The Art or HeArt of “Listening” Part I
This is Part I of a six part series of blog posts.
Listening is the most important skill that one can develop; but it is not a cognitive function as most believe. It is a function of the heart.
Listening is not an active, assertive state. It is not a state that judges, understands, or analyzes. It is simply a state of “being,” a state of silence, a state of openness, receptivity, and allowing. It is quiet and still and does not pay attention to words or appearances; instead it senses the “essence” of things. It looks into the Soul of people, experiences and all things. It is a state of simply being present and just “knowing.”
It is a surrender, a merging with, a communion; it is just being present with no agenda.
One of the gifts of learning to listen is to realize that there is no “other.” There is only One; and the only way to “listen” is to merge with or become a part of that which you are listening to. There is no other way to “listen.”
Otherwise, all you are doing is judging and analyzing with your mind, and, by doing so, you separate yourself out from what you are listening to and experience it as “other” when it is not “other.” This is what creates all the conflict within our selves and with “others” and also all the conflict in the world. We see things as “other.” But really, how can anything or anyone be “other”?
To be continued on 9 13 06