I thank you¹

I thank You, O my Beloved Supreme, because You have given me the soulful receptivity to need You only. I thank You, O my Beloved Supreme, because You have given me the fruitful capacity to love You only.

I thank you, O my wise soul, because you know who I eternally am. I am a God-lover. I am a God-server.

I thank you, O my aspiring heart, because you love me.

I thank you, O my searching mind, because you think of me.

I thank you, O my dynamic vital, because you struggle for me.

I thank you, O my conscious body, because you suffer for me.

I thank you, O earth, because you have given me patience-light. Because of patience-light I still exist on earth.

I thank you, O Heaven, because you have given me promise-delight. My promise-delight is to manifest God unconditionally.

I thank you, O India, because in you, India, I achieved the beauty of God-Realisation.

I thank you, O America, because in you, America, I am entrusted with the duty of God-Manifestation.

I thank you, O East, because I am one of your God-worshipping flowers.

I thank you, O West, because I am one of your man-nourishing fruits.

I thank you, O my dear friends, because you inspire me to bring to the fore my good and divine qualities.

I thank you all, O my seeker-friends, because in me you see a simple instrument of God. I thank you all, O my seeker-friends, because in you I see the living Presence of my Beloved Supreme.

Finally, I thank myself, because I am all gratitude, within and without.

[Sri Chinmoy gave this soulful talk at a special Thanksgiving concert at the Ethical Culture Society in New York City on 27 November 1980.]