Pronounce a Silent Blessing, by Barbara Brown Taylor

एक निःशब्द दुआ दो
-- बारबरा ब्राउन टेलर द्वारा लिखित (४ जून, २०१६)

"इस संसार के सुखों को एक दुआ के बिना चखना मना है।" -- तालमद से

मैं समझती हूँ कि दुआएं देने का मतलब समझने का सबसे अच्छा तरीका है कुछ दुआएं देना। यह अभ्यास खुद ही है आपको वो सिखा देगा जो आपको सीखने की ज़रूरत है।

शुरुआत किसी भी चीज़ से करें जो आपको पसंद हो। यहां तक कि जमीन पर पड़ी एक डंडी भी चलेगी। पहला काम है उस पर ध्यान देना। [...]

जितने अधिक जागरूक आप बन जाते हैं, उतनी ही अधिक दुआएं आप पाते हैं।

अगर आप उस डंडी को कुछ समय तक देखते रहें, तो आप उसे अपनी खुद की कहानी में एक चरित्र बनाना शुरू कर देंगे। वो आपको अपने किसी जानकार, या फर्नीचर के एक पीस जिसको आपने किसी क्राफ्ट को-ऑपरेटिव में देखा था, उसकी याद दिलवाना शुरू कर देगी। ऐसे सम्बन्ध बनाने में कुछ गलत नहीं है, सिवाय इसके कि यह आपको डंडी से दूर और अपने आपकी ओर ले जाने लगेगा। किसी चीज़ को दुआ देने के लिए, यह महत्त्वपूर्ण है कि उसे वैसे का वैसा देखा जाए। उस डंडी के क्या फायदे हुए? क्या उस पर एक चिड़िया बैठी? क्या उस पर पत्तियां लगीं थीं जिन्होंने ज़मीन को गर्मी के तपते सूरज से ढककर रखा?

कम से कम, उसने गुरुत्वाकर्षण के नियम के विरुद्ध ज़मीन से पानी खींचकर, अपनी पत्तियों तक नमी पहुंचाने के इस गहरे रहस्य में भाग लिया। एक डंडी यह कैसे करती है, खासतौर पर इस नाप की डंडी? उसे सूँघो। क्या उसमें अभी भी पौधे की खुशबू है? यह कोई एक पेड़ की धमनी से कम नहीं है, जिसे आपने अपने हाथ में पकड़ रखा है। इसके तन्तु सूरज और धरती से आये हैं। इसको वहीं रख दो जहां आपने उसे पाया था और वो फ़िर उसी धरती में बदल जाएगी। मिट्टी से मिट्टी और राख से राख। क्या आप पहले एक दुआ देंगे? आपको कोई सुन नहीं सकता, इसलिए आप जो कहना चाहें, कह दें। [...]

जैसा कि मैंने पहले कहा, जो आपको सीखने की ज़रूरत है, यह अभ्यास ही आपको सिखा देगा। चारों ओर दुआएं बिखेरना शुरू कर दो और संभावना है कि आप ऐसी चीज़ें देखना शुरू कर देंगे जो आपने पहले कभी नहीं देखी थीं।

अगली बार जब आप हवाई अड्डे पर हों, तो जो लोग प्रस्थान गेट पर आपके साथ बैठे हों, उन्हें दुआ देने का प्रयास करें। उनमें से हर एक किसी महत्वपूर्ण चीज़ से जूझ रहा है। उस माँ को देख रहे हो, जो अपने दो साल के शोर मचाते बच्चे को शांत करने की कोशिश कर रही है? उस विशाल पेट वाले लड़के को देख रहे हो, जिसके चेहरे पर निशान हैं। भले ही आप अच्छी तरह से नहीं जानते कि उनके साथ क्या चल रहा है, आप फ़िर भी उन पर कुछ ध्यान दे सकते हैं। वे भी ठीक आपकी तरह कहीं अपने मार्ग पर हैं। वे भी दो जगहों के बीच हैं, आपकी ही जैसी अनिश्चितता के साथ कि दूसरे छोर पर क्या होगा। एक निःशब्द आशीर्वाद दो और इस बात पर ध्यान दो कि आपके और उस व्यक्ति और बाकी सब व्यक्तियों के बीच की हवा पर क्या असर पड़ता है।
[...]

