A Grateful Heart

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Topic: A Grateful Heart

This sermon is about blessings from the Universe and keeping a grateful heart. As Cicero says: “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.”

The Path prayer begins with: “I open myself up to the Universe and its blessings with a graterful heart” because practice of all eight Virtues starts with recognizing and appreciating life’s blessings. Always start with what you have and what you can do, not what you lack or your obstacles. Gratitude means maintaining a positive and optimistic attitude and doing your best to pay it forward. It means never taking the Universe or any specific part of it for granted. Tell people that you love and/or appreciate them. Take the time to play with the dog. Smile at strangers. Be nice to others, not because they are nice to you, but because that is just who you are. This kind of mindset takes Effort and Mindfulness, as well as a great deal of Self-Control.

Some people are suffering so much from a lack of resources that they see nothing to be grateful for, and this is tragic. If you have the ability, Path doctrine encourages you to donate time or money to non-profit organizations that offer help to those in need. (Please note that the Path Ministry will never ask you for money for itself. We just encourage you to make charitable donations if and when you are able to.) Other people are suffering because they have too much material wealth and have forgotten how to be human because of it. Unfortunately, there is really nothing that can be done for them. They will just have to die and start over and try to learn something in the next life.

You can apply the virtue of gratitude to all Eight Virtues of the Path:

I am grateful to have a Self that I can control.

I am grateful to be able to maintain Balance in my life.

I am grateful for the opportunity to act with Integrity.

I am grateful for the rewards that come from Effort.

I am grateful for that peace that comes with Patience.

I am grateful to be able to act with Compassion.

I am grateful for my mind, that I may practice Mindfulness.

I am grateful for the Serenity that comes with the practice of the Virtues.

Always be counting your blessings.

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