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→What Prevents Gratitude?
The unregenerate vital is not grateful for a benefit, it resents being under an obligation. So long as the benefit continues, it is effusive and says sweet things, as soon as it expects nothing more it turns round and bites the hand that fed it. Sometimes it does that even before, when it thinks it can do it without the benefactor knowing the origin of the slander, fault-finding or abuse... Most have this kind of experience, few escape it altogether. Of course, people with a developed psychic element are by nature grateful and do not behave in this way. <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/31/ego-and-its-forms#p122</ref>
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A self-willed man cannot be grateful―because when he gets what he wants he gives all the credit for it to his own will, and when he gets what he does not want he resents it badly and throws all the blame on whomever he considers responsible, God, man or Nature.<ref>https://incarnateword.in/cwm/14/gratitude#p15</ref>
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''I think that some element in me does not believe in the divine Grace: that is what prevents the gratitude...''
''At first I used to feel so much love for You, but now my love has become more selfish.''
Yes, that is it; you began to bargain in your giving and that has dried up the source. If, however, you resolve not to demand anything in return for what you give, you will soon rediscover the incomparable joy of loving. <ref>https://incarnateword.in/cwm/17/24-may-1935#p1,p3,p4</ref> <center>~</center>
'''Mother's Commentary on the Dhammapada'''
<ref>https://incarnateword.in/cwm/03/conjugate-verses#p31,p32</ref>
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It is very difficult to keep up your gratitude; for a time it comes very strongly and again it goes back. The Divine can go on tolerating everything in spite of your ingratitude because He knows fully the how and why and wherefore of everything. He knows why you are doing a certain thing. He knows the full working and that is why He can tolerate it. <ref> http://incarnateword.in/cwm/14/gratitude#p1</ref>
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