Being Grateful without Attachment

Is that the key that unlocks the door to a fulfilled and meaningful life?

 “When you realize the depth and fullness of your love of yourself, you know that you are every living being and the entire universe is included in your affection. But when you look at anything as separate from you, you cannot love it for you are afraid of it. Alienation causes fear and fear deepens alienation. It is a vicious circle. Only self-realization can break it. Go for it resolutely.”

—Sri Nisargardatta Maharaj

Hi dear one,

We are taught from a young age to count our blessings, to pause and appreciate the simple joys that surround us. And indeed, gratitude adds depth to our existence. Yet, we may find ourselves wondering: Is being grateful enough? Is it the key that unlocks the door to a fulfilled and meaningful life?

Gratitude is a powerful force, a conditioner for the soul that eases the bumps on our journey. It opens our eyes to the beauty of the present moment, allowing us to savour more in life. But let us not mistake gratitude for a destination, it is a stepping stone, not the final destination itself.

In the spiritual realm, gratitude emerges as a gentle presence within the soul. It unfolds in the light of awareness, yet it is not the sole element to foster. Alongside gratitude, we have companions like compassion, love, curiosity, and the art of living wholeheartedly.

When we are grateful for something or someone, we might be clinging to a common human problem though, attachment, which can lead to suffering.

So what then? You might be left feeling ungrateful.

How about being grateful just to exist? What about being grateful for being aware of everything happening to you? While life unfolds on this planet in this vast universe, Life is aware of itself through you, feeling gratitude, at its core, for being aware of life just happening.

Imagine this gratitude as a foundation, a stable state of being beneath every loss or joy in your personal life. A level of gratitude you can always return to. The reality of existence. Right here, underneath it all, as long as you live.