How to bless someone?

score:13

Accepted answer

If someone is willing to be blessed the Buddha's way, then I could think of no more suitable & special words than the words from the Mangala Sutta that tells us what are the blessings in one's life:

  1. To not associate with fools.
    Those who drag us down with their foolishness; drunkards, layabouts etc.

  2. To associate with the wise.
    Those who encourage us to grow spiritually. The Buddha emphasized the importance of good companionship in many ways; when Ananda remarked that good friends were half of the Holy Life, He replied " Say not so! Good friends are the whole of the Holy Life!"

  3. To pay repects where they are due.
    Making puja to the Triple Jewel, honouring our teachers and elders; to have this opportunity is a blessing not to be missed!

  4. To reside in a suitable location.
    A place congenial to life, peaceful and with such a society and economy that we can live free from want and fear.

  5. To have previously done meritorious deeds.
    Thus, we can enjoy the fruit now. But don't be one who just lives off her capital! Invest in yourself by making more good merit now.

  6. To be heading in the right direction.
    If we are advancing spiritually, growing in wisdom and compassion, then we are surely blessed.

  7. To have much learning.
    Being well educated in the broadest sense; a well-rounded individual. In particular to have knowledge of the Dhamma is to possess a jewel beyond price.

  8. To be skilled and knowledgeable.
    Every useful skill we possess, crafts, trades, special knowledge can be of some use in improving life for ourselves and others.

  9. To be restrained by a moral code.
    A sound morality is the basis of peace and happiness.

  10. To have beautiful speech.
    That is; truthful, timely, pleasant speech connected with meaning. Such speech that others are delighted and improved by hearing.

  11. To be a support for your parents.
    The opportunity to repay the enormous debt we owe to our mother and father should be seen as a blessing and not as a burden.

12 & 13. The cherishing of wife and child.
A happy family life.(perhaps the subtle differences between 12 & 13 got lost in translation?)

  1. To make one's livelihood without difficulty.
    A wholesome occupation that one does well and enjoys.

  2. To make gifts.
    Giving is a source of joy for both giver and receiver. Be one blessed with a generous spirit.

  3. To live in accord with the Dhamma.
    To have heard the Holy dhamma in this life and to have the capacity and opportunity to practice is a rare and wonderful thing.

  4. To cherish one's relatives.
    To have a functioning extended family (clan) either in the traditional sense or a community of friends and colleagues.

  5. To do blameless actions.
    Living one's life in an unreproachable way. Nothing to hide, nothing to fear, nothing to regret.

  6. To cease and abstain from evil.
    Having the inclination of mind that instinctively recoils from evil as if from a red hot iron ball.

  7. To refrain from intoxicants.
    Not to need those substances which dull our precious human consciousness.

  8. Not to be heedless of the Dhamma.
    Being mindful and compassionate; going through life with eyes and heart open . Attention to details!

  9. To be respectful.
    Respect for the conventions is to make the life into a beautiful dance. Respect for the Buddha nature of all beings is the root of refined manners.

  10. To be humble.
    Pride goeth before a fall and the meek shall inherit the earth.

  11. To be content.
    Contentment with little is the magical wish-fulfilling gem! Its also a healthy attitude for our planet right now.

  12. To have gratitude.
    The Buddha said that gratitude is rare to find in this world. Remember always that you never would have gotten this far without a lot of help!

  13. To hear the Dhamma at the right time.
    Everyone who has experienced a word of teaching that touched the heart at just the right moment knows what a precious gift this can be.

  14. To have patience.
    Patience is a virtue but also a blessing. Just think how much suffering comes from impatience.

  15. To be easy to admonish.
    Make yourself amenable to teaching and those with something to teach will be ready to help you.

  16. The sight of monks.
    The robed figure of the recluse is an archetypal call to consciousness; together with the dead man, the sick man and the old man they are called the four divine messengers.

  17. To discuss the Dhamma at a suitable time.
    Speaking of the Holy Dhamma is the noblest use of the human power of speech. To be blessed with time and companions with which to speak of things tending to liberation is amazing grace indeed.

  18. To practice austerities.
    In the buddhist context this means the practising of meditation; a daily practice and regular retreats.

  19. To lead the Holy Life.
    To live devoted to the Eightfold Path and the seeking of Liberation.

  20. Seeing the Noble Truths.
    Opening of the Dhamma Eye. This refers to a level of direct penetration well beyond the intellectual.

