The Sacred Art of Listening: Forty Reflections for Cultivating a Spiritual Practice
by Kay Lindahl

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Book Reviews of The Sacred Art of Listening: Forty Reflections for Cultivating a Spiritual Practice

Book Review: Listening for growth and balance
Summary: 5 Stars

Listening then is one of the key factors to positive, healthy relationships with others, yourself, your God, nature or whatever you want to have a relationship with. True listening requires practice. It requires slowing down and not responding immediately to a question but stopping to listen to how you really feel about the question. It requires a recognition that silence is just as important a part of a conversation as is speaking.

"The Sacred Art of Listening" contains forty meditative reflections about listening. For those who meditate deeper or better with an anchor on which to focus, each reflection has a mandala illustration on which to focus.

The author states that there are basically three qualities of deep listening. First is the recognition that silence is important. You can't listen if you are talking, even if you are talking inside your own head and planning what you will do later that day. The second quality is reflection. To listen well you have to reflect on what was said and what it means. What are the nuances of what was said? Was what was said the same as what was meant? The third quality is presence. You cannot listen well if you are not there. If your mind is somewhere else you are not present and therefore are not listening well.

Listening needs to be a part of a person's life if they are to have deep, meaningful relationships. The book is an easy read with well thought out reflections that are concise (two pages each) and yet insightful. A recommended read.

Summary of The Sacred Art of Listening: Forty Reflections for Cultivating a Spiritual Practice

The Sacred Art of Listening guides you through forty practices of deep listeningÂ?to our Source, to ourselves, and to each other.

"Learning how to listen to and speak with each other are essential skills for creating relationships that lead to mutual respect, dialogue, understanding, and peace. As I explore a spiritual approach to listening, my understanding of what it actually means to listen continues to expand. Listening encompasses much more than words. Listening is a way of being in the world. These reflections speak from that voice." Â?from Part One

Inspiring text and contemplative artwork combine to communicate the three essential qualities of deep listeningÂ?silence, reflection, and presence. They demonstrate that the key to healthy relationships and spiritual transformation can be as basic as practicing the art of listening.

You will learn how to:

--Speak clearly from the heart

--Communicate with courage and compassion

--Heighten your awareness and sensitivity to opportunities for deep listening

Enhance your ability to listen to people with different belief systems

Comparative Religion Books

• Subjects > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Comparative Religion
• Spirituality