We can thank God by leading ethical lives of non-violence, truthfulness, purity, humility, and selfless service, writes Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj
The peacock, according to our mythology, is known to be very proud of its multi-coloured feathers which symbolise the various attributes of God; they symbolise the beauty of nature. It is said that the peacock not only smiles but laughs loudly when it looks at its own magnificent plumage. But when its eyes fall on its legs, which are without any beauty, without any special attribute of God, it starts weeping.
So the peacock, which has been blessed by so much grace, so much beauty, so much grandeur by God, actually weeps when it looks at its own legs which are devoid of all beauty and grace. They are just simple legs, and this contrast between the height of beauty on the one hand, and the absolute lack of it on the other, makes it cry.
Similarly, in our own lives, we are never satisfied, and we do not show our gratitude to God for the many gifts he has bestowed on us. We are always longing for something that we do not have, and that makes us sorrowful, even resentful.
Suppose there are nine things we have got as a gift from God, but when you go into it, you will find we are not satisfied; we complain, “There is one thing that has not been given to me.” We forget all the nine things. Suppose he does not give us the 10th one, and also takes away all our nine gifts, then what can we doIJ When we are grateful, our mind is at rest; we feel satisfied; our vision is changed.
We should be thankful, grateful to God for all that we receive. We have a good body, thank God. We have a house to live in, thank God. If God has helped us find a companion, thank God. If we have food to eat, thank God. If we have clothes to wear, thank God.
There is another story about how God sent two angels to earth to listen to the prayers of humanity. One angel was asked to collect all the prayers in which people asked God for something. The other angel was asked to collect all the prayers of thanksgiving.
The two angels descended upon earth and began their task. They agreed to meet again in a month with their results. The angel collecting prayers asking God for something soon became extremely busy. There were prayers that people had to help them earn more money, or get a windfall, or win a lottery. There were prayers for God to cure people of illnesses. There were many prayers for improved health of one’s children, spouse, parents, siblings, relatives, and friends. The angel filled the basket with prayers that people had for worldly objects such as a bigger house, newer car, latest computer, jewellery, expensive clothing, and for their children new toys. Some people prayed to God for a husband or wife, for children or better relationships. There were so many prayers asking for things that the angel had to obtain a van while on earth to carry them all around!
In the meantime, the other angel travelled far and wide looking to fill the basket with prayers of thankfulness. One day passed, two days passed, three days passed, but no prayers of gratitude were heard. The angel visited young people and elderly people, men and women, people of all countries, all religions and all economic levels. Still not a prayer of thankfulness was heard. All that this angel heard were the prayers asking for things. Wondering whether it was missing something, the angel got on the angel hotline to contact the other angel and asked whether its basket of prayers was being filled. “Oh, yes, I have not only filled one basket, but have filled many more,” said the angel. “But in all my collecting, I have not heard any prayers of thankfulness either.”
For the rest of the month, the two angels fulfilled their mission, and were ready to return to God. The angel collecting prayers of requests was laden with many baskets. The angel collecting prayers of thankfulness had hardly any in the basket. There were a few prayers of thankfulness, but a tiny amount compared to the prayers of requests.
When God was presented with their findings, he sighed. “This is nothing new,” said God. “You now have a taste of what it is like being God. People are always praying for something from me, which is all right because at least they are thinking of me. But few ever thank me.”
This story illustrates our human condition. In life, many people request others to do something for them, but how many people take an equal amount of time to thank themIJ Similarly, we pray to God for so many things that we want, but how many take the time to thank GodIJ The post office receives many letters from children addressed to Santa Claus before Christmas. Yet, after Christmas, children do not typically send a letter to Santa thanking him for what they received.
The next time the two angels are sent by God to come to earth to collect the prayers of human beings, let us not disappoint the one collecting prayers of thanksgiving. let us be among those who thank God for the gifts we have received. let us be among those who can thank God for the many gifts we have received — for our human birth, health, food, clothing and shelter, and for our families. let us also thank God for our education and jobs.
However, let us not thank God merely with words but with our deeds. We can thank God by leading ethical lives of non-violence, truthfulness, purity, humility, and selfless service. let us thank God for everything we have and not be ungrateful for what we do not have.
The writer is a spiritual leader