ART OF LISTENING

ABSTRACT

"The Art of Listening" explores our ability to listen deeply and compassionately. In the modern world this is not a skill that is encouraged. We rarely listen, and others do not listen to us, mostly because we have not been taught how to do so. The necessary training lies through finding calm and stillness within, so that we can listen to the other rather than to our preconceived judgements. When we are fully present and listen to the other, especially our children, our energy can transform them and heal their deep hurts and neglect. We learn about full presence through meditation, which is the practice of being with our true nature. Then it becomes easy to fully be with others. The Fourth Precept of the Buddha about deep listening and compassionate speech provides a guideline. It directs us to examine our positive and negative seeds of experience, and encourages us to water the seeds of self-awareness, compassion and mindfulness that are there within us. That is the practice that enables us to become internally strong.