Thank You for Everything

Stephen Mitchell's adaptation of a Zen parable from Zenkei Shibayama’s A Flower Does Not Talk:

"There lived a woman named Sono, whose devotion and purity of heart were respected far and wide. One day a fellow Buddhist, having made a long trip to see her, asked, “What can I do to put my heart at rest? ”

Sono said, “Every morning and every evening, and whenever anything happens to you, keep on saying, ‘Thank you for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever.’ ”

The man did as he was instructed for a whole year, but his heart was still not at peace. He returned to Sono crestfallen. “I’ve said your prayer over and over, and yet nothing in my life has changed; I’m still the same selfish person as before. What should I do now? ”

Sono immediately said, “Thank you for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever. ” On hearing these words, the man was able to open his heart, and he returned home with a great joy."

Gratitude is the most powerful meditation of a lifetime. As you focus on gratitude, you will quickly find your way home to God.

It is not the things that happen to us that make or break us; it is the way we think about them. It is possible to find something to be grateful for in every situation. The happiest people are those who practice thankfulness.

Appreciation is more of a gift to the giver than to the receiver. Those who constantly appreciate others prime the flow of love through their own hearts. Even if the recipient does not receive the gift, the giver is blessed by giving it.

In real estate, when a property appreciates, its value increases. When we give appreciation, the value of our life increases.

Thank you for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever.

For Your Own Sake, Forgive

As a massage therapist in a hospital, Irene was assigned to give physical therapy to a cancer patient who, according to the doctors’ prognosis, had but a short time to live. While Irene was treating Mrs. Harmon, she asked the elderly woman about the pain in her life. “My greatest sorrow is that I have not spoken to my sister in 20 years, ” lamented Mrs. Harmon. When Irene encouraged the woman to talk about her long-held resentment, Mrs. Harmon burst into tears, reporting how hard it had been to hold a grudge against her sister, whom she truly loved. The two women embraced, and Mrs. Harmon reported that she felt relieved.

The following week when Irene returned to the hospital, she was surprised to find Mrs. Harmon dressed, wearing makeup, and looking significantly healthier. “Where are you going? ” asked Irene.

“Home, darling,” Mrs. Harmon answered. “When they took me in for x-rays, they found no sign of cancer. ”

When we hold on to anger, hurt, or resentment, we only hurt ourselves. By withholding love from another, we deny it to ourselves. If you keep someone in prison with your thoughts, you have to sit at their jail door to keep them from escaping, and thus become a prisoner yourself.

To free another is to free yourself. When you give the gift of release, your spirit is healed.

Just Be You

The renowned sage Rabbi Zusya wept as he lay on his deathbed. His students, gathered by his side, were astonished. “Rabbi, why do you weep? ” one of them asked. “If anyone is assured of a place in heaven, it is you! ”

“I’ll tell you why, ” the learned one answered softly. “If, when I approach the gates of heaven, I am asked, ‘Why were you not a Moses?’ I will answer, ‘Because I was not born to do what Moses did.’ And if the heavenly host argues, ‘You did not perform the miracles that Elijah did,’ I shall tell them, ‘Those were Elijah’s miracles to perform, not mine.’ My friends, the only question I fear I shall be unable to answer is: ‘Why were you not a Rabbi Zusya?’ ”

Destiny is a personal adventure. Just as no two snowflakes or fingerprints are alike, every soul comes into this world for a unique purpose. Each of us manifests good according to our own strengths and intentions.

Never compare your worth to that of others because you did not accomplish what they did; you were never supposed to be like them.

Your highest purpose in life is to be true to yourself. If you honor your personal gifts, intuition, inclinations, and visions, you will fulfill your destiny and serve many others in the process.

I am as God created me.

Supposed to Stink

As I lifted the lid off my compost container, my nose was assaulted by the acrid aroma of rotting food. “ Argh! ” I recoiled, “That really stinks! ” Then an inner voice reminded me, “It’s supposed to stink. ” Of course it is. If rotten food wasn’t repulsive, we might eat it and get sick. The obnoxious smell is nature’s way of keeping us away from what would hurt us.

In life, too, nature tries to repulse us from what would hurt us. Whenever we experience pain, conflict, antagonism, or frustration, the universe is, in effect, sending us the message, 'This is not the way you are supposed to be doing it. Try another way “

Stubborn as we humans can be, we sometimes put up with rotten smells for a long time for all the wrong reasons. Many of us tolerate dysfunctional relationships, addictive behaviors, abusive business situations, and noxious health conditions that undermine us every time we participate in them. We convince ourselves that it is noble to put up with pain, or “one day he will change, ” or “next week I will talk to my boss.” Meanwhile, we deny the message the universe is trying to communicate: Do it differently so you can be happy and healthy.

If a rat learns to maneuver through a maze to get to some cheese, and then the cheese is taken away, the rat will go through the maze a few more times, but soon it realizes that there is no further reward in the journey. Unlike the rat, we may go down a dead-end maze many times, still hoping that somehow the cheese will be there. The real cheese lies in honoring ourselves to live in the light. We must tell the truth about our pain so we can extricate ourselves from it. There is a better way. Love yourself enough to claim it.

Formative Minutes

The following excerpt is taken from Alan Cohen's meditation book, A Deep Breath of Life.

 "A Wonder Bread commercial reminded viewers of the importance of “the formative years" - the first five years of life when a child’s foundation is established. The ad suggested it was important to feed the child Wonder Bread, which “builds strong bodies 12 ways. ” The premise of the commercial was correct. The early years of life imprint the important programs upon which a life will be built.

Each day is like a life unto itself, and so the first minutes of each day are the formative minutes. We must take special care to sound the keynote that will set the tone for our entire day. How do you begin your day? Do you spend it with God, in peace, in attunement with yourself? Or do you pop out of bed and immediately dive into the busy-ness of the day, post–poning your soul’s needs in favor of lesser activities?

For many years, I have begun my day with mediation and prayer. Before I speak to anyone, do chores, or even think about work, I sit and commune with Spirit. This practice has empowered my life in such profound ways that I cannot conceive of starting my day in any other way.

Take at least the first 20 minutes of your day to meditate, pray, read an inspiring book, practice yoga or tai chi, walk in the woods, sing, dance, or engage in any practice that links you to a higher power. Establish your center, and the day that follows will reflect clarity, strength, and love. Any time you spend with Spirit will be returned and will multiply many times over. Whenever possible, renew your spirit throughout the day. Even a few seconds of closing your eyes and remembering the presence of love will make a big difference. At the end of your day, be with God before entering sleep. The formative minutes will build the consciousness that makes a productive life".