Words from the Master

A small story:

A Sufi Master, Junnaid used to pay his gratitude to God five times a day.
At one time, he and his followers were wandering through some villages where Sufism was not accepted as a religion.
In the first village, people accused them of begging, and threw meager alms at them.
The next day, the people refused to give them any alms.
On the third day, the village they passed through was so hostile that the villagers drove them out with sticks and stones.
That night as usual, Junnaid knelt down and offered his gratitude to God.
His disciples were watching him. It was too much for them. They could not understand why Junnaid was thanking God. They were furious.
They cried out, “Master! For three days we have gone without food! Today we were even driven out of that village like dogs! Is this what you are offering your gratitude for?”
Junnaid looked at them and said, “You talk about three days of hunger! Have you thanked God for the food you have received for thirty years? And know one thing: My gratitude is not for receiving or not receiving anything. It is simply an expression of the deep joy and love in my Being; it is a choice-less and prayerful expression, that’s all.”

When you live with overwhelming gratitude in you, you have found a space wherein nothing else is needed. It means that you have fallen into meditation. Then, you will not worry about anything else. You are on the right track. Your mind is no longer a hindrance to your growth. Your mind has disappeared. The mind cannot step in because you are brimming from your heart. There is no space for your mind. When there is no space for your mind, where will discontentment come from? Discontentment cannot come from the heart. It is purely a product of the mind.

Your mind always stands between you and Existence. It prevents you from hearing, seeing, feeling and emoting with Existence. Once you go beyond your mind and see the beauty of Existence, gratitude will become your prayer and bliss your Being! You will then enjoy liberation and permanent joy!

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This excerpt has been taken from the book: Guaranteed Solutions.