Talk:Gratitude
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[edit] Copyright violation
I did a major revert of this article because I believe copyrighted text was inserted by Jtsang on 20:28, October 18, 2005. A very large amount of text was added in a single edit and it was completely unlinked (when a person actually writes content on Wikipedia, they tend to do at least some linking). Also, no additions at all were made in subsequent edits. The only changes were some small deletions. I have been unable to find an online source for the content, however, I still strongly feel that this has been copied from somewhere. If anyone disagrees, feel free to revert my revert. -- Kjkolb 10:12, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Buddhism connection
The idea, flowing from this article, that Buddhist gratitude is cold and intellectual, is not supported by the Pali canon.
Anguttaranikaya 1.3.115
"Tinnam, bhikkhave, patubhavo dullabho lokasmim. Katamesam tinnam? Tathagatassa, bhikkhave, arahato samma- sambuddhassa patubhavo dullabho lokasmim; Tathagatappaveditassa Dhamma-vinayassa deseta puggalo dullabho lokasmim;Katannu katavedi puggalo dullabho lokasmim. Imesam kho, bhikkhave tinnam patubhavo dullabho lokasmim ti".
Oh meditators, three things are rare to find in the world. What three? A Tathagata, an arahant, a fully enlightened one; A person able to teach the Dhamma proclaimed by the Tathagata; And a person who acknowledges the benefits received, with gratitude; These three occur but rarely in the world.
Dukapuggala-pannatti: pg. 42.
Katame dve puggala dullabha lokasmim — Yo ca pubbakari, Yo ca katannu katavedi.
Which two persons are rare in this world? First, the one who serves others selflessly (without expecting anything in return). And second, the one who is grateful towards anyone who does one a kindness.
And finally from the MANGALA SUTTA VANANA
25. Katannuta
To Be Grateful Is Most Blissful
People must always be grateful. The Lord Buddha is always full of praise for gratitude. Persons who are always ready to help are rarely found in this world; but rarer still are those who remember and are grateful to those who have helped them. If we are grateful we are sure to be happy.
Without this quality, a person forgets his parents, relatives, friends, teachers and those who teach him the Dhamma. He turns his back on them just when they could be helped by him or when they are in need of aid. A selfish person seems to try to isolate himself.
On the other hand, the grateful person makes for harmony and peace. He will always be remembered and loved.
Ajahn Chah gave a teaching wherein he said: "The Buddha taught the virtues of katannu and katavedi, of knowing our debt of gratitude and trying to repay it. These two virtues are complementary."
The mere fact that the word katannuta is a Pali portmanteau, does not limit a full-bodied meaning in ancient times. I am sure that the people of 2500 years ago felt things as fully as we do today and would have feelings of gratitude as immediately as we moderns do when something wonderful is done for us. The paragraph that currently appears re Buddhist gratitude is an injustice that is rippling through the internet. – — … ° ≈ ≠ ≤ ≥ ± − × ÷ ← → · § Enkido 06:23, 20 June 2007 (UTC)
