Hello my loves,

I’d like to talk a bit about Gratitude.

In America we have just finished our Thanksgiving holiday which is

traditionally an occasion to watch American football on TV, overeat

and perhaps to take a moment to look around and see if there is

anything to be thankful for. This latter is where it gets interesting.

Some people have no difficulty rattling off a long string of things

that they are grateful for. Others can barely come up with one. As far

as they are concerned the world is going to hell in a hand basket.

Economic disaster is just around the corner. The ice cap is melting.

Cancer is everywhere. Violence is in the air.

What is responsible for such a difference?

It would be easy to dismiss the question with the simple observation

that some people are optimists and others pessimists but it really

goes much deeper than that. On the surface it is plain to see that

there are events we consider good and others we consider bad. When our

attention is focused on the good we are happy and optimistic, when

focused on the bad we are sad and pessimistic. Optimists tell

pessimists to quit being so negative and to focus on all the joy and

beauty that abounds. Pessimists tell optimists to quit being so

airy-fairy and to recognize that there are enormous problems

threatening our very existence.

Gratitude within the context of the Living Teaching transcends such

limited, polaric attitudes. We recognize that life is by its very

nature rich and complex. It has always contained within it the seeds

for annihilation and resurrection. We cannot possibly predict what the

future will hold. In the Living Teaching we abide in the wisdom of

BOTH. The positive and negative are recognized as the essential

building blocks of the manifest world. We are grateful for the lack of

limitation which makes anything possible and live comfortably in the

vastness of the present moment.

May it find you now!

Much love,

Wayne

via Advaita Fellowship Newsletter.