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The Four Gratitudes

in Buddhism

Prepared by Nguyên Túc

Sơ Thiện Lesson

THE FOUR GRATITUDES

I. FOREWORD:

In daily life, parts of a person's achievements depend upon the favors from others, society, and all living beings. As a Buddhist, one is also favored by the Three Jewels (Tam Bảo), because they help to cultivate one's wisdom. Therefore, to build up a good personality and to recognize the relationships of life; one should know, understand, and appreciate the four Gratitudes.

II. FOUR TYPES OF GRATITUDE:

The four gratitudes consist of parents, teachers and friends, the motherland and her society, and the Three Jewels.

1. Gratitude to parents: During the nine months of pregnancy, the mother feels unhealthy and loses a lot of nutrition and sleep. When giving birth, she has to endure all the pain which makes her feel like her intestines are being cut apart. The father, on the other hand, is nervously running errands to supply the needs for the mother in labor, and praying for the safety of the mother and unborn child. When the child is born, the parents have to take care of daily activities such as feeding and nurturing. When their child is ill, they can hardly eat or sleep; they are always with the child to take care of him. When the child is grown, they educate him to become a good person.

2. Gratitude to teachers and friends: In gaining our knowledge and intelligence, the teachers guide us in proper understanding. Teachers and friends always encourage and guide us when we encounter difficulties. Today, our understanding, reading, and writing skills are a result of the teachings and guidances of our teachers and friends.

3. Gratitude to the motherland and her society: The land we are living in now consists of contributions from the founders, establishers, industrializers, lawmakers and law enforcers. These people establish peace, happiness and a secured society for one to live in.

4. Gratitude from the Three Jewels: To save all living beings from suffering, the Shakya Mauni Buddha left the worldly materials to seek the right path. Buddha had overcome problems, traveled many places, and preached His teachings. Buddha's Teachings give one understanding, the truth, and the realization of what is right. Buddha has shown the right methods for one to practice so that we can escape the cycle of reincarnation, and to live in a pure and happy world.

III. WAYS TO DEMONSTRATE GRATITUDE:

1. Respect, obey, and take care of our parents

2. Obey our teachers, study hard, and always respect and love our teachers and friends.

3. Be a good citizen, cultivate our traditions, build up morality, help people to go into the right direction, do business to raise the society's standard of living.

4. Research, practice, and propagate Buddha's teachings; always take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha; show respect when making offerings to the Sanghas.

IV. CONCLUSION: Not distinguishing between the rich and poor, a person needs to know and realize the Four Gratitudes and appreciate them. As a Buddhist, taking gratitude from all living beings and the Three Jewels, one should always appreciate the Four Gratitudes by practicing Buddha's teachings.

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In gratitude

you have watered

Seeds of love in me

In gratitude.

In gratitude

I will water

Seeds of love in someone too

I know you're there

for me

And I am so happy

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Introduction

“These two people are hard to find in the world. Which two? The one who is first to do a kindness, and the one who is grateful and thankful for a kindness done.” — The Buddha, in the Anguttara Nikaya (AN 2:118).

In Buddhism, the four gratitudes consist of parents, teachers and friends, the motherland and her society, and the Three Jewels.

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#1 Gratitude to Parents

ÂN CHA MẸ

1. Gratitude to parents:

During the nine months of pregnancy, the mother feels unhealthy and loses a lot of nutrition and sleep. When giving birth, she has to endure all the pain which makes her feel like her intestines are being cut apart. The father, on the other hand, is nervously running errands to supply the needs for the mother in labor, and praying for the safety of the mother and unborn child. When the child is born, the parents have to take care of daily activities such as feeding and nurturing. When their child is ill, they can hardly eat or sleep; they are always with the child to take care of him. When the child is grown, they educate him to become a good person.

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2016/06/22/how-much-does-it-cost-to-raise-a-child/

http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/tools/CRC_Calculator/

In gratitude, I bow to all generations of ancestors in my blood family.