मैं सिर्फ इतना कह रही हूँ कि यह कोई भी कर सकता है। कोई भी मांग सकता है और कोई भी आशीष दे सकता है, चाहे आपको किसी ने उसकी अनुमति दी हो या नहीं। मैं केवल इतना कह रही हूँ विश्व को आपके ऐसा करने की ज़रूरत है, क्योंकि ऐसे लोगों की बहुत कमी है जो कहीं पर भी दुआएं मांगने के लिए सिर झुकाने को तैयार हो जाते हैं और उस ईश्वरीय शक्ति को समझते हैं जो कभी अपने पतले हाथ, कभी अपने प्यारभरे, हमेशा जीवन-प्रदान करने वाले हाथ उनके सिर पर रखती है। हम सब एक-दूसरे को आशीर्वाद देने में सक्षम हैं यह इस बात का सबूत है कि हमें भी आशीषें मिल चुकी हैं, चाहे हमें याद हो या नहीं। हम एक दूसरे को आशीर्वाद देने के लिए तैयार कर रहे हैं, यह सितारों को भी हिला देने वाला चमत्कार है।

विचार के लिए कुछ मूल प्रश्न: आप इस धारणा से क्या समझते हैं कि हमारी एक-दूसरे को दुआ देने की क्षमता एक सबूत है कि हमें भी आशीष मिल चुकी है? क्या आप अपना कोई व्यक्तिगत अनुभव बाँट सकते हैं जब आपने किसी के लिए निशब्द दुआ मांगी हो? निःशब्द दुआ मांगने की साधना ने आपके जीवन पर क्या असर डाला है?

बारबरा ब्राउन टेलर की पुस्तक, विश्व में एक वेदी (ऍन आल्टर इन द वर्ल्ड), के कुछ अंश। वह एक न्यूयॉर्क टाइम्स बेस्ट सेलिंग लेखक, प्रोफेसर, और एपिस्कोपल पादरी हैं।

Excerpted from An Altar in the World, by Barbara Brown Taylor. She is a New York Times best-selling author, professor, and Episcopal priest.

Seed Questions for Reflection

How do you relate to the notion that our ability to bless one another is evidence that we have been blessed? Can you share a personal experience of a time you pronounced a silent blessing for someone? What has the practice of pronouncing a silent blessing done to your life?

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Add Your Reflection

14 Past Reflections

rita

Jun 12, 2017

Thanks for sharing ,that's great

Kona

May 8, 2016

I have been doing silent blessings for a very long time; it feels like a very comforting practice. Whenever I drive by an animal that has been killed by traffic, I always say a blessing. I also bless the people I notice that seem to need a little extra help and support; I bless everyone at accident scenes, and the people who show up to help. When we have forest fires, I bless the trees, the animals and the fire fighters and anyone else that is involved. In this way, giving a silent blessing from the heart seems to be a way I can contribute something positive to any situation.

Manali

May 3, 2016

It reminds me of one of my friend named Jaimit who believes that giving blessings whenever somebody is in trouble, or somebody is in need of blessing this therapy do work and he also asked her very special teacher to bless his friends and family whenever he felt they needed.. .So I learned this art of Pronounced silent Blessing from him and his teacher Nivedita Aunty, also the art of thanking every thing around is also a pronouncd blessing.
Thereafter since last one month I am into a practice called "PRAYER" which is a done by a Christian Lady who daily Prays and blesses the people around her and always prays for the world peace..She is also an inspiration for me to do pronounced silent blessing ... And this passage has added a lot to my values...
THANKS :)

Peter Kalmus

May 3, 2016

This is very good. I have had that same thought: there is no greater miracle than simply wishing others real peace and real happiness. When I do this, I realize that there are so many other beings, on this Earth and elsewhere in the Universe, doing the same for me.

