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Bhaktivedanta Leadership Newsletter

 

Gratitude

 

Gratitude for the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is one of the

qualities of brahmanas and Vaisnavas. Everyone should feel grateful to the

Supreme Personality of Godhead because He is maintaining all living entities

and supplying all their necessities. As stated in the Vedas (Katha Upanisad

2.2.13), eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman: the supreme one is supplying all

necessities to the living entities. The living entity who is therefore

grateful to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is certainly qualified with

good characteristics. SB 4.21.44

 

Editor's Note

 

Today I spoke to a responsible officer in a major ISKCON temple. He shared

this thoughts about gratitude: "Gratitide is a sign of humility. Grateful

person doesn't think he deserves anything. Therefore he is grateful for

whatever he gets. One who thinks himself a master, thinks it's natural that

others serve him or give things or money to him. One who thinks he is a

servant is grateful for whatever comes his way." Srila Prabhupada said: "

.... although I began very late, at the age of seventy years, so by the help

of my disciples this movement is gaining ground and is spreading all over

the world. So therefore I have to thank you. It is all due to you. It is not

my credit, but it is your credit that you are helping me in executing the

order of my Guru Maharaja." Srila Prabhupada also said: " I have to thank

you more. You are actually representative of my Guru Maharaja (Srila

Prabhupada starts to cry) because you are helping me in executing the order

of my Guru Maharaja." Similarly, a Krsna conscious leader is grateful to

anyone who assists him in serving his spiritual master(s), and he expresses

this gratitude frequently.