To feel gratitude to one's parents sounds like a trivial thing, but this is the mark of true maturity and growth as a human being.
People whose hearts are full of gratitude and appreciation are truly beautiful. A humble heart is the wellspring of great growth and development.
None of us can exist in isolation. Our lives and existence are supported by others in seen and unseen ways, be it by parents, mentors or society at large. To be aware of these connections, to feel appreciation for them, and to strive to give something back to society in a spirit of gratitude is the proper way for human beings to live.
Gratitude makes a person modest. A sense of gratitude expands the heart.
The ungrateful (ingrates) feel that it is below them to show any kind of appreciation. They are under the delusion that showing gratitude to others diminishes their own worth. But it is this sense of appreciation that elevates, enriches and expands the human spirit. A lack of gratitude is actually a sign of arrogance.
— Guidances on gratitude by Ikeda Sensei
(Dr. Daisaku Ikeda)
