Pronounce a Silent Blessing

Image of the Week
Image of the Week

Pronuncia una bendición silenciosa
--Por Barbara Brown Taylor


"Está prohibido saborear los placeres de este mundo sin una bendición." --El Talmud

Creo que la mejor manera de descubrir qué significa pronunciar bendiciones es pronunciar unas pocas. La práctica en sí te enseñará lo que necesitas saber.
Comienza con lo que quieras. Incluso un palo en el suelo sirve. Lo primero que debes hacer es prestarle atención. [...]
Cuanto más consciente seas, más bendiciones encontrarás.
Si te fijas en el palo el tiempo suficiente, te verás obligado a hacerlo un personaje de tu propia historia. Te comenzará a recordar a alguien que conoces, o a un mueble que una vez viste en una cooperativa de artesanía. No hay nada malo con estas asociaciones, excepto que te llevan lejos del palo y de nuevo a tí mismo. Para pronunciar una bendición sobre algo, es importante verlo tal y como es. ¿Cuál era el propósito de este palo? ¿Se sentó un pájaro en él? ¿Tuvo hojas que protegían el suelo del caliente sol del verano?
Como poco, participó en el profundo misterio de extraer agua del suelo, desafiando la ley de la gravedad para hidratar sus hojas. ¿Cómo puede un palo hacer eso, especialmente uno de este tamaño? Huélelo. ¿El olor de la savia sigue ahí? Es, como mínimo, la arteria de un árbol lo que tienes en tus manos. Su tejido viene del sol y de la tierra. Ponlo de nuevo donde lo encontraste y se convertirá en tierra otra vez. Polvo al polvo y cenizas a las cenizas. ¿Dirás una bendición? Nadie te puede oír, así que puedes decir lo que quieras. […]
Como he dicho antes, la práctica en sí misma te enseñará lo que necesitas saber. Empieza lanzando bendiciones alrededor y es probable que empieces a darte cuenta de cosas que no habías observado antes.
La próxima vez que estés en el aeropuerto, prueba bendecir a las personas sentadas en la puerta de embarque contigo. Cada uno de ellos está lidiando con algo significativo. ¿Ves a esa madre intentando refrenar a su explosivo hijo de dos años de edad? ¿Ves a ese chico gordito con la cara llena de granitos? Incluso si no puedes saber con certeza lo que está pasando con ellos, puedes mostrar interés por ellos. Van camino de alguna parte, igual que tú. Están entre lugares también, sin más seguridad que la que tú tienes acerca de lo que sucederá al otro lado. Pronuncia una bendición en silencio y presta atención a lo que sucede en el aire entre tú y la otra persona, todas esas otras personas.
[...]
Todo lo que digo es que cualquier persona puede hacer esto. Cualquier persona puede hacer peticiones y cualquiera puede bendecir, tanto si es alguien que ha sido autorizado a hacerlo como si no. Todo lo que digo es que el mundo necesita que hagas esto, porque hay una escasez real de personas dispuestas a ponerse de rodillas estén donde estén y reconocer la santidad de la mano (a veces huesuda, a menudo tierna, siempre dadora de vida) que hay sobre sus cabezas. Que seamos capaces de bendecirnos unos a otros no es más que una evidencia de que hemos sido bendecidos, tanto si podemos recordar cuando como si no. Que estemos dispuestos a bendecirnos unos a otros es milagro suficiente para asombrar a las propias estrellas.


preguntas semilla para la reflexión: ¿Cómo te relacionas con la idea de que nuestra capacidad para bendecir a otros es evidencia de que hemos sido bendecidos? ¿Puedes compartir una experiencia personal de un momento en que pronunciaste una bendición silenciosa hacia alguien? ¿Qué ha hecho en tu vida la práctica de pronunciar una bendición silenciosa?


Extraído de un altar en el mundo, por Barbara Brown Taylor. Es una exitosa autora del New York Times, profesora y sacerdote episcopal.
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?

Moved by this reading? Join a live Awakin Circle to discuss in community.
Join this week
More ways to connect

Add Your Reflection

14 Past Reflections
RI
rita
Jun 12, 2017

 Thanks for sharing ,that's great

KO
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.

MA
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 :)

PK
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. 

MI
May 3, 2016

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

KP
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

AM
Amy May 6, 2016

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

MA
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


PA
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.

DD
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.

AM
amy May 2, 2016

 Amen!  
Thank you for sharing!

CH
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.

AM
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.

JP
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