GRATITUDE

Gratitude (kataveditā or kataṭṭutā) is the feeling of thankfulness for the benefits that others have conferred on us and the desire to express our thanks or to repay it. The Buddha said that gratitude is a mark of a good person: 'Truly, good people are thankful and grateful' (Vin.IV,55). But he also recognized that gratitude is not common: 'These two types of people are hard to find in the world. What two? One who will do a favor first and one who is grateful for a favor done' (A.I,86).