Deep Listening: Unlocking the Wisdom Within for Spiritual Connection

Deep listening. 

What does it mean? How do you do it? 

In yoga, the sutras talk about the senses as a source of distraction for the mind. My interpretation of this, is that the physical body, our physical reality, is a distraction from our true nature. Our physical being is the largest obstacle to connecting or re-connecting to our true self, or to our soul. 

The image this week comes from a reading and the message was listen deeply, intuitively. There is wisdom there. 

This week all the feels wanted to come forward. What I call the feel-see, feel-hear, feel-know. This is how I describe in the simplest terms, intuition. Seeing with feeling not your eyes from deep with in your mind or third eye. Hearing with feeling, not your physical ears. Knowing with feeling in your gut from deep within your core. 

Tesla has a famous quote that I love,  "If you want to know the secrets of the universe, think in terms of frequency, energy and vibration"

As my yoga studies progressed, I discovered that this was essentially what all the ancient texts were also saying. We are energetic electrical beings. We are vessels for electricity and energy flow. Acupuncture and Marma therapy - Ayurveda's answer to acupuncture, are based in this. 

I was reading an article the other day about how in modern healing we have eliminated an essential component of the human  health structure. Our energy. Ancient healing techniques like acupuncture, tribal medicine, Yoga/ Ayurveda all utilize the energy field (Qi, Prana, Life-force) as a huge element in determining one's health or balance. 

This idea of feel-see, feel-hear or feel-know, operates as an extension of that energy. These true senses or original senses, what I call them, are our umbilical cord to our soul, our soul's voice and journey in this life. 

Our chakras are access points to this abundant energy within. There is so much more to explore in terms of the capacity and force of our energy and its potential. Like the depths of the ocean that have yet to be discovered or explored. 

So why isn't it common? My belief is we are so entwined in the physical world as our absolute, that we miss the subtleties of the energetic world that we live in. Our egos are attached to our bodies. We hear, see, know through physical proof, so that is our answer. Period. No need for further explanation. 

I believe we intuitively know better. We intuitively seek something beyond the physical. As if we know we came with a internal gps for this life that is not physical. My interpretation is most, if not all, religions are attempts and connecting to this. 

The confusion of this life is the duality of our physical and spiritual selves finding union. And how to do it. 

In my experience the original feel senses are a gate way to this. And once we can feel-see, feel-hear, feel-know deeply and consistently that is where unity lies and confusion disappears. 

So how do you do that. Well, some techniques would say, start with the mind. Clear its chaos and detach from the physical world as a destination and accept it for what it is, a journey of your soul. 

"You are the sky the rest is just weather" Pema Chodron. I use this quote a lot when I teach and I love it because to me it is the clearest, simplest visual on how to "clear the mind". If "you" (or your mind or your soul) is the sky it is the content: unchanging, unwavering. The "weather" are: your thoughts, emotions, lifetimes, lessons. 

At this point in time there has been plenty of research on meditation and it's physical and emotional benefits. But how to do it can still baffling, overwhelming, just straight confusing, or dare I say even boring for some. 

According to the eight limbs of yoga there is a sequence to clearing the mind and removing it as an obstacle to utilize it as it was meant to be utilized as, a force for connection. Connection to others, to SELF and to the universe. The universal unity (yoga) This Ashtangha sequence begins with social and personal restraints or guidelines for personal growth. What I call yoga's 10 commandments. The Yamas and the Niyamas is where one begins. 

Yamas (social): #1 Ahimsa (non-violence) #2 Satya (Truthful) #3 Asteya (Non-stealing) #4 Bramacharya (chastity/ loyalty) #5 Aparigraha (non-posessiveness)

Niyamas (personal): #1 Saucha (purity) #2 Santosha (contentment) #3 Tapas (Self-discipline) #4 Svadhyaya (SELF reflection - SELF study) #5 Ishvarapranidhana (Contemplation on Unchanging reality/ "God")

These come before all else. Then the introduction to asana. Asana are postures to open the body so it is also not a distraction for the mind in meditation or "deep listening". After asana, the next focus is the breath, Pranayama. Cultivation of the life force energy in the atmosphere and nurishing the body's energy. Then Pratayhara (withdrawal of the senses) - removing the attachment of the mind from the physical world and it's attachment through the senses. Dharanaya (concentration) this is the precursor to meditation. The mind needs a job and it needs training. Like a pack of wild horses who needs to be tamed, trained to utilize the full capacity of their force. Once the mind is trained you can point the "wild horses" in the direction you want to go and they listen. Dhyana (meditation) according to my teacher and training that I received, this cannot be taught. It is an evolution of what happens once those "wild horses are trained". Most of what we call, and I have called meditation (common understanding) is actually concentration or Dharanya. Finally Samadhi (liberation). This liberation is of the duality, in my understanding. That the duality of this world, physical and spiritual become one. And all is deep listening. The vast wealth of knowledge from feel-see, feel-hear, feel-know is unimaginable and unlimited. 

This is just one path of many. As my teacher would say, "there are many ways up the mountain".

So how can you start with deep listening today? 

Practice stillness. 

Practice focusing on the mind and you as the sky and everything else as weather passing through. 

Practice trust when you feel something deep in your core. 

Practice faith that when you feel it, hear it, see it, it is a message from your soul. 

Practice courage to follow through when you get your answer. Instead of trying to shuffle the deck and pick another card. 

One minute a day. Five minutes a day. Ten. Just start. See where it takes you. I'd love to hear. 

Have a beautiful week. Big Buckets of Love, 

Meghan