Words of Wisdom–Gautama Buddha on Gratitude and Joy

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Gautama Buddha lived in ancient India 5th to 4th century BCE and is regarded as the founder of Buddhism. He was an enlightened soul (that phrase is overused, but he really was) who reintroduced a path to let go of the attachment to suffering. He taught a middle ground between over-indulgence and the excessive strictness of other spiritual practices, as well as meditative practices and mindfulness. He was referred to as Buddha, which means “Awakened One” starting two centuries after his death. Below we share some of his wise statements on gratitude and joy.

“Good men and bad men differ radically. Bad men never appreciate kindness shown them, but wise men appreciate and are grateful. Wise men try to express their appreciation and gratitude by some return of kindness, not only to their benefactor, but to everyone else.” Gautama Buddha

“Pain in life is inevitable but suffering is not. Pain is what the world does to you, suffering is what you do to yourself [by the way you think about the ‘pain’ you receive]. Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. [You can always be grateful that the pain is not worse in quality, quantity, frequency, duration, etc].” Gautama Buddha

“A noble person is mindful and thankful for the favors he receives from others.” Gautama Buddha

“Reverence, humility, contentment, gratitude and hearing the good Dhamma, this is the best good luck.” Gautama Buddha

“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little.” Gautama Buddha

“You have no cause for anything but gratitude and joy.” Gautama Buddha

“The mind is the source of happiness and unhappiness by what it chooses to compare the experience with. If it chooses to compare it to something worse then it will create happiness, gratitude and pride but if it chooses to compare it to something better then it will create unhappiness, bitterness and envy.” Gautama Buddha

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without. It can be argued that peace and happiness comes from the subjective internalised perspective of realizing things could be worse and being grateful they aren’t. The alternative view that peace and happiness comes from the objective external perspective of having more and better things than at present, while important for growth, can be a never-ending source of jealousy, dissatisfaction and disappointment. A balance of the two, where people are grateful for what they have while striving for more seems the best blended perspective.” Gautama Buddha

“When you realize how perfect [or at least better than it could be] everything is, you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.” Gautama Buddha

“One who possesses four qualities is deposited in heaven as if brought there. What four? Bodily good conduct, verbal good conduct, mental good conduct, and gratitude or thankfulness. One possessing these four qualities is deposited in heaven as if brought there.” Gautama Buddha

“Set your heart on doing good. Do it over and over again, and you will be filled with joy.” Gautama Buddha

“There is no fire like greed, No crime like hatred, No sorrow like separation, No sickness like hunger of heart, And no joy like the joy of freedom. Health, contentment and trust Are your greatest possessions, And freedom your greatest joy. Look within. Be still. Free from fear and attachment, Know the sweet joy of living in the way.” Gautama Buddha

“Generosity brings happiness at every stage of its expression. We experience joy in forming the intention to be generous. We experience joy in the actual act of giving something. And we experience joy in remembering the fact that we have given.” Gautama Buddha

“The gift of the Truth beats all other gifts. The flavour of the Truth beats all other tastes. The joy of the Truth beats all other joys, and the cessation of desire conquers all suffering.” Gautama Buddha

“Live in Joy, In love, Even among those who hate. Live in joy, In health, Even among the afflicted. Live in joy, In peace, Even among the troubled. Look within. Be still. Free from fear and attachment, Know the sweet joy of living in the way.” Gautama Buddha

“Be quick to do good. If you are slow, The mind, delighting in mischief, Will catch you. Turn away from mischief. Again and again, turn away. Before sorrow befalls you. Set your heart on doing good. Do it over and over again, And you will be filled with joy. A fool is happy Until his mischief turns against him. And a good man may suffer Until his goodness flowers. Do not make light of your failings, Saying, ‘What are they to me?’ A jug fills drop by drop.” Gautama Buddha

“Seeker, empty the boat, lighten the load, be free of craving and judgment and hatred, and feel the joy of the way.” Gautama Buddha

“Whatever suffering there is in this world, all arises from desiring only myself to be happy. And whatever joy there is in this world, all arises from desiring to share my happiness with everyone.” Gautama Buddha

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