Well , happy Thanksgiving . There's so much to be grateful for in this world , and this evening I'd just like to share something with you from my reading in Thich Nhat Hanh , who is a Buddhist master and speaks to us about gratitude . So I'm going to go ahead and read it the five prayers In gratitude I bow to all generations of ancestors in my blood family . 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 . I carry in me the life , blood , experience , wisdom , happiness and sorrow of all generations . I open my heart , flesh and bones to receive the energy of insight , love and experience transmitted to me by my ancestors . 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 encounter . As a continuation of my ancestors , I allow their energy to flow through me and ask for their support , protection and strength . In gratitude , I bow to all generations of ancestors in my spiritual family . 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 the patriarchs and matriarchs as my teachers and also as my spiritual ancestors . 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 of many generations . I vow to practice to transform the suffering in myself and in 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 .
Speaker 1And in the third gratitude he writes in gratitude , I bow to this land and all of the ancestors who made it available . I see that I am whole , protected , nourished by this land and all the living beings that have been here and made life worthwhile and possible for me through all of 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 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 know 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 consciousness of this society , so that future generations will have more safety , joy and peace .
Speaker 1I ask this land for its protection and support . In gratitude and compassion , I bow down and transmit my energy to those I love . All the energy I've received I now want to transmit to my father , my mother , everyone I love and all who have suffered and worried because of me and for my sake . I know I have not been mindful enough in my daily life . I also know that those who love me have had their own difficulties . They have suffered because they were not lucky enough to have an environment that encouraged their full development . I want all of them to be healthy and joyful . I pray that all ancestors in my blood and spiritual families will focus their energies toward each of them to protect and support them . I am one with those I love .
Speaker 1And finally he goes on to write in understanding and compassion , I bow down to reconcile myself with all those who have made me suffer . I open my heart and send forth my energy of love and understanding to everyone who has made me suffer , to those who have destroyed much of my life and the lives of those I love . I know now that these people have themselves undergone a lot of suffering and that their hearts are overloaded with pain , anger and hatred . I pray that they can be transformed to experience the joy of living , so that they will not continue to make themselves and others suffer . I see their suffering and do not want to hold any feelings of hatred or anger in myself toward them . I do not want them to suffer . I channel my energy of love and understanding to them and ask all my ancestors to help them .
Speaker 1Happy Thanksgiving to all of you , my dear listeners . I hope you enjoyed this beautiful excerpt from the Five Earth Touchings by Thich Nhat Hanh . I'm Lisa Hopkins . Thanks so much for listening . Stay safe and healthy , everyone , and remember to live in the moment .