[bell]

[touch the earth]

I see my mother and father, whose blood, flesh, and vitality are circulating in my own veins and nourishing every cell in me. Through them, I see my four grandparents. Their expectations, experiences, and wisdom have been transmitted from so many generations of ancestors. I carry in me the life, blood, experience, wisdom, happiness, and sorrow of all generations. The suffering and all the elements that need to be transformed, I am practicing to transform. I open my heart, flesh, and bones to receive the energy of insight, love, and experience transmitted to me by all my ancestors. I see my roots in my father, mother, grandfathers, grandmothers, and all my ancestors. I know I am only the continuation of this ancestral lineage. Please support, protect, and transmit to me your energy. I know wherever children and grandchildren are, ancestors are there, also. I know that parents always love and support their children and grandchildren, although they are not always able to express it skillfully because of difficulties they themselves encountered. I see that my ancestors tried to build a way of life based on gratitude, joy, confidence, respect, and loving kindness. As a continuation of my ancestors, I bow deeply and allow their energy to flow through me. I ask my ancestors for their support, protection, and strength.

[three breaths]

[bell]

[stand up]

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#2 Gratitude to Teachers and Friends

ÂN THẦY BẠN

2. Gratitude to teachers and friends: In gaining our knowledge and intelligence, the teacher guide us in proper understanding. Teachers and friends always encourage and guide us when we encounter difficulties. Today, our understanding, reading, and writing skills are a result of the teachings and guidances of our teachers and friends.

WHY? -- WISDOM!

In gratitude, I bow to all generations of ancestors in my spiritual family.

[bell]

[touch the earth]

I see in myself my teachers, the ones who show me the way of love and understanding, the way to breathe, smile, forgive, and live deeply in the present moment. I see through my teachers all teachers over many generations and traditions, going back to the ones who began my spiritual family thousands of years ago. I see the Buddha or Christ or the patriarchs and matriarchs as my teachers, and also as my spiritual ancestors. I see that their energy and that of many generations of teachers has entered me and is creating peace, joy, understanding, and loving kindness in me. I know that the energy of these teachers has deeply transformed the world. Without the Buddha and all these spiritual ancestors, I would not know the way to practice to bring peace and happiness into my life and into the lives of my family and society. I open my heart and my body to receive the energy of understanding, loving kindness, and protection from the Awakened Ones, their teachings, and the community of practice over many generations. I am their continuation. I ask these spiritual ancestors to transmit to me their infinite source of energy, peace, stability, understanding, and love. I vow to practice to transform the suffering in myself and the world, and to transmit their energy to future generations of practitioners. My spiritual ancestors may have had their own difficulties and not always been able to transmit the teachings, but I accept them as they are.

[three breaths]

[bell]

[stand up]

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#3 Gratitude to the motherland and society

Ân Quốc Gia Xã Hội and beyond

In gratitude, I bow to this land and all of the ancestors who made it available.

3. Gratitude to the motherland and her society: The land we are living in now consists of contributions from the founders, establishers, industrializers, lawmakers and law enforcers. These people establish peace, happiness and a secured society for one to live in.

In gratitude, I bow to this land and all of the ancestors who made it available.^*

[bell]

[touch the earth]

I see that I am whole, protected, and nourished by this land and all of the living beings who have been here and made life easy and possible for me through all their efforts. I see Chief Seattle, Thomas Jefferson, Dorothy Day, Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King, Jr., and all the others known and unknown. I see all those who have made this country a refuge for people of so many origins and colors, by their talent, perseverance, and love — those who have worked hard to build schools, hospitals, bridges, and roads, to protect human rights, to develop science and technology, and to fight for freedom and social justice. I see myself touching my ancestors of Native American origin who have lived on this land for such a long time and known the ways to live in peace and harmony with nature, protecting the mountains, forests, animals, vegetation, and minerals of this land. I feel the energy of this land penetrating my body and soul, supporting and accepting me. I vow to cultivate and maintain this energy and transmit it to future generations. I vow to contribute my part in transforming the violence, hatred, and delusion that still lie deep in the collective consciousness of this society so that future generations will have more safety, joy, and peace. I ask this land for its protection and support.

