What are you grateful for?

This issue of Agni Light continues our month-long celebration of gratitude – a topic that has inspired an abundant response from Agni readers throughout the world. We are grateful for your emails and stories about the gifts of gratitude in your own lives. Please visit our blog to share what fills you with reverence, awe, and appreciation.

Since ancient times, philosophers and sages from every spiritual tradition have taught that cultivating gratitude is the key to experiencing deeper levels of happiness, fulfillment, and wellbeing. One of the earliest advocates of a daily gratitude practice was Dutch philosopher Rabbi Baruch Spinoza. In the 17th century, he advised that each day we ask ourselves the following three questions:

1. Who or what inspired me today?
2. What brought me happiness today?
3. What brought me comfort and deep peace today?

This practice, wrote Spinoza, would help us find more meaning and joy in our lives and lead us to profound inner transformation.

This month, one of the Chopra Center’s own resident philosophers and teachers, davidji, expands on the tradition of Spinoza and other wise philosophers with a gratitude meditation podcast. He guides you to a state of deep relaxation and appreciation that will show you the beauty of all that you already are and all that you already have. Listen to the meditation here.

In this season of thanksgiving, know that even if you’re facing difficult times or loss, you are stronger than you know. You are connected to the field of all possibilities; your essential nature is limitless, unbounded spirit; and the universe is always ready to conspire in your favor.

In gratitude,
The Chopra Center Staff