Listening

The OSHO International course I joined on 10/23/2024, titled Reminding Yourself of the Forgotten Language of Talking to Your BodyMind, The complete description is in the link.... if the link still works. Curious that this November course includes optional facilitator training. I am always first thinking how to give away everything that I learn. I have come to notice these are frequently the first thoughts I observe when sitting... "how could I facilitate a course to give away this wonderful experience to others?" I get to let that go and consider how I may absorb the experience myself and not be so easily distracted! I digress... 

The course is structured, entirely online through Zoom, and involves minimal verbal interaction. There's a warm welcome and clear guidance, but unlike the more interactive No Mind class, this one encourages a quiet, inward focus. A "mild" trance state is recommended, with no need for conscious thought, analysis, or note-taking—just a connection with the inner realms. The feeling is mysteriously serene, urging stillness and a reawakening to this "forgotten language." My main takeaway from the first session was unmistakably clear: "LISTEN." When I later created art, I added the wry reminder, "JUST shut up and LISTEN."

What does it mean to truly listen? For me, it requires suspending distracting, often unhelpful thoughts—judgment, expectations, and especially the reflex to analyze or defend my perspective. True listening invites honesty, openness, and a willingness to stay present despite these distractions. It’s challenging, as both internal voices and physical, environmental aspects conspire to derail the focus. Still, each return to the subject of the listening deepens the practice, making this practice a transformative process.

The command to "listen" may seem simple but not easy. Yet it’s anything but simple. It encapsulates complex layers of spiritual, mental, and physical insight, shaping an intention that could serve as a core principle throughout life. Much like Love, Power, or Responsibility, it’s fundamental to balance of genuine compassion and self-expression. Do you hear the creative muse? The guiding parent? The subtle messages from your own body?

Our facilitator reads from a script during the 50-minute sessions, rich in language that prompts breakthrough perspectives. Each body part seems to have its own way of communicating—through images, feelings, memories, and even words. To interpret these subtle cues requires discernment and a gentle patience. I get the impression that the body is shy, like a meek animal hidden in the woods. You must sit in the clearing for hours just to catch a glimpse. I hope this is not the case. I have patience, but not that much patience. 
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As I settle into each session, I feel the boundaries of my awareness shifting, growing more sensitive to the body’s signals. It’s like tuning into a low-frequency radio station that becomes clearer as I let go of distractions. I am, for the first time, learning to “hear” my body speak in a language uniquely its own. What it offers in terms of insight is astounding and humbling.

Reflecting on the course so far, I feel this practice could go well beyond the meditation sessions. This understanding of deep listening could influence my life in subtle but powerful ways. I find myself more attuned to my body in daily moments, like a quiet undercurrent of awareness. This awareness touches my relationships, too, encouraging me to listen without immediately thinking of my response or opinion.

Already, I’m sensing shifts in how I approach daily interactions. By simply listening—without jumping to conclusions, judgments, or responses—I find a new ease in connecting with others. Conversations feel less pressured, more fluid, as I allow my own silence to create space for what truly needs to be expressed. This shift in focus is affecting how I handle challenges as well; by first tuning into the body’s response to a stressful moment or difficult news, I feel more grounded and centered, better equipped to respond rather than react.

I also sense this approach deepening my creativity. There’s a curious interplay between listening and creating: by silencing the mind, I’m better able to hear intuitive nudges and ideas that seem to emerge from within. Rather than “trying” to create, I feel as though I’m receiving insights from a quieter, more authentic place. This practice is beginning to feel like an essential ingredient in accessing a deeper layer of creativity, one that feels effortless and profoundly connected.

I’m eager to continue this journey, to discover the language of my own body, and perhaps even cultivate a new way of being—a kind of openness that transcends traditional listening. This is listening as an act of reverence, a way to honor my body, emotions, and inner self. The urge to “teach” or facilitate remains, but it now feels less like an obligation and more like an inevitable outcome of living this new awareness. I can’t yet say what the full impact of this practice will be, but I’m excited to find out.
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Stay tuned—I’m listening.