Once, sitting on my back patio I looked into my self, into my heart. I wanted to know who I was in my essence. What I discovered was an infinitely deep well of love. Then a silent voice said, “Your gift is your presence, and your purpose is enlightenment.”
It is from the deep well of love within the heart that gratitude springs. It is from this deep well that compassion flows.
The well within the heart is fed by the springs of Divine Love.
Just as looking into myself, I discovered a well of love, so also, if we contemplate absolute reality, we will discover that at the core of the cosmos there is a living and giving heart of endless and everlasting love.
The river of love flows from our Father the creator and fills the hearts of all who trust in Him.
The prophet Jeremiah said:
“… blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.” Jer, 17:7-8
A heart filled with love naturally feels gratitude towards the one who fills the cup.
All existence is quickened by giving and receiving. Gratitude is an acknowledgement and affirmation of the gifts of love expressed in the desire to give back and to give to others.
The divine river of love flows to us and through us. It flows into our hearts and then amongst us, one to another.
Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Gratitude itself is potent. It completes the circle of love. In so doing it magnifies and multiplies the power of goodness.
Those who are truly grateful do not betray the one they love. Therefore gratitude gives us strength to overcome the power of the evil one.
Once, as I sat in a hot spring looking down at the Pit River, a silent voice said, “Let love flow through you so that your heart may be pure.”
Let us be grateful. Let us cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Let us express our gratitude in thought, word, and deed.
The Flawed Guru 