However... one who is really aware will realize, while sitting in that airport, that the act of flying itself does so much harm to this Earth and the beings on it. That person will realize that he or she actually prefers not to fly for this reason. It's not only possible to live with far less fossil fuel... it can make you happier.

Mish

May 3, 2016

An attitude of gratitude spontaneously brings forth my desire to share blessings. It just feels so good too :)))

Kristin Pedemonti

May 3, 2016

"The more you become aware, the more there is to bless" has been a definite truth in my own life, though I think I always related it to gratitude. The more we focus on something the more we have the opportunity to open our eyes and hearts. A personal experience of shared silent blessings is whenever I pass an accident I say a blessing to all involved. Another example is a smaller one, when someone rushes ahead of me on the sidewalk or pushes into me at the grocery store or cuts me off in traffic, I say a blessing that they might feel less frantic and be able to breathe. This helps calm my own stress too. The practice of sharing blessings (and gratitude too) has created more compassion and empathy for others and the realization that honestly, there are no "others." Hugs from my heart to yours, Kristin

Amy May 6, 2016

I am a big fan of you Kristin! You speak wisdom and I much appreciate that! Thankful!

Manuela

May 3, 2016

Ever since I was introduced to The Gentle Art of Blessing, by Pierre Pradervand, it's become a daily practice, admittedly at first intellectually, but soon with sincerity. It brightens my day and I am sure impacts those whom I bless as we are all one. Imagine the impact on the climate of our current political campaign in the US if we were to bless our candidates in their divine nature (love, kindness,compassion, honesty, humble desire to serve, etc)....Tall order but well worth the commitment!
Here is the link to the basic text by Mr. Pradervand
http://gentleartofblessing.org/the-text

Patjos May 9, 2016

This reminds me of the Truth that we are all born with the Light of Love within us, that spark of the divine, and that though it may be so deeply hidden within us as to be completely unnoticeable from the outside, we can still remember to believe this about everyone and pronouncing a blessing is a way of igniting that flame within someone once again.
I was once walking in darkness too and someone must have been blessing me a lot!
Seeing the Light in everyone today and blessing it.

david doane

May 1, 2016

We sometimes forget that all that is is sacred. I believe that to bless is to remind ourselves that whatever is being blessed is sacred, that is, is an expression of God or Source. In blessing the other, I acknowledge that the other is an expression of the Divine, just as I am, and that the other and I are one in Unity. And blessing gives me an opportunity to be grateful to be part of Oneness and Sacredness that we are all part of. My coming to awareness of this has gotten me to think and talk as I am and has given my life more meaning.

amy May 2, 2016

Amen!
Thank you for sharing!

chris May 3, 2016

I am unfamiliar with this ~ what is it to "bless" someone? What would the words or thoughts sound like? Thank you for helping me to understand.

Amy May 4, 2016

To bless someone/something can be as simple as signing Jesus' cross, in The Name of The Father, His Son and The Holy Spirit. "The blessing" can be intended to love, hold, secure, heal, offer hope, strength, presence .... Heaven is His Blessing's limit.
The reason, I bless my loved ones in this way (through the Trinity) is to grab hold of the Power only Heaven holds.
May you be blessed this day (in the way you need) today. FSHS ... Amen.

Jagdish P Dave

Apr 29, 2016

To me peonouncing a blessing is to remain open and pay attention to what is, not how it should be, could be or would be. Seeing whatever clearly with bare attention, with its unfolding presence, is a miaracle. When I saw the face of a child in a class room filled with sadness, I stopped walking and sat beside him. I held his hands compassionately and said softly " You look sad". He sat quietly. I gave him space to be himself. Slowly he started crying. Hie eyes were filled with tears.I held his hands tenderly letting him feel I am with him.I felt his pain.These were very precious moments of intimacy transcending the age, he beinfg 8 years old and me being 90 years old. These were sacred moments unfolding oneness between two beings. To me it was a miracle. Slowlty we started breathing together, feeling more connected. Slowly a smile dawned upon his face and he said gently 'Thank you." I palced my hand on his head and blessed him. We made each other's day. That little boy filled my... View full comment