Conditional Gratitude is Not the Pathway

But, it’s better than no gratitude…

When I was a boy the Thanksgiving table was essentially “pass the gravy” and “well, Bobby, did you get a job yet?” 

At some point, I think it was the mid 80’s a tradition started where each family member was asked to declare what they were grateful for…

So, they did:

“I’m grateful for my friends and family…”

“I’m grateful for my job…”

“I’m grateful for my home and health…”

Etc. etc.

But always in the sentence structure of the declaration was the word “for” - an invisible condition that was lingering in the gratitude statement.

It is implied from these declarations that the absence of the valued object would lead to ingratitude.

In other words the gratitude was conditional.

Well, conditional gratitude is indeed better than none at all, which has the character of a never ending victim story. 

But in terms of enlightenment - in terms of liberation and TRUE freedom - it is only baby steps and not the pathway at all.

The pathway to enlightenment BEGINS (not ends) with “I am grateful for WHATEVER arises in this form based experience.”

Adyashanti, a spiritual teacher, said his path to true freedom began when he declared “I will take enlightenment under ANY circumstances, under any conditions, and under any suffering.”

In other words the true path to freedom begins only when we drop the conditional bargains we make with reality.

It begins on our knees - deeply bowing - with no resistance left whatsoever.

This is why suffering is often one of the easiest pathways to liberation (it was mine, as well as Eckhart Tolle’s and many other teachers, but it’s not the only pathway, which I have covered in other essays…)

Liberation begins with releasing all conditions.

It begins there.

It arises fully, when we truly master unconditional gratitude, and that takes practice and skill.