Five spiritual teachers explain how gratitude can change your life
According to the Times of India, spiritual leaders suggest that practicing gratitude can reduce stress and increase happiness.
Spiritual teachers Sadhguru, Gaur Gopal Das, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the Dalai Lama, and Thich Nhat Hanh have shared perspectives on how gratitude impacts life, according to the Times of India. Studies link a regular gratitude habit to better sleep, lower stress, and greater happiness.
Sadhguru suggests that gratitude is a state of being that appears when one stops believing they are independent. He advises noticing how much of life is produced by others, such as air, food, and water, to help the ego melt.
Gaur Gopal Das uses a tooth analogy to explain that the mind often locks onto a single problem while ignoring many good things. He says practicing gratitude brings happiness rather than joy causing gratitude.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar teaches that gratitude opens the door to grace and helps loosen the ego. He recommends Santosha, or deep contentment, and being thankful for existence, including the body and breath.
The Dalai Lama, in The Book of Joy, states that nobody is self-made and that we rely on a network of people. He suggests appreciating having a precious human life upon waking up.
Thich Nhat Hanh teaches the concept of interbeing, where everything exists because of everything else. He describes a practice of breathing while thanking organs like the heart and lungs for working well.