Words of Gratitude

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The word gratitude means “thankfulness.” Gratitude is one of the sadguna vaibhava, the “divine virtues,” given by Gurumayi Chidvilasananda each year during Birthday Bliss. Gurumayi teaches that these virtues abide within each one of us as facets of the inner Self. Each November in the United States, the Thanksgiving holiday is an occasion to reflect on the virtue of gratitude and to express our gratefulness for Mother Earth, for the friends and family who shape and support us, for the goodness in the world, and for Shri Guru—who blesses our lives with her grace and teachings. In celebration of this holiday, delight in the dazzling cornucopia of Words of Gratitude, where you can see and hear the word gratitude expressed in languages from around the world.

To hear words for gratitude in various languages, click the buttons below.

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The creative detail of each frame speaks to me of the focus, care, and respect toward the word it surrounds. Listening each day to a different speaker express gratitude in their native tongue is a delight. Then, there is the pleasure of repeating the word after them. There are words I struggle to pronounce and others that I love rolling around my tongue. Most of all, I love the cadences, the tones, the energy of each speaker. Their words seem alive with feelings of thankfulness.

It seems to me that “Words of Gratitude” is a paradigm for the One becoming many. Gratitude—the feeling, the state, the virtue—is innate and universal—and here there are so many words for it and so many diverse voices expressing it.

Once again, I am in awe of the variety and originality of the ways in which Gurumayi teaches.

Corsham, United Kingdom

I feel so grateful when I see and hear the word gratitude in different languages.

My mother tongue is Danish; today when I opened the website and I saw the Danish word teknemmelighed and heard it spoken, my heart opened and filled up with gratitude. Thank you for sharing the word gratitude in Danish.

Dyssegaard, Denmark

The moment I heard the word gratitude in each language, I felt the energy of its meaning. I experienced bliss and gratitude!

Madrid, Spain

Just seeing the Arabic word for gratitude my heart feels happy and warm. It’s a great surprise because I do not understand the Arabic language! But the movement of the lines and dots within the letters of the word instantly made me smile. As I heard the pronunciation, I felt sweetness and love arising within me, and my body softened. I felt compelled to look up the English transliteration of the word and found that it is aimtanan. I will carry this word with me throughout the day and look for opportunities to discover and rediscover this gift of gratitude through the lens of the Arabic language.

Berlin, Germany

I love the word gratitude, written and spoken here in different languages.

Each day I anticipate the word in the new language–how it will look, how it will sound, how it will be pronounced–and I repeat the word a few times out loud.

Florida, United States

I feel gratitude when I come to the Siddha Yoga path website and find new treasures posted. When I saw this gallery and listened to the “Words of Gratitude” in different languages, I immediately felt love. This is what I experience here—so much love in every detail.

Munich, Germany

I am grateful to my friend who introduced me to this path. I am grateful to my wife, who supports me in my sadhana. Above all, I am grateful to my Guru, who lights up the ever-shining light in me.

Chennai, India

I am grateful for the innumerable ways Gurumayi’s grace protects me, for the countless blessings that I feel bestowed upon me, for the sheer joy and peace I feel in nature’s bounty, for the bliss I experience in chanting the divine names, for the Guru’s love that I experience with each prayer, for the connection that I experience when I remember Gurumayi.

My head bows down in deep gratitude. My heart says, “Follow the Guru’s path.”

Mumbai, India

Crying Out of Gratitude

I can’t stop writing about my blanket of stillness.

When I sit to meditate, all the cells inside me are still.

It’s different from what I know as inner peace.

My familiar uneasiness or quivering is gone.

I could stay forever, but

Here I go again, crying out of gratitude.

Oh! I’ll happily spend the rest of my life

Crying, out of gratitude

For this inner miracle.

Washington, United States

I began to cultivate the practice of gratitude after an accident. I started to focus on the blessings in my life, no matter how big or small they seemed to be.

As I counted my blessings, I discovered that each one led to another, and that all culminated in gratitude for Gurumayi’s, Baba’s, and Bade Baba’s grace in my life.

As I thought about this, out of curiosity I looked up the origin of the word gratitude and found that its root is gratus. I learned that grace has the same root. Gratitude and grace—they must be the wings of love!

