Two Simple Words
Saying thank you is good for the spirit. (Stock Photo)
When asked to chair the Eitaikyo Service at Vista Buddhist Temple earlier this year, I had mixed feelings. It would be wonderful to see temple friends in person again. But my other reaction was one of trepidation. I thought, “OH MY GOD, will I be able to fit into my pants?” For the past 20 months, since I’ve primarily been working from home, I’ve mostly been wearing only sweatpants, short pants, and casual stretchy pants. I thought I couldn’t wear any of those things when chairing a special service in person. So the night before the service, I looked through a section of my closet that I literally hadn’t been in since the COVID shutdown, namely the section with my work pants. Thank goodness there was one pair of slacks I could still fit into!
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a practicing neurosurgeon and the chief medical correspondent for CNN, recently talked about how people have experienced different behavioral changes during the pandemic. Some people have been eating more; some have been drinking more; some have been exercising more; and some have become more meditative. He humorously referred to this as the chunk, the drunk, the hunk, and the monk. Unfortunately, I fall into the “chunk” category. But fortunately, as we know through Buddhism, nothing is permanent, so I have hope.
All joking aside, in addition to the pandemic, these last 20 months have been turbulent at times. Many jarring, unimaginable, and heartbreaking things all converged within a short period. Hopefully, most people have been able to cope successfully and have not suffered too greatly. Personally, there have been times I’ve gotten stuck, lost faith in humanity, and become a little unhinged—like getting crazy angry and shouting at people on the TV while watching the news. To get myself unstuck, I look to something integral to our Shin Buddhist practice, namely recognizing our blessings and expressing thanks for them.
At work, we contract with a company called Healthy Adventures, who sets up a five-day “Gratitude Challenge” on the week before Thanksgiving. Each day, we were asked to reflect on something specific, then write down our feelings of gratitude or send people notes of appreciation. Here is an exerpt of one of their emails to us:
"Thank you" -- two simple words with the power to change our entire outlook on life. Here are {some} great reasons why this phrase of gratitude belongs at the forefront of our daily interactions.
Saying thank you keeps us humble.
Saying thank you makes us fully appreciate our blessings.
Saying thank you makes us feel more optimistic.
Saying thank you encourages compassion, kindness, and love.
Saying thank you is good for the spirit.
Saying thank you is good for the heart.
Saying thank you inspires wonder in our existence.
Saying thank you connects us to the goodness within others.
While this may seem simplistic, it’s practical, it’s easy to do, and it helps! Being grateful keeps us rooted in the present moment, which we strive for in our Buddhist practice. It also keeps us focused on what matters most.
In Shin Buddhism, we have many formal opportunities to express our appreciation for people, situations and events, and the positive impact they’ve had on us. Our Eitaikyo Service is one of those opportunities. The word “Eitaikyo” literally means “eternal or perpetual sutra.” We hold Eitaikyo Services so that the sutras can be chanted for generations to come, honoring our loved ones who have passed away and shaped our lives. Remembering them with gratitude can serve as a light for us, which we all need, especially during these challenging times.
In Gassho,
Sandy Muryasz
