Gratitude is a divine virtue so important that practically no other divine virtues could exist without it. Spiritually grows like a seed within the field of our hearts. Balancing our lifestyle protects that seed; our spiritual practises of chanting God’s names, reading scriptures, doing service to God and to others are like watering that seed; but it’s gratitude that makes the ground fertile so that all of these other virtues will actually have the maximum effect. This is so because only a fertile soil allows the seed to have deep roots and grow very strongly.
Gratitude is to seek beyond the immediate circumstances that come upon us, and to actually seek the essence of that situation. To seek the essence is real wisdom, and the essence of every situation is that we can feel and find a beautiful opportunity to grow—if we are grateful: grateful for success and failure, honour and dishonour, happiness and distress, health and disease, victory and defeat, heat and cold, pleasure and pain. And ultimately, in every situation is the opportunity to take shelter of the higher power of God. It is in that taking shelter that we find that life has inconceivable treasures at every moment. To seek the essence, to look for the hand of God in every situation—this is the actual definition of success from a spiritual perspective.
By Radhanath Swami
Please share your thoughts, experiences in the comments section below. Also, if you have any questions…..
The essence of the words that Radhanathswami maharaj has said,evoked deep thinking and pure feelings of cultivating gratitude sincerely.
An attitude of gratitude is so imp for spiritual progress and Maharaj has explained it so nicely.
Maharaj always speaks in his lecture about this wonderful quality GRATITUDE it is essential for a devotee
Nice article!!!
Maharaj has practiced in his own life ,so his words touch our heart & propel us to change our previous conditioning.
Wonderful article – Thanks a lot Maharaj for the wonderful instructions.
Radhanath Swami always stresses on practising the virtue of gratitude. He himself also practises it – being evident from his lectures, teachings, his book “The Journey Home”, wherein he shows the highest level of gratitude to every person and situation that helps him grow spiritually.
Nicely said. To look for God’s hand in every situation.
Gratitude – a virtue! a good thought to meditate.
Very beautiful article by Swamiji on gratitude…….only hearts made of stone do not have gratitude…….
A Grateful heart is a fertile place for nuturing and growing the love of God.
A wonderful article that needs to be reminded in every situation of our life, beautifully put forth by His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
I liked the statement made by Radhanath Swami – “Gratitude is a divine virtue so important that practically no other divine virtues could exist without it.”
Very nice!!
Gratitude is the fertile soil without which no amount of watering or sunlight will result in growth of the plant of devotional service. And to see the hand of God in everything, to seek shelter in all situations – surely, there is so much to learn from this teaching of Radhanath Swami Maharaj
Really, whatever Maharaj preaches He Himself practices in His own life.
Wonderful article on Importance of Gratitude !
Thank you so much Maharaj.
Radhanath Swami not only teaches what is Gratitude but also practices in his life…!!!!! That is really inspiring to have Role models and examples like Radhanath Swami who practice what they preach….!!!
nice article on importance of gratitude.
nice!!!
“Gratitude is to seek beyond the immediate circumstances that come upon us, and to actually seek the essence of that situation. ” – super quote from Radhanath Swami.
indeed very important to remeber
amazing!!
yes it is a profound statement of Radhanath Swami Maharaj which teaches how one should be grateful.
Thank you Maharaj for teaching us to look for the hand of Lord in every situation.
Thank you
Thank you so much for this post, much needed.
Radhanath Swami Maharaj ki jai!
Thank you HH Radhanath Swami for explaining us how important that is to cultivate the heart of gratitude.
God! How does Radhanath Swami make this possible? He breaks up gratitude into such a simple and practical application in our lives. Just awesome!
It is true if we take the shelter in all situations, nothing can disturb our mind, knowing it is opportunity to grow.
Wonderful article !
Thanks for sharing us.
Very nice article
A greatful heart is a minimum as well as maximum reqiurement while dealing with spiritual subject matter.Radhanath Swami always deal with this subject in each and every lecture of him.Thanks for sharing with us.
If it is something Good ,oh! I deserved it .
If it is something Bad, Why me?
Thus gratitude in all situations requires a thorougher understanding of how nature works and who is the causes of all causes. Great souls like Radhanath Swami dedicate their lives to teach us, how to conduct our lives the way God wants us to.
Radhanath Swami is the best example of this virtue & he himself applies all the spiritual virtues in his personal life.
Radhanath Swami practices what he preach
Radhanath Swami himself is full of gratitude.
Maharaj has given a fantastic view on importance of gratitude.
Jai!
Radhanath Swami Maharaj always teaches us to be grateful!
Thank you very much for sharing the words of Radhanath Swami “Gratitude is to seek beyond the immediate circumstances that come upon us, and to actually seek the essence of that situation.”
I remember listening to a dissertation by Radhanath Swami who explained that humility and gratitude are very connected. As one feels oneself unworthy, one does not have any expectations. In this frame of mind, gratitude naturally pours from the heart.
Thanks to Radhanath swami for this very essential message – To seek the essence, to look for the hand of God in every situation—this is the actual definition of success from a spiritual perspective.
Nice message from Radhanath Swami. If we simply understand that whatever situation we are in at the moment, is the best arrangement of the Lord to bring us to our constitutional position.
Radhanath Swami himself took full shelter of God & thus attained His complete mercy & protection because he saw the hand of God in even the most adverse & life-threatening situations he faced during his spiritual journey to India.
Very inspiring reminder from Maharajah
“It is in that taking shelter that we find that life has inconceivable treasures at every moment”.
‘in every situation, is the opportunity to take shelter of the higher power of God.’ Fantastic lesson to be learn from this statement.
Thank you Radhanath Swami for teaching us the importance of being a saragrahi.
“To seek the essence, to look for the hand of God in every situation—this is the actual definition of success from a spiritual perspective” – I would love to dwell on this statement again & again.
thank you for putting ap ost on this very important subject and reminding of its importance
Gratitude is one of the favorite topic of Radhanath Swami’s lectures.
Radhanath Swami Maharaj teaches us to be grateful not only in the ‘ups’ of our life but also in the ‘downs’… that’s a revolutionary definition of gratitude!!
Maharaj says that every situation is a manifestation of Krishna’s mercy. Self-realized souls like Maharaj are not affected by the ups and downs of life and that is the essence of spiritual success.Thanks for sharing.