Thanks-Giving As A Contemplation

During this talk, which occurred on Thanksgiving Eve, Peter revises the holiday term Thanksgiving to emphasize the relationship between gratitude (thanks) and generosity (giving).  During a guided contemplation entitled “Contemplating Thanks-Giving”, recorded prior to this talk and posted on the website, the characteristic physical and emotional elements of these two wholesome states of mind are described.  Participants at the meeting are invited to share their personal experiences of both generosity and gratitude.

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Contemplating Thanks-Giving

This guided meditation revises the holiday of Thanksgiving through focusing on the interaction between gratitude (thanks) and generosity (giving), with emphasis on recognizing the physical and emotional components of gratitude.  Participants are invited to reflect on times when they experienced gratitude as a result of another person’s generosity, or through recalling an event when witnessing beauty or some other outstandingly beneficial event.  This contemplating is intended to complement the principles and practices described later in the meeting entitled “Thanks-Giving As A Contemplation”, also posted on the website.

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