How To Listen

Are you listening, as most people do, in order to confirm what you already think? Or are you listening with an attitude of openness? Are you listening to learn something new? Are you listening without forming a response? That's what's important.

Transcript

If you are ready to listen,

Not to agree with what I'm saying,

That wouldn't be listening.

But it really doesn't matter whether you agree with what I'm saying or you don't.

Agreement and disagreement has to do with words and concepts and theories.

It doesn't have anything to do with truth.

Truth is never expressed in words.

Truth is cited suddenly as a result of a certain attitude.

And you could be disagreeing with me and you might cite the truth.

But it has to be an attitude of openness,

Of willingness to discover something new.

That's important.

Not you're agreeing with me or disagreeing with me.

After all,

Most of what I'm giving you is really theories.

No theory adequately covers reality.

Now,

All I can tell you is not the truth,

But the obstacles to the truth.

Those I can describe.

I cannot describe the truth.

No one can.

All I can give you is a description of your falsehoods so that you can drop them.

All I can do for you is to challenge your beliefs and your belief system that makes you unhappy.

To point out your errors.

All I can do for you is help you to unlearn.

That's what learning is all about,

Where spirituality is concerned.

Unlearning.

Unlearning almost everything you've been taught.

A willingness to unlearn.

Are you listening as most people do in order to find something that would confirm what they already think?

Observe your reactions.

Frequently you'll be startled or shocked or scandalized or irritated or annoyed or frustrated.

Or you'll be saying,

Yeah,

Great!

Are you listening for what will confirm what you already think?

Or are you listening in order to discover something new?

That's important.

Reviews

Love Anthony De Mellos teachings and yes Listening to learn something new must be the way forward for us all..I hope I can remember to do this always...

Listening to discover something new
….yes, I will make this my focus!!
Thank you!!

Listen for something that we dont know listen with open heart and open mind recieving the GUS great universal spirit come through the words you are hearing

It was great.
Thank you.

Un-learn, and listen to discover something new. Powerful.

Thank you 💕

Always beauty from Anthony de Mello 🙏💕🧘‍♀️

Wonderful explanations thanks.

Love him!

👏👏👏the best.

On point. Listening with an open heart and an open mind. Thank you.

Gold - now I’m going to listen to this again 🙏🥰🌻

On occasion I listen. Ha ha ha

Love these 😊💕🙏🏻🌷

How true.Namasté.

Crucial advice. Thank you so much for sharing this with us here. I see the light in you. 🤲🏻❤️🤲🏻

He's right on the money!

Thank you for this deeply insightful talk.

Namaste

Yes! A good reminder. Helped me appreciate a "difficult" conversation I had the other day.