Many religions and secular practices pay homage to the idea of giving thanks. Are things going well in your life? Is there food on your table? Are you healthy? These circumstances all traditionally call for giving thanks. Is that what is meant by gratitude in Ren Xue?
It’s a start. And yet – gratitude in Ren Xue is of a different magnitude. In each of the above examples, gratitude is a response to a given circumstance it is conditional. In Ren Xue, feeling thankful is not constrained to a given circumstance. Like the other 4 heart qualities, it is an unconditional stance.
