The Listening Soul

Spiritual seekers are always listening to hear what is crucial to know beyond the mere sensory world. However, we also try to sharpen our ordinary senses to see all that there is to see; to hear every audible sound; to feel the slightest touch; and to taste and smell the wondrous scents around us. These too inform our souls.

But ultimately, to survive and grow spiritually we need to “hear” what is beyond ordinary hearing or seeing. The hardest challenge of our lives is knowing how to live, knowing what to do, and what we should avoid. How can we possibly distinguish the right course, among the countless influences and suggestions within ourselves and beyond us? How can we find a reliable way in such a perplexing world?

Since ancient times we have been told that if we “listen” intently enough, we can acquire special wisdom to guide our path. Sometimes this has been described as extra “sight” or “vision”. Some have even described a metaphorical “third eye” in our forehead. But what we are discussing here goes beyond any physical hearing or seeing, or any of our other senses, as important as they are.

The difficulty with a spiritual quest is the lack of adequate vocabulary to describe this invisible realm. We readily acknowledge the reality of taste or smell, although finding an adequate vocabulary to express what we have tasted to someone who has not tasted that substance is agonizingly difficult.

To illustrate this dilemma, look at the story of Helen Keller who lived in the 19^th century without being able to hear, see or speak. She lacked these ordinary senses completely since a childhood illness destroyed them at age two. Yet, with the help of an astute teacher, she was ultimately able to learn language, to speak, and even to write some best-selling books. She attended Radcliffe College, part of Harvard University. Mark Twain said that she along with Napoleon was one of the two most extraordinary people of her century.

We are all like Helen when it comes to learning about the spiritual world. However frustrating it is, trying to understand what seems almost incommunicable, the alternative of not “seeing” is unquestionably worse. Like Helen, we may be tempted to rage at the undecipherable nature of this hidden realm, trying to find language and concepts beyond all our ordinary senses.

And yet, this is exactly what every spiritual seeker has done throughout the ages. They may benefit from books and astute teachers, hopefully, but it is still a tremendous challenge. Often we give up, and decide we just want to enjoy normal existence. But then something brings us back to the challenge.

Life is full of unknowables if we face it without spiritual discernment. How can we tell good people from bad? How do we decide on difficult ethical and moral questions when there is so much unhelpful and conflicting advice? How do we know when we are getting it right?

Finally, how do we ever mature spiritually, so that we can stand on our own feet without constant dependence on teachers, however helpful they may be? This requires learning new ways of “hearing” and “seeing”.

The rewards for “listening” are ultimately life-changing, although at first they might seem unattainable. Guides are needed, but they are not enough alone. We need the ability to distinguish between false guides and reliable ones, between those who are only a few steps ahead and those who are mature. Even that requires listening and discernment.

This is a difficult challenge for us. However, walking in spiritual darkness, like the darkness and silence which Helen Keller had experienced, is even more frustrating.

We need spiritual perception to navigate the fog of life. Our friends and family will get sick or die. We will face dangers and challenges of every kind throughout our days. We need to decide where to live, whom to marry, what career to take and many more questions. These questions will all benefit from direct spiritual knowledge.

I encourage you to open the “ears” of your soul to hear. Begin this spiritual journey!