Radical Amazement, by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

Asombro Extremo
--por El Rabino Abraham Joshua Heschel (May 04, 2015)

La forma más segura de suprimir nuestra habilidad de entender el significado de Dios y de la importancia de alabarle es dar las cosas por supuesto. La indiferencia hacia la sublime maravilla de la vida es la raíz del pecado. Maravillarse o el asombro extremo es la característica principal de la actitud religiosa del hombre hacia la historia y la naturaleza. Hay una actitud ajena al espíritu humano y es dar las cosas por supuestas, considerar los hechos como el curso natural de las cosas. Encontrar una causa aproximada de un fenómeno no es la respuesta a la maravilla que es. El hombre sabe que hay leyes que regulan el curso de los procesos naturales, y está al tanto de la regularidad y el patrón de las cosas. Sin embargo, ese conocimiento no puede mitigar su sentimiento de perpetua sorpresa ante el hecho de que existan los hechos en sí.

Según avanza la civilización, el sentido de asombro disminuye. Esa caída es una señal alarmante del estado de nuestra mente. La humanidad no perecerá por falta de información, sino por falta de apreciación. El comienzo de nuestra felicidad está en que la vida sin asombro no merece la pena ser vivida. Que lo que nos falta no es el deseo de creer sino el deseo de maravillarnos.

El conocimiento de lo divino empieza con maravillarse. Es el resultado de lo que el hombre hace con su gran incomprensión. El impedimento más grande para este conocimiento es nuestro ajuste a las nociones convencionales, a los clichés mentales. Maravillarse o el asombro extremo, el estado de inadaptación a palabras y nociones, es por tanto un prerrequisito para el conocimiento auténtico de eso que es.

El asombro radical tiene un alcance más amplio que ningún otro acto del hombre. Mientras que cualquier acto de percepción o cognición tiene como su objeto un segmento concreto de la realidad, el asombro radical se refiere a toda la realidad; no solo la que vemos, también al acto de ver en sí así como a nuestras propias individualidades, a las individualidades que vemos y que están asombradas de su capacidad de ver.

La grandeza o misterio de ser no es un acertijo particular para la mente, como, por ejemplo la causa de las erupciones volcánicas. No tenemos por qué ir hasta el final del razonamiento para encontrarlo. La grandeza o el misterio es algo a lo que nos enfrentamos en todos los lugares y momentos.

Incluso el mero acto de pensar desconcierta a nuestro pensamiento, ya que todo hecho inteligible está, debido a ser un hecho, colmado de frustrante distanciamiento. ¿No reina el misterio dentro del razonamiento, de la percepción, de la explicación? ¿Qué fórmula podría explicar y resolver el enigma del mero hecho de pensar?

--Rabino Abraham Joshua Heschel
Rabino Abraham Joshua Heschel fue un rabino Americano nacido en Polonia y uno de los líderes, teólogos y filósofos Judíos del siglo 20. Heschel, profesor de misticismo judío en el Seminario Teológico Judío de América, fue autor de un gran número de libros de filosofía Judía y fue miembro activo del Movimiento por los derechos Civiles Americanos.

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel was a Polish-born American rabbi and one of the leading Jewish theologians and Jewish philosophers of the 20th century. Heschel, a professor of Jewish mysticism at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, authored a number of widely read books on Jewish philosophy and was active in the American Civil Rights movement.

Seed Questions for Reflection

What does radical amazement mean to you? Can you share a personal story of a time you felt radical amazement? What helps you keep your sense of wonder alive?

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19 Past Reflections

Sherry Salomon

Jan 9, 2026

I walked into my doctor’s office on the 31st floor of Big Pink here in Portland. Suddenly, a vivid rainbow appeared with its ark encompassing the entire downtown area of Portland. We both stopped and enjoyed the rainbow before we began our visit together.

Belle

Nov 26, 2025

WHAT IS THE ACTUAL SOURCE OF THIS QUOTATION?? Naming the (alleged) author is not enough. Heschel wrote many books, articles, talks, etc. At least give the overall title of the work. Without the reader's ability to check the source, all we have is the posted claim that Heschel wrote this. (I know he actually did, but that's not the point.) Heschel was also a scholar. He would have been appalled at the lack of reference to the actual title of the work where this statement can be found. DO BETTER.

ChillOne Jan 6, 2026

You don't seem to be practicing radical amazement

josie

Dec 3, 2023

Radical amazement means so many things! Indira mentioned many wonders of the natural world which were inspiring and radically thrilling. I experience deep and wondrous amazement through intentional watching and listening to a video of Vladimir Horowitz playing Rachmaninov's 3rd piano concerto. God's also in awe of the performance.

Belle Nov 26, 2025

You're giving various examples of what may stimulate radical amazement. But radical amazement itself isn't "so many things." There's a difference between definition and example.
BTW I believe that Heschel would have been concerned about the equating of "amazement" with "thrill." Amazement is long-lasting. Thrill is brief and temporary. Thrill-seeking is shallow and ultimately exhausting to body, mind, and spirit; searching for and contemplating amazement is a deep, healthful process that promotes greater wellbeing.

J'son Pitts

Sep 6, 2019

Radical amazement means to me is to go for it all no matter what it takes always strive for bigger and better things and don'ttake what's given for granted. What keeps my sense of wonder alive is the creation of new things or the way things are created that have me thinking how did this start and became what it is today.

