Listening
Listening (Skt: श्रवण) is the first phase of acquiring knowledge on the path of knowledge.
The student approaches a teacher and listens carefully to the teachings. The attitude while listening must be that of complete attention, interest and open minded skepticism.
Open mindedness ensures that one listens the teacher without resistance of any kind, and skepticism ensures that one does not blindly believe whatever was said.
Listening is effective when the student possesses most, if not all, of the qualities needed on the path of knowledge.
The next two phases that follow listening are - contemplation and abidance.
Forms of Listening
Listening can occur in various forms.
Oral Teachings
This is the most common form. One to one meetings with the teacher are best. But it can be a lecture delivered to a group of students. This can also happen physically, or over a phone or an online meeting etc.
Books
Written word is a form of listening. The books speak the words of a teacher.
Media
The teachings can be delivered via audio or video media also. And that is listening.
Indirect
In many cases, a student can hear the teaching indirectly from someone else. Like, when discussing or gossiping about this or that teacher or during some philosophical discussion etc. This may arose his curiosity and he may decide to approach that teacher for actual listening.
Music, Songs and Stories
That is listening. Many teachings exist in these forms. It makes them interesting and entertaining. Songs and stories are also very easy to memorise. Children like them a lot.
Obstacles in Listening
Although it sounds very simple, a student can face problems while listening, especially to spiritual talk.
Lack of Interest
If there is no interest, one cannot listen, especially for long hours. The student will not retain most of the teaching, if there is no interest. A teacher tests the interest of a student in many ways, before he decides to invest time on that student.
Lack of Attention
A short attention span means that the mind will wander off while listening. One can have bad attention due to disinterest, or probably the teachings are not captivating.
Unfulfilled Desires
If there are unfulfilled desires, and if they are too strong and too many, one gets distracted often while listening because of these impulses. The attention goes towards these desires. Sometimes the student will simply avoid the teachings and run after the desires. This is seen as a lack of interest. The student usually does not retain anything.
Indoctrination
Sometimes the indoctrination is so strong that even the slightest mismatch of opinions and even a slight opposition towards the held beliefs causes one to simply not listen. Here the student is not really looking for knowledge, is not open minded, he is looking for confirmation of his blind beliefs. This problem is faced by people with strong religious beliefs, or those who are highly educated and brainwashed.
Resistances
There are deeply buried resistances that surface up as soon as the teacher starts speaking. These can be seen or unseen. For example, if there is some deep fear of death, and if the teacher is talking about death, the student will find it difficult to listen to. It is not only that they do not want it, or that they do not understand it, they will not be actually able to hear it. The mind blocks the hearing apparatus.
In such cases the student is found to avoid the teachings of a certain kind, although he seems to be very interested and brilliant.
Half Knowledge
A student who thinks he knows everything already, or knows much more than the teacher himself, will not bother to listen to the teachings. There is an attitude of hubris and superiority complex.
Prejudice
Some people are highly prejudiced and refuse to listen to a specific teacher, or to someone belonging to the "other" community, caste or race.
Language
There can be language barriers. Some students are very specific about the accent. They reject any other language that is not their own.
Sometimes the language is difficult, as it will be surely philosophical in nature, and so one finds it difficult to grasp.
Terminology
Every teacher has his own terminology. When a student comes from a different tradition, or has already learnt or listened to some other teacher, he will face a difficulty in understanding words. In such cases, it is best to clear up the terminology before investing your time.
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