Do I hear, respond or listen?

” Pay attention, you are not listening but hearing”, remember how our teacher used to scold us when we gave a weird answer in the class. Well, it dint make any sense at that carefree time. But now, this very difference between hearing and listening can cost me a job or even a relationship. But have I ever sat back and contemplated, do I hear, respond or listen to others?

Image source: http://tx.english-ch.com

Hearing is defined as the “faculty of perceiving sounds”. A child watching TV might be hearing you, but doesn’t care to nod his head in acceptance or denial, more so if you are telling him to switch off the TV. But do we adults also do that? I guess giving a deaf ear to child’s complain, wife’s nagging or boss’s bragging is a good excuse to stay calm. But many a times, we are so lost in our thoughts that we are physically present but mentally absent during a discussion. No wonders our mind can travel faster than light! Here comes the significance of living in the present. All those who have read Bhagvad Gita can relate ‘hearing” to Mode of ignorance or tamsik guna.

Responding is one step forward because here you are hearing and responding too, but what? Your point of view of that discussion. But what is wrong in that? It’s the same difference between sympathy and empathy. When we see the world with tinted glasses of our preconceived notions, more precisely “what we think is right” rather than “what is right”, then we respond and not listen. No doubt responding is defined as “saying something in reply”.  This is the characteristic of mode of Passion or rajasik guna according to the Bhagvad Gita.

On the other hand, listening is defined as “taking notice of and act on what someone says; respond to advice or a request.” If we look at literal meaning, responding and listening is similar, but we see it from spiritual point of view listening signifies “empathy” and hearing means ”sympathy”. Listening comes from keeping our pre-conceived notions aside and giving the advice based on righteousness, dharma and for the greater good. Listening is characteristic of mode of goodness or satvik guna.

As we trod this path of spiritualism that culminates in Dharma or righteousness; lamentation becomes but a thing of past and anxiety of future has no entry and the present moment takes the forefront. There is complete synchronization of mind, intellect and action that too in direction of Dharma. Then where lies the home of hearing or responding in such state? Isn’t this journey from hearing to listening, a journey to spiritual abode?

Acknowledgement: I express my heartfelt gratitude to the group of enlightened souls called Golok Express and group of Mahatmas called Jivanmuktas,  for bestowing me with the knowledge that I could write this article. Many thanks to the LORD for choosing me as an instrument to spread this knowledge.

Disclaimer- This blog does not promote any religion, faith or sectarian thought. This blog is platform for sharing my journey to spiritualism. I apologize if any of the thought expressed in this blog is against any religious faith or belief.

My husband does not care, but do you?

Once upon a time there was a man who thought that life is but hopeless; all the relations are but mean and no one understand his feelings. He really wished that his family could think the way he thought -his wife could understand how tired he was until he reached back home, his children should just stay clear of him and he should get the best possible dinner right infront of his favorite TV show with literally zero disturbance.

photograph from Google images

Once upon a time, there was a woman who thought that life was but hopeless; all the family members had demands but none of them ever cared for her. She really wished her family could think the way she thought- her husband should listen to the story of day when he returns home and empathize with her plight, she wished she could stay atleast an hour clear from the kids or house work, she wished some day family could have dinner together without the disturbance of TV.

But the sad part of the story is that this man and woman lived under same roof shared the most intimate relation called marriage, but unfortunately did not share their expectations from each other in the right way.

One day the wife happens to be part of a spiritual talk at friends home and gets stuck with the phrase “Fake it till you make it!”

She spent hours contemplating “what to fake?” and “what to make? “Her imagination had no bounds, her heart filled with joy when she thought of “making” a family that she always wished for! But next moment sadness overcame her when she realized “My husband really tolls hard full day, for what and for whom? What he gets when he comes back; constant complain and nagging? Why will he listen to my story? Better to watch TV right?”

But her ego was not ready to take that she was at fault too. She thought let me fake it that I am at fault, and do you know what she did next day?

She served the best possible dinner to her husband right infront of TV but with love and care. Husband as if missing the complains of the day asks her “how was your day?” Wife “It was very good, I did bla bla bla… . I know you must be tired after all that work, you definitely need rest“ Husband even more surprised switches off the TV and a healthy conversation starts.

Many a times we can realize that we are wrong, BUT the EGO does not let us apologize and make a new start. There come the power of “fake it till you make it”

Acknowledgement: I express my heartfelt gratitude to the group of enlightened souls called Golok Express and group of Mahatmas called Jivanmuktas,  for bestowing me with the knowledge that I could write this article. Many thanks to the LORD for choosing me as an instrument to spread this knowledge.

Disclaimer- This blog does not promote any religion, faith or sectarian thought. This blog is platform for sharing my journey to spiritualism. I apologize if any of the thought expressed in this blog is against any religious faith or belief.