Thank You
for Everything
by Alan Cohen
 The story is told about a woman Zen master named Sono who taught one very
simple method of enlightenment. She advised everyone who came to her to adopt an
affirmation to be said many times a day, under all conditions. The affirmation
was, "Thank you for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever."
Many people from all arenas of life came to Sono for healing. Some were in
physical pain; others were emotionally distraught; others had financial
troubles; some were seeking soul liberation. No matter what their distress or
what question they asked her, her response was the same: "Thank you for
everything. I have no complaint whatsoever." Some people went away
disappointed; others grew angry; others tried to argue with her. Yet some people
took her suggestion to heart and began to practice it. Tradition tells that
everyone who practiced Sono?s mantra found peace and healing. Thank you for
everything. I have no complaint whatsoever.
My friend Lisa, an attractive woman in her late 30?s, came to one of my
seminars after I had not seen her for a number of years. She informed the group
that a year earlier she had been diagnosed with a brain disorder that required
immediate surgery. The surgery was done, a steel plate was inserted in her head,
and her doctor keeps her under close observation. Lisa reported that now she
lives from day to day. Privately I told Lisa that I was sorry she had gone
through this whole ordeal. "Oh, don?t be sorry," she told me
emphatically. "I?m not sorry at all. This was one of the best things that
has ever happened to me. It really got me to appreciate my life and
relationships. I married a wonderful guy and we are thinking about having
children. I wouldn?t trade the experience if I could." Thank you for
everything. I have no complaint whatsoever.
Can you imagine what your life would be like if you simply dropped your
complaints? It?s a radical proposal, since most of us have been trained to
question, analyze, and criticize everything we see. But then we end up
questioning, analyzing, and criticizing ourselves. Then we miss out on joy, the
only true measure of success.
The ecstatic mystic poet Hafiz proclaimed, "All a sane man can ever
think about is giving love." One evening I received a phone call from my
friend Cliff, a Jewish guy from Brooklyn who discovered A
Course in Miracles and became a world-class love exuder. Cliff just
went around finding good and beauty in everyone he met. On the phone, Cliff told
me, "I just called to tell you how much I love and appreciate you."
"Well, thank you Cliff," I answered, delighted. "I really
appreciate that . . . What prompted you to call me at this moment?"
"My knee was hurting me, and I knew that the only way I could feel
better would be to give more love. So I began to think of the people in my life
who I care about, and you came to mind." Thank you for everything. I
have no complaint whatsoever.
As we approach the holiday of Thanksgiving, many of us will be getting
together with our families. Perhaps family issues may come to the fore and we
might be tempted to fall into a pattern of rehashing old resentments and
arguments. Wouldn?t it be fabulous if, as we sat with our relatives, we held
in mind, "Thank you for everything. I have no complaint
whatsoever." Imagine what this Thanksgiving would be like if we decided
that no matter how much mom complained about dad; how much dad bugged us about
getting a real job; or how unspiritual our ex is, we chose to be an unstoppable
appreciation machine and found the good in our loved ones. Indeed this would be
a triumphant Thanksgiving to remember!
Yes, I know, there is a voice inside you objecting, "But if I did not
complain, people would walk all over me and selfish opportunists would
genetically manipulate my food and terrorists would keep crashing airplanes into
buildings and . . ., . . ., and. . . . Got it. Now if you went to Sono, her
response would be, "Thank you for everything. I have no complaint
whatsoever." I am simply suggesting that we practice the mantra for an
entire Thanksgiving day. And then maybe one day a week. Then we might start to
feel so good and our lives will become so effective that we want to turn every
day into Thanksgiving.
In my book Handle
with Prayer I state that the highest form of prayer is gratitude.
Instead of asking God for stuff, start thanking God for stuff, and you will find
that God has already given you everything you could want or need, including the
adventure of discovering more riches every day.
Life is a big treasure hunt. Eventually we grow weary of seeking treasures
outside ourselves, and we begin to look within. There we discover that the gold
we sought, we already are. The beauty we overlooked because we were focusing on
what was missing, still lives and awaits us like an anxious lover. As T.S. Eliot
nobly noted, "The end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we
started and know the place for the first time."
Thank you for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever. Have a great
Thanksgiving.
 About The Author
Alan
Cohen is the author of numerous popular inspirational books, including the
award-winning A
Deep Breath of Life. To request a free catalog of Alan's books,
tapes, and seminars, call 1-800-462-3013 or visit Alan's web site at www.alancohen.com.
For info on upcoming events, contact 455A Kukuna Road, Haiku, HI 96708,
(800) 568-3079, email:
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