Whispering Wednesday

Hari OM

I sit and listen, 

Then listen more.

A whispering sound,

like waves on shore;

is there a voice

'neath the trickle and hiss?

Let me listen harder

so I do not miss...

श्रवनम् (shravanam)

Mentioned last Thursday, let us think a little more about the import of listening with full attention and intent. Most specifically, it is to listen to the teachings of the shruti in such a manner as to not only hear the words but to lodge them into our intellect and to have an impression gained of their value to us in our daily lives.

The same is useful in any situation of learning. Be it a lecture at school or university, a discussion in a public forum, a conference for our work or business. 

Almost certainly you can recall times you have attended any such gathering and left wondering what it was you heard, having difficulty conveying it to others. This is because your mind wandered during it, or (what? no!) dozed off for a few moments... If, though, you have attended with full shravanam, you will not only recall what was said but may already have been able to sort it into useful 'bites' and perhaps categorised different parts of the discourse into sections that can be looked at in different ways at different times as you move forward with the new-found information.

This means that not only have you heard, but you have received. This is the essence of shravanam.