I wanted to share a practice…

First I’ll give some context…

What becomes possible when we listen to ourselves and all that surrounds us? 

We come equipped to hear in many ways. We can hear the sound a hard rain makes in relation to what is there and we can hear sounds and voices within what feels to be the private spaces of our mind. If I asked you to think of the sound of a bell, hearing a church bell, school bell, or sleigh bells might come into your awareness. Most likely just by my asking you to think of the sound of a bell, you would notice the sound of some bell (a bicycle bell?) which would be heard. We can also hear ourselves speak; we can hear every word and/or sound that comes from our mouth. Hearing informs us. We navigate by way of extraordinary capacities to hear. 

Another extraordinary capacity with which we come equipped, is to become highly aware of thoughts which, in meditative and contemplative circles are said to move like clouds across the sky. 

Like sound, thought is a very real aspect of reality. We can know it—not only it's contents—but its shape, intensity, movement and so on. Thoughts can come with sound. Because we can know the movement of thoughts (as sound, or otherwise), this suggests that there is more to be known outside of them, beyond them, which could also potentially inform us, making how we navigate life an experience with greater grace and ease. That’s what happens when we gain more information. Information supports actions.

When we can learn to be aware of an aspect of reality that we hadn’t noticed, we become informed. We aren’t missing out on potential information that could make the way easier because there is no ignorance of reality. If no one ever told you to watch the thinking that moves across your inner TV screen, or to listen to what you hear between your ears, or feel within your skin, and/or bones, or to notice what is tasted, or smelled, you could be missing useful, accessible information—its content to experiencing its movement—which could make a world of difference in what you experience.

So…the practice is to start playing around with listening to yourself—thoroughly—from all directions. Listen to how you respond to the wind, to what your colleague is saying, to the tunes you may all of a sudden hum, or voice that is heard, or thoughts that become known, or a voice in your community outside your front door. Just listen. Then send me an email about what you discovered. (dlichtstrahl@gmail.com.)