[three breaths]

[bell]

[stand up]

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#4 Gratitude to the Three Jewels

Ân Ba Ngôi Báu

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Practice Four Gratitudes

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FACTS

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BUDDHA

DHARMA

FRIENDS

MOTHERANDFATHER

MOTHERLAND

PARENTS

SANGHA

SOCIETY

TEACHERS

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awzNHuGqoMc

---- Tạm dịch ----

Khi đèn tỏ trước cửa

Chìa khoá vẫn còn đây

Ngôi sao thời thơ ấu

Toả sáng trên bầu trời

Tập sống thật khiêm cung

Với tấm lòng tử tế

Nghe lời mẹ đi Chùa

Thăm ông bà luôn nhé

Chẳng mất thời giờ đâu

Tập sống thật khiêm cung

Với tấm lòng tử tế

Nhớ mở và giữ cửa

Miệng nói "xin vui lòng"

Lời "Cảm ơn" tất cả

Tới mọi người xung quanh

Đừng bao giờ "ăn cắp"

Không "nói dối, ăn gian"

Đời - núi cao phải vượt

Vẫn sống thật khiêm cung

Với tấm lòng tử tế

Uớc mơ thành sự thật

Sắc mài đã nên kim

Nên tự hào thoả đáng

Vẫn sống thật khiêm cung

Với tấm lòng tử tế

Không ai cho không cả

Sao lại phải oán hờn?

Ngũ uẩn là gánh nặng !

Đời không thể bay cao

Luôn sống thật khiêm cung

Với tấm lòng tử tế

Biết sống với yêu thương

Bỏ ham muốn tầm thường

"Lời yêu" không gian dối

Nên sống thât khiêm cung

Với tấm lòng tử tế

Trời nóng, ăn cây kem

Hãy tắt máy điều hoà

Quay các cửa xe xuống

Thưởng thức nắng mùa Hè

Và sống thật khiêm cung,

với tấm lòng tử tế

Tình đời đã cho ta

Nên trân trọng hết lòng

Để khi đi tới đích

Mình phải biết trở về

Giúp lớp người kế tiếp

Để sống thật khiêm cung

Với tấm lòng tử tế

Tình thân,

Nguyên Túc

---------------

"Humble And Kind"

(written by Lori McKenna)

You know there's a light that glows by the front door

Don't forget the key's under the mat

When childhood stars shine,

Always stay humble and kind

Go to church 'cause your mamma says to

Visit grandpa every chance that you can

It won't be wasted time

Always stay humble and kind

Hold the door, say "please", say "thank you"

Don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie

I know you got mountains to climb

But always stay humble and kind

When the dreams you're dreamin' come to you

When the work you put in is realized

Let yourself feel the pride

But always stay humble and kind

Don't expect a free ride from no one

Don't hold a grudge or a chip and here's why:

Bitterness keeps you from flyin'

Always stay humble and kind

Know the difference between sleeping with someone

And sleeping with someone you love

"I love you" ain't no pick-up line

So always stay humble and kind

Hold the door, say "please", say "thank you"

Don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie

I know you got mountains to climb

But always stay humble and kind

When those dreams you're dreamin' come to you

When the work you put in is realized

Let yourself feel the pride

But always stay humble and kind

When it's hot, eat a root beer popsicle

Shut off the AC and roll the windows down

Let that summer sun shine

Always stay humble and kind

Don't take for granted the love this life gives you

When you get where you're going don't forget turn back around

And help the next one in line

Always stay humble and kind

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Summary

What are the 4 Gratitudes that Buddha taught us ?

Ân cha mẹ : ________________________

Ân thầy bạn: _______________________

Ân quốc gia xã hội: ___________________

Ân Tam Bảo ________________________

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Four Gratitudes -

Four practices to live HAPPY!

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Phương Pháp Hướng Dẫn 3x15’

Video Clip – 15 – Hình ảnh tạo sinh khí, hào hứng cho các em khi học.
Giảng bài – 15 – Nhấn mạnh trọng tâm của bài học cho các em hiểu
Chia sẻ của các em về bài học – 15 – Tạo sự tham gia của các em vào bài học