Dajzay Powell

Sep 5, 2019

The cycle of radical amazement amazes me because we believe in Heaven and Hell they are two different places where you go.One is full of color and gold,sunsets waterfalls,clear blue Sky,animals that can actually talk to you an diamond's paving the streets.And the other is full of fire and demons and death and where no one would like to go.And it amazes me because one day were going to be in one of those places.

Sunil

May 8, 2015

The complete cycle of creation & destruction ,birth & death is radical amazement.What we do between this gap of life & death is human.Relaxing in the garden sit out witnessing the plants flowering right from the exotic heliconias, orchids to simple bougainvillea & so on........Same with fruit trees-- sweet guavas,juicy mangoes........so on is demystifying the divine. The rimzim rains,the sun and then the colourful rainbow is understanding the heavens.Livng positively in the present to manifest the qualities of the soul- love,compassion,friendship,forgiveness......helps remain alive to the wonder.

Indira

May 7, 2015

Gosh!!... Radical Amazement! There is so much to share! For me, it is the silence of nature with its unpolluting sounds, the flow of natural life-the songs of birds, the buzzing of bees, the smell of the wet earth, the changing seasons, the laughter of a child, the gurgling of a brook, the mighty mountains, the endless universe, the curiosity and courage of mankind, the beauty and diversity of birds, animals, insects, rocks, landscapes, cultures, people, the traveling clouds, the blowing breeze, the whistling brooks, magnificent trees, the feeling and rapture of being in love, my own breath and awareness... I am perennially and radically amazed!!

Josie Dec 3, 2023

Your beautiful comment sent me to my jungle-garden to sit and listen! I meditate in the garden but you added an amazing new dimension to the meditation! Thanks for your inspiring words.

May 5, 2015

I was radically amazed just today as two little fourth grade boys (sitting to my right and to my left) were discussing matters of faith. One little boy shared how his grandmother was dying and that he is very sad. The other little boy shared what he knew of "afterlife" based on what he had learned "on the play ground". The guys told each other their families do not go to church. "You can't believe everything you hear" . . . "God told my friend right to his heart" . . . Ect. Working at a public school, I am not to speak my own beliefs in this regard, my heart hurts (radically amazed) for "lost children" kept from the light and love of Truth. God radically amazes me. The notion of Heaven, Life Eternal and the journey people take to get there truly amazes me. Praying for my fourth grade buddies, their families and for C's dying grandma (who, come to find out, is just short of 103 years old). Lord, show us Your Radically A... View full comment

Ingrid May 20, 2025

Thank-you for your story and insights. The mind itself can be a miracle/radical amazement/wonder that we are blessed with if we allow the Divine Mystery to show us.

Cynthia

May 5, 2015

Jesus said, "Come as a little child." Children are brimming over with irrepressible wonder and radical amazement. To me, this is the essence of prayer and worship, of being fully present, of living in the Now. Gratitude and blessings to all mothers. Namaste.

Annette

May 5, 2015

I just turned 58 and like the wonderment of a child, I still get excited to get on a plane and fly. I have to sit by the window always and am still in such awe trying to comprehend how this big heavy plane can be up in the air! And that there's only a few feet of metal and whatnot between me and the space below. Sunrises and sunsets still amaze me as do spider webs, birds feeding their young, lightning, and the destruction of wind and rain and other natural occurrences. I give thanks often from the heart. Being grateful for just being alive (even during the times it sucks) is something I am daily.

franki

May 5, 2015

As Rumi said " Sell your cleverness and purchase bewilderment"

Many

May 5, 2015

Do we need the notion of 'he' to wonder? Anytime I lookup i am in a state of radical amazement, how is that tiny little me can look up and find our about the trillion stars and billion galaxies out there, wondering and wandering has been lost in our times but we don't need 'he' gods or goddesses anymore, just look up at the sky

paashi

May 5, 2015

When the capacity of my mind is overloaded with the wonder of conceptual awareness of the Cosmos and its vastness, and mindful vipasana has allowed acceptance of this wonder, I keep my earthly sense of wonder alive through sensory experience of nature walks, wild flowers, and other life humming around in nature. Watching wonder in the eyes young children also nourishes the wonder of discovering life playing its creative dance of curiosity.

Abhishek

May 4, 2015

There is this space where radical amazement, wondering and 'flow' happen in tandem....it is like an edge which is so easy to slip off, like a zone of sorts....

In this zone the Universe is winking, coincidences are happening and there is a feeling of even more "Wow"s.....

This radical amazement for me comes from a complete acceptance of NOW, or not 'minding' anything....time and again I slip out of it....and yet is something I love experiencing :)

Wishing you all loads of radical amazement

david doane

May 3, 2015

Radical amazement is a very basic sense of astonishment, wonder, and awe about all existence. Very unfortunately, we as a people have lost awareness that all that is is sacred. We separated the sacred from life and nature, and then seem to have forgotten the sacred. We don't live in an awareness that all that is is an incomprehensible mystery and miracle. I feel radical amazement when I slow down, be still, open my eyes and see the wonder that we live in. Some times of feeling radical amazement have been during reflection and meditation and when I take the time to see and appreciate nature and in close connection with another. Reminding myself frequently that all that is is one and sacred helps me keep my sense of wonder alive.