The Gentle Art of Blessing: A Simple Practice That Will Transform You and Your World

I just love this book. I first read it when I was very disturbed and felt betrayed by a friend. The ideas helped me get a fresh perspective and gain peace about the situation. I have purchased many copies and shared them with people from different religious backgrounds. All have loved it. One friend said it changed his life. It puts spiritual concepts in very understandable and universal language. My favorite chapter is chapter twelve about learning to love and bless yourself. One of my favorite books ever...

I love this book! As soon as I finished it, I started to read it again. In practicing blessing in the way the author explains it, I've seen my own (justifiable) anger and animosity towards people who have hurt me or damaged my life melt away. I don't think the author means that we shouldn't carry through if some evil needs to be addressed, but it makes it possible to do so objectively and without hate. The key, in my thought, is that this book made me see that I have to put my spiritual convictions into practice all the time and toward everyone...I can't get away with just praying in a general sense and then going about my day and continuing to feel contentious towards someone, even when merited.

On page 11, the author writes, "As you walk, bless the city in which you live, its government and teachers, its nurses and street sweepers, its children and bankers, its priests and prostitutes. The minute anyone expresses the least aggravation or unkindness to you, respond with a blessing: Bless them totally, sincerely, joyfully - for such blessings are a shield that protects them from the ignorance of their misdeed and deflects that arrow that was aimed at you." I wish I could give an all-encompassing, "that's great, I loved it" review on this book, but I'm struggling with Pradevand's comments that the best and most potent response to aggression is blessing. Less than three days ago, 32 students were murdered at a once-beautiful college in the midst of the Blue Ridge mountains. There are times when you must be prepared to go toe to toe with evil and deal it a fatal blow. Like Pradervand, I believe that each of God's children have the potential and ability to express Her purity and goodness and love, but I also believe that some of God's children would rather face annihilation than surrender their association with pure evil. Jesus never taught us that we should "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." He prayed and *then* he threw over the moneychanger's tables. He cursed the fig tree, sent the swine to their death over the hill, etc. He said to his beloved disciple Peter, "get thee behind me Satan." Jesus' predominant activity was blessing, but from my reading of various scriptures and exegeses, he also did some cursing! The Bible records several instances when Jesus got angry. His anger was unselfish and short-lived, but there were times when he "let people have it." So, if you can move through Pradervand's book with that in mind, I do recommend it as a good read. It's stuffed full of inspiring messages and powerful anecdotes on the practical application of spiritual laws to restore peace and harmony to one's soul. I also highly recommend Peck's book, "People of The Lie," which is one of the best books I've ever read about dealing with evil people. Perhaps these two books should be read together.

As soon as I finished reading this book, I started reading it again. It impresses me as having the capacity to change one's life for the better - to think about others in a much more loving and forgiving way.

If you would like to learn to solve conflicts through forgiveness rather than through vengeance, if you would like to learn more about spiritual laws you can apply in daily life, get this book! As soon as I finished it, I thought of 3 friends who'd enjoy it and bought more copies.