Counting Blessings

To increase our blessings we need to recognize blessings, cherish blessings, nurture blessings, and sow the seeds of blessings.
Master Sheng Yen

When I am first reading this adage by Master Sheng Yen, I begin to wonder, what does he mean by increasing blessings? What are blessings, exactly? When we talk about "counting your blessings" there is almost an implication of luck embedded there, as though one is blessed by a benevolent power that grants people special favors based on their behavior. It's interesting that Master Sheng Yen first mentions "recognizing blessings", and this is an important point. Many people might be blessed with things that they simply don't realize because it hasn't been made conscious. I have found that when I am writing (just as I am now, for instance), I am finding more reasons to be blessed than, say, letting my thoughts wander. It could be because being able to write something down entails much more focus and an ability to put down scattered thoughts, which makes the thinking process smoother and more disciplined. I believe that there is something to be said for the process of writing and how it's a meditative process in itself, encouraging the mind to be more focused. And this is bound to make a person more observant as well---hence, the ability to recognize blessings which goes with that.
   Cherishing blessings is naturally coming out of recognizing one's blessings. This makes sense, since without a sincere recognition of what we are blessed with (and grateful for), there  is not that much to cherish. And on top of this is the need to nurture blessings, since blessings are not just one-time; they can be grown, just the same way as a person grows a plant or nurtures a seed.
   Finally, "sowing the seeds of blessings" is essentially about spreading blessings to others. I think that this is none other than paying something forward, out of a sense of gratitude. 
   One thing that isn't stated in this passage is the role of receiving a blessing fully; knowing that a blessing is good requires some acknowledgement of it, a kind of ability to really admire it and appreciate it. This is hard to do in a fast paced society, and I find it helpful to consciously think about one's blessings in a deliberate way rather than jumping directly to sowing the seeds of blessings. And did anyone notice that Master Sheng Yen's four steps of increasing blessings is analogous to the four means of dealing with problems?

Recognize = face
Cherish = accept
Nurture = deal with
Sow = Let go

http://www.dharmadrum.org/content/about/about2.aspx?sn=46