Illinois, United States

Years ago, during my first visit to Gurudev Siddha Peeth, I was in the darshan line in the courtyard one morning. I was standing behind a young Indian girl who was holding one small but beautiful pink flower. The way she held her flower and came before Gurumayi to offer it with so much love and reverence took my breath away. It was an image and a lesson in gratitude I have never forgotten.

I have learned that with gratitude, I am wealthy, and without it, I am poor, no matter what my outward circumstances are.

I am grateful for this beautiful path of compassion.

New York, United States

I sometimes tend to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. On seeing this webpage, I felt truly humbled; it made me reflect on all the wonderful things that I am thankful for.

Indore, India

Gratitude

Out of the depths of silence

I arose

From the womb of time

I was born

By the hand of the elements

I was molded

Driven by the force of nature

I dissolved

Touched by the purity of Grace

I transformed

Transformed

By the immensity of Guru’s Grace

Overflowing

With the bounty of generosity

Absorbed

In perfection personified

Saturated

In God’s love and compassion

Gratitude

Fills my moist, tender heart

With a soft gaze

Palms touching

A gentle bow

I offer infinite thanks

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

Fitzroy North, Australia

I love to renew my sense of gratitude every day. The more I recognize gratitude in my life, and the lives of others, the more blessed I feel. This helps me to stay connected to my heart.

Pau, France

This past month, I have been waking up in the morning with a question rising in my consciousness: “What and whom am I thankful for today?” Inevitably I find myself thanking Gurumayi, Bade Baba, and Baba for making me aware of God all around me — in nature and in others — and for helping me live constantly in gratitude. I thank God every day for another opportunity to breathe in all of God’s blessed forms.

Versoix, Switzerland

Gratitude awoke in my heart with great force when I received shaktipat from my Guru in 2013. And it grows each day.

In my experience, gratitude is a virtue that allows me to focus more easily on the positive aspect of each situation and leads me to contentment.

Querétaro, Mexico

As I was reflecting on the word gratitude, a profound feeling of gratitude emerged from deep within, and my heart danced with ecstasy.

I thanked Gurumayi for the gift of shaktipat and for her constant guidance that leads to so many inner changes and insights in my life.

I thanked all the great saints and Siddhas who took and take birth on this planet to guide humanity to discover who we truly are.

I thanked my parents for giving me birth on this beautiful earth to have the great opportunity to look for my true nature: pure Consciousness, love, light, and joy.

I thanked all the people who teach me how to move towards my goal in so many different ways.

I offer all my gratitude at the feet of Gurumayi.

St. Bauzille de la Sylve, France

Gratitude is such a powerful virtue for me. It is not just an outer expression of appreciation, but also an inner feeling that instantly opens up my heart and allows me to experience the blessings of the moment.

One way that I have developed gratitude in my life is by finding a moment—a feeling, a thought, an item—that I might have considered small; then I cultivate gratitude for that seemingly unimportant experience. By doing this, I have begun to appreciate the virtue of gratitude in all moments.

New York, United States

I recently decided to reestablish my practice of journal writing. When I saw the theme of gratitude for this month, I decided that each day I will write about all I am grateful for.

Today I am grateful for the unseasonably warm air inviting me outside to drink in its gift, a few minutes of quiet time with my cup of tea before I head off to work, and a daily contemplation from the book Resonate with Stillness to form my intention for the day.

I experience so many blessings and thankfulness by remembering to remember.

Missouri, United States

Love emerges from gratitude,

And from gratitude emerges love.

When gratitude is reflected in the mirror,

Its reflection is love.

O my Guru, may I become your reflection

Just as love is that of gratitude.

May I be the mirror of your love

And live all my life in gratitude.

a Gurukula student in Gurudev Siddha Peeth

Gratitude is my favorite virtue. My heart opens each time I express gratitude. I experience the practice of gratitude creating a positive, loving atmosphere in this world. I try to practice it in my daily interactions with others and am amazed at how offering a smile and a “thank you” seems to brighten everyone’s day.

Arizona, United States

Gratitude allows me
to see your radiance, without eyes.

Gratitude allows me
to sing your name, without a voice.

Gratitude allows me
to hear your voice, without ears.

Gratitude allows my skin
to tremble without being touched.

Gratitude allows me
to experience you in the heart.

Without you, no breathing;
without gratitude, no life.

Ingolstadt, Germany

For me the word gratitude conveys a feeling I have for Gurumayi deep inside my heart and the silence of my mind.

Noida, India