gratitude

Literally meaning knowing what has been done, or in Tibetan usage remembering kindness, it refers to mindful recognition of benefits received from others. While not typically foregrounded as a category in early Buddhist doctrinal lists, gratitude is praised as a wholesome mental quality, especially in relation to parents, teachers, benefactors, and the gift of the dharma. In modern contexts, particularly under Buddhist modernism and in dialogue with Christian moral discourse, gratitude has become more explicitly emphasized through teachings, rituals of giving, and ethical reflection.