Cultivating Gratitude & Contentment this Thanksgiving

Anjul, Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple Manager 

Q: How does gratitude show up at the Temple? 

A: People often express their appreciation for the Temple and having deeply meaningful devotional experiences. Most overwhelmingly, gratitude shows up at the Temple as generous gifts: so many kinds of prasad and food, flowers, donation money, useful items like blankets, rugs, chairs, vacuum cleaners, paper napkins, the list goes on… And in so many people’s willingness to serve and contribute readily to this sacred mission that Babaji inspired.

It is phenomenal to get washed in this rain of kindness!

prasad: blessed, accepted offering

Michael, Yoga Instructor, IT Admin

Q: If gratitude were a yoga pose, which one would it be? 

A: The anjali mudra, with hands clasped in prayer at the end of class. It literally means, “The light in me honors the light in you.” To me, that’s giving gratitude to one another. 

mudra: sacred gesture

Quincy, longtime satsang member, Guest Services Admin

Q: If you could offer one “thank you” to the community or the land itself, what would you say?

A: Well, there’s more than one. I would start with the off-land kitchen and housekeeping crew. They must think we’re a bunch of weirdos up here, but they do such a good job taking care of us and keeping us going!

Gratitude to the land, as well, and the rich Indigenous history. 

I’m always grateful for Thanksgiving time here, when satsang members come to visit—seeing old faces just for the sake of seeing each other and spending time together. 

Rose, Residential Volunteer 

Q: What’s a challenge of living in community that you’ve become grateful for because it taught you something?

A: For me, learning how to have clear, honest, open, and kind communication has been the most challenging thing, but also the thing I’m most grateful for here. It’s something I’ve always struggled with a bit, so to be here practicing all these components—notably the kindness—but also the openness and the honesty, is so helpful, especially when I’m met with the same from others.

SunRay, YTT 200 graduate, Events & Hospitality Coordinator

Q: When life gets a little challenging, does your asana practice keep you grounded in gratitude? 

A: On days when I can do nothing else, I return to my asana practice as a way to connect with my vessel. Some days may feel overwhelming, but I know I can always move my body. 

asana: postures

Bob, Community Well-Being Resident Support

Q: When you pause in the middle of your day here, what are you most thankful to notice?

A: To be blessed with all my senses! I get to put two feet on the ground today and feel the elements—the wind, the sun, and the rain. I live under the redwoods. I’m less separated from nature than pretty much anywhere else I’ve ever lived! 

I’m also thankful for the invitation to be myself here, and the opportunity to develop my gifts. 

Christina, Baker

Q: Is there a secret ingredient to gratitude? 

A: Presence. You can’t cook without being present. The same goes for everything in life. When you’re cooking, you have to see it, taste it, smell it—be with it.

Everything is better when you are present to it. That’s why it’s a gift! Maybe the gift we can give to each other is presence, truly being in the moment with one another. 

Juana, Kitchen Staff

Q: How does expressing gratitude (and receiving it) affect your day or your work?

A: Te motiva a echarle esfuerzo, ganas. Llevo solo cinco meses trabajando aquí, pero el agradecimiento que recibo me motiva a aprender cosas nuevas de este lugar, de sus diferentes personas, la comida, y las tradiciones. Es lindo trabajar así. 

It motivates you to put your best effort forward. I’ve been working here only five months, but the gratitude I get motivates me to learn new things about this place, its different people, its food, and its traditions. It’s nice to work like that. 

Manorath, longtime satsang member, Temple Maintenance 

Q: Is there a place on the land that helps you remember what really matters?

A: The Community Building Main is it! One of the things I remember most is everybody gathering on the CB floor together with Babaji in his chair at the front. Babaji said to us that relationships are the most important thing in daily life. Being with other people, learning to be compassionate, working on our relationships, it all happens in CB Main. 

When you have a conflict with someone in the community, you can’t just run away and avoid them like you would in the outside world. Here, you can’t avoid anyone. It’s the main place where people come together.

Sampad, longtime resident & retired MMS teacher & Karla, resident & MMS faculty member

Q: Imagine gratitude as a color or sound on the mountain — what would it be?

A: The color of gratitude is gold! Not that it’s one of those unattainable things, but because it’s golden. — Sampad

A: (In this moment, a water bottle crashed to the floor, making a boi-oi-oing sound) That’s the sound of gratitude! — Karla

Morgan, Marketing Manager

Q: What is something you’re grateful for but often overlook?

A: I sometimes forget how fortunate I am to share the story of a place that promotes healing and transformation. Not everyone has the opportunity to do mission-driven work.

Lio 

Q: What would a Mount Madonna turkey be grateful for?

A: Having this place be vegetarian so he doesn’t get eaten on Thanksgiving!

Gus

Q: What are you most grateful for?

A: Legos.