Total Listening | Ajahn Brahm | 29 Jun 2012

We may be good talkers but not necessarily willing listeners. Alternatively, we may be good listeners but not necessarily good hearers as we are preoccupied with our own inner chatter. On occasions, when we do hear, we have the tendency to filter what we hear.
In contrast, 'total listening', refers to listening with mindfulness, attentiveness, compassion, kindness and all in silence. 'Total listening' is also about listening to our body, our mind and most of all, listening to life.
According to Ajahn Brahm, to love is to listen deeply. He encourages us to respect the power of silence and to develop the art of total listening.

[@7lilly5]

I believe listening to Ajahn is like meditation as well. He is very calming to my heart. And I to have found it is wonderful to fall asleep to his gentle words and soothing voice.

[@indirakah]

One of the best talks I have heard which gave me a wake up call. I need to practice this..

[@MrFrost227]

I don't know why but listening to Ajahn Brahm really really does something for me. It makes me feel good. At ease.

[@alex630710]

Is it possible that listening to Ajahn Brahm would be a bit like meditating ? I feel much calmer and I ll bet my heart rate is much slower than usual. Sometimes I take a nap listening to Ajahn Brahm letting his speech simmer in my subconscious. I am so glad to have found his speeches.

[@TheGreeny38]

Great talk. It amazes me how many times a problem or a thing i'm thinking of happens to be in one of these talks. Many thanks.

[@StayingCrafty]

I found this to be especially beneficial. I have talked a lot for as long as I can remember. I often feel like I must be constantly DOING something. Not only did this talk help me reflect on how I can calm my inner voice so I can be a better listener, but it also helped me to understand my husband better. After I ask him a question about something he frequently takes several minutes to answer. Now it makes sense to me that he was just listening the whole time without preparing an answer.

[@user-gj4hn1hl2q]

You are an extremely unattractive female. Possibly a jew. Since you have bad karma, it is good you listen to Ajahn Brahms talks.

[@pinocchiothepuppet]

Recently, I froze during a talk I agreed to give at work in front of coworkers. My blood pressure shot up and I completely shut down. My boss had to take over. I ended up going to the emergency room I felt so bad. It is a new problem of panic attacks in the last six months or so keeping me from expressing myself like I used to. No doubt it can be called a phobia or anxiety sprung from fear or safety issues. I believe I can listen brilliantly though & safety has far less to do with listening imo

[@muditavirya4429]

It's absolutely making my life is Great....Thanks....

[@NDisCo0l]

really thanks a lot for the videos. i really learn a lot from each video.

[@jabeydeera]

Silence is gold & silence speaks loudest & You can use silence very effective way. I like the people who maintain silence. Pythagoras imposed a strict rule of silence on his disciples, but unfortunately I'm not. Because of my less-tamed mouth I was in a lot of troubles.

[@TobbesTV]

I love these videos :)

[@vipinkdubey]

Thank you !

[@Leibinz]

Really good talk about an interesting topic.

[@suncream]

please also post HD versions of future videos if possible. thank you

[@chishenchong5431]

It is the closing salutation to the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.

[@KaratekaLi]

Oh yes this is really something I have to learn. Not to speak to much, neither with my mouth nor in my mind. BTW Can anybody tell me what Ajahn chants at the end of every talk?

[@akhil2581]

may everyone benefit from these talks ...may people philosophize and analyze less and listen more..it really appears that person who asked last question was analyzing more rather than listening,rude tone also..western education does make people more critical ..may they be helped..

[@Canuto88]

Listening to life.

[@akhil2581]

that's totally true...India is one of few country's probably where everyone has fake faces over them showing how educated,cultured and proud they are of modern India,its constitution and Indian culture...but these are the people least bothered about India,its masses,politics,poverty and even culture..every westerner must be knowing and interested much more in Indian culture esp. its esoteric aspects than any pseudo intellectual Indian with degrees and snatched away foreign jobs into their hands.

[@jimibeckert]

I can't just sit still and listen. Look here I'm doing a message.

[@1001orpheus]

What does it mean?

[@ornivb]

...intj

[@WalterTonetto]

Akhilendra, yes, less analysis ... but it's not just a Western thing anymore ...look at the class-conscious structures in India ... that's so full of judgment and vexed by 'analysis'