  21. The realization of Nibbana.
    Going through the gateless gate. The treasure beyond any price in heaven and earth.

  22. A mind unshaken by contact with the world.
    Being in the world but not of it.

  23. Sorrowlessness.
    Beyond the realms of suffering.

  24. Stainlessness.
    The end of the obscuring defilements.

  25. Secure.
    Once found it cannot be lost.

These are the highest blessings!
Having accomplished this
one is always unconquered,
one goes everywhere in peace.
These are the blessings supreme!

Upvote:0

You could say some mantras for your friend, and dedicate the merit of your day to them on a day where your practice is well done.

Upvote:1

The closest equivalent in Buddhism would be to develop the 4 Immeasurables Meditation keeping your friend in mind.

Upvote:1

Upasaka Swapnil,

sadly one of the best answers here has been deleted as it says "Enlighten them into the Dhamma.", which would be actually a real blessing, the highest receiveable.

If one gives a blessing, meaning wishing well in what ever way, one actually gives a blessing to oneself, since doing merits with it. Monks are not really asked and given such therefore, since it would cut of ways to make merits for others, believing that simple sound received from one may help them.

How ever, such as usually known as blessing, but actually Anumodana, meaning encouragement and approve of good deeds, benefits both. The speaker and the receiver straighten their view right with such.

As Nyom Ilya Grushevskiy stated, the greatest gift is to share the Dhamma, to encourage people to act right, so to give the causes for their well-being, no other could do. While a blessing, good-wishing, might gladden the mind of others short or longer, the fruits are not necessary based on listening, but the blessing might have given certain soil so that others good fruits could ripe. How ever, such would not help in long terms, worng actions would nevertheless performed and quick gained gladdness, might hinder to do more than just ask for such.

My person had seen that Ven. Thanissaro gave a talk on "bless yourself" which might be well to share with those asking for such.

It's totally not wrong, but the opposite (metta... practice) to give such often and everywhere, to anybody, but as told, mostly only the blesser gains merits and so one should not be greedy in learning others to say and do, think always in meassures of blessings.

One who asks what is good done, for ones own and others welfare is a blessed person, and if even meeting good and proper answers, tend to listening to the, put them into action, seldom rich blessed, yet its the result of ones Upanissaya paccaya and the "luck" to meet a tiny stream of goodness appearing and disappearing in worlds.

My persons most used "blessing", encouragement is Abhivādana-sīlissa Niccaṃ vuḍḍhāpacāyino Cattāro dhammā vaḍḍhanti Āyu vaṇṇo sukhaṃ, balaṃ.

For one of respectful nature who constantly honors the worthy, Four qualities increase: long life, beauty, happiness, strength.

Lay-buddhist are used to learn blessings here where my person dwells, would eager learn citing text of spreading goodwill and wishes, starting as childs. It's good to learn such as long as not making trade with such, also many monks and priests sadly do.

Good source is the chanting guide. Sadly there are less traditional blessing of lay people avaliable in western language, while there are actually a lot. There is nothing wrong, but the opposite, to let blessings and encouragements flow out of ones metta-citta and once used to it, it is a gift for all you meet.

Bhavatu sabba-maṅgalaṃ Rakkhantu sabba-devatā May there be every blessing. May all heavenly beings protect you.

Sabba-buddhānubhāvena Sadā sotthī bhavantu te. Through the power of all the Buddhas, may you always be well.

Bhavatu sabba-maṅgalaṃ Rakkhantu sabba-devatā May there be every blessing. May all heavenly beings protect you.

Sabba-dhammānubhāvena Sadā sotthī bhavantu te. Through the power of all the Dhammas, may you always be well.

Bhavatu sabba-maṅgalaṃ Rakkhantu sabba-devatā May there be every blessing. May all heavenly beings protect you.

Sabba-saṅghānubhāvena Sadā sotthī bhavantu te. Through the power of all the Saṅghas, may you always be well. Bhavatu sabba-maṅgalaṃ

(Note that this is not given for trade, exchange, stacks and entertainment but as a means toward escape from this wheel here)

Upvote:4

"May you be well" might be a near equivalent (see also "Metta meditation" for further details).

It's easy to find more elaborate versions of that phrase, for example,

May you be filled with loving kindness.
May you be well.
May you be peaceful and at ease.
May you be happy.

or for example,

May you be happy. May you be well. May you be safe. May you be peaceful and at ease.

or the metta chant.

Or maybe, instead of ritual, you could use the opportunity of their asking to talk with them about Buddhism (on the assumption that sharing with them something about Buddhism would be a kind of blessing).

More post

Search Posts

Related post