Listen First. . .
When someone speaks, our minds often race ahead. We plan our response, craft our defense, or prepare to share our own story. In truth, most of us listen to reply rather than to understand.
Buddhism offers us another way: listening without the need to respond. This kind of listening requires presence, patience, and humility. It asks us to step aside from our ego’s desire to be heard and instead give the other person our full attention.
True listening is an act of compassion. It creates a space where another being feels safe, valued, and respected. We don’t have to agree, solve, or fix. We simply bear witness. In that quiet presence, healing often begins.
Practicing this is not easy. Silence can feel uncomfortable, and our egos often itch to insert themselves. But when we rest in awareness, we begin to notice not just the words being spoken but the feelings beneath them. We hear not just with our ears, but with our hearts.
The Buddha encouraged mindfulness in speech, but also in silence. Both require awareness. When we listen without reply, we are cultivating patience, compassion, and understanding.
The next time someone speaks to you, pause. Breathe. Let go of the need to answer right away. In that space, you may discover that true communication is not about words—it is about presence.
Peace and Love, Jim
#listen #thedailybuddha #tdb
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