One of the most important spiritual practices is the practice of Thankfulness.  Jesse Jackson calls it “The Attitude of Gratitude.”

It is, of course, easy to be thankful for all the good things in life, enough food to eat, safe warm shelter, a loving family, a meaningful job, etc.  The practice of being thankful for all the good things in life will bring you far down the path towards a balanced personality and a happy existence.  Yet the great masters of living (the Buddha, Jesus, Rumi, and Krishnamurti) teach us that there is still much distance to be traveled on the path to spiritual maturity.  They suggest that we should not only be thankful for the good things, but for those things that seem very bad.  Such things might include losing your job, divorce, addiction, dealing with difficult people at work or in your family, and especially your own flaws and weaknesses.

Now, a very thick book could be written on the above paragraph. And, I will develop this theme more on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, the 27th. Today, I will limit myself to one example of being thankful for something bad as spiritual practice.

The example I choose is addiction.  I have known many addicted persons who have dealt successfully with their disease through continuing spiritual practice. (Twelve-step programs and advance meditation would be two examples.)  To a person, they have over time become deeply thankful for their disease.  How can this be?  For many for them addiction led to the loss of jobs, spouses, family, financial security, health, and, in three cases, loss of liberty through imprisonment.  These addicts discovered that paying acute attention to their own frailties and character flaws opened a window on to the true nature of being human.  As they peered through this window they came to be more kind and compassionate human beings.  They especially were able to see their own frailties with compassion.  They also discovered that this window had a two-way quality.  Through it they received the strength and support to live positive loving lives.  Many of these addicts have regained much of what they lost. The one thing they remain most thankful for, however, is their window.

On the 27th, I will talk more about thankfulness as spiritual discipline.  One example I will use is the true story of Abelard and Heloise.  It is one of the great love stories of all time.  In it Abelard is castrated and Heloise is sent to a convert.  The story, of course, does not end there.

Have a great Thanksgiving and practice thankfulness whenever you can.

Jim