One of the key values we all need to develop is gratitude. But it is in our nature to remember only the negative things, as we are constantly bombarded by negative things like fear, anxiety and uncertainties. How can we infuse positivity in our everyday life? How to practice gratitude and remember and be thankful for positive things?
Sri Ramanujamji says the key behind this is defining and reinforcing our intention. Intention is what drives you to do things, similar to motivation, and greatly impacts our senses, especially our sight and hearing. Like the sankalpam that is done at the start of our religious rites, reiterating positive intentions gives us clarity and keeps us focused.
A positive intention creates a positive tint or acts like a filter. Ramanujamji gives the example of the shAnti pATham, a peace mantra which is chanted before Vedic students delve into deep learning about the mind and Consciousness. One of these mantras goes “bhadram karNebhi: shruNuyAma deva…” The prayer in this mantra is for our ears to listen only to auspicious things (or listen to only the auspicious in whatever we hear), our eyes to see only auspicious things (or see only auspiciousness in all that we see). So, ‘intention’ is that filter which cuts out the inauspicious and negative things and focuses on auspicious and positive things.
Hence when we have the intention to see that which is positive, we start noticing them. And when we take effort to record those positives carefully — with our minds, by writing them down, or by sharing with someone — then gratitude can grow because we are attuned to noticing the numerous good things that happen in our lives every day. This is a great way to practice and grow gratitude.
Shwetha Iyer, 14 yrs, Houston,TX
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