“Master Donkey, how do I learn the art of listening?”

I bowed before the donkey, and said:

“Master Donkey! I desperately seek your help. I look around and I only hear noise. I have come to realize that everyone in this world is always shouting or whining about their problems.

Why no one ever wants to listen even for once?

As I look around myself, I fail to find one human being who is listening to what others want to say. As I am disturbed by this pathetic state of the world, then I look at you — and my heart finds the treasure it was looking for.

You are the only one who is always calm, silent and unfazed by all that is happening around you. You are the one who has truly mastered “The art of listening”. I bow before thee, and want to make you as my master. Please impart your wisdom to me so that I can be as good a listener as you.

The donkey showed absolutely no interest in whatsoever I was saying. Yet my desperation made me persist. Sensing that I would not leave him alone, the donkey looked at me and said in a very feeble voice:

Since you persist, I will share with you three principles of listening.

And so “Master Donkey” began to share his wisdom, and I could already see a halo around his long grey head.

I. Listen with the intent to hear, and not with the intent to retaliate

When I listen, I listen wholeheartedly.

A good listener is always patient. He does not jump in on the conversation and lets the other person finish what he/she wishes to convey. If someone is taking efforts to share something with you, the person deserves our attention.

As much as possible, one should remain silent when someone else is speaking.

Listen with your mouth closed and your heart open.— Christine Toda

II. Listen with tolerance —and not with the intention to judge

Everyone in this world has struggles that are not visible at face value. When someone is sharing them with us in strict confidence, it is an opportunity for us to learn what is going through their mind.

Besides, in all our conversations, we should be tolerant towards others and should not judge them.

“Listen with ears of tolerance! See through the eyes of compassion! Speak with the language of love”.

III. Learn to listen to your inner self first

One should learn to listen to his own’s soul. Knowing more about your own self and your own sufferings will impart you wisdom, and give you patience. This will help you in understanding the problems others are facing.

As per words of Paulo Coelho, all our wisdom is the result of listening to one’s own self. Similarly, listening to our inner self can also eliminate all our sufferings.

Listening to and understanding our inner sufferings will resolve most of the problems we encounter. — Thich Nhat Hanh

Having said this “Master Donkey” stopped speaking. As I was still amazed by this newly gained wisdom and ruminating on it, Master Donkey stood up and walked away. The halo around his long gray head also disappeared.

May be I do overthink sometimes. Master or not, it is a donkey after all.

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 — If you like reading animal stories, please refer to this list “Fables”.
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