me, and I do exist in him forever, as One with him. This is My Promise; this is the
Truth of Me, the Essence of Me. By Divine blessings, everything becomes Divine; by Divine grace, everything becomes Divine.'
