[In a recent pod, we reflected on Four Types of Listening, and below is what came to mind for me.]

I am not sure I have ever experienced the fourth stage of stage of generative listening, as I seem to be mostly in the first two stages and sometimes in the third. But two experiences come to mind, and they both involve language (or rather, not knowing the language).

In one, an elderly gentleman whom I'd see every week at the soup kitchen just wanted to stay and chat with me in Spanish. He had a lot to say and it seemed really important that I bear witness to his torrent of expression. I understood almost nothing of what he said, but I felt the immense grace of being with him in that moment. Once I realized that it didn't matter if I understood his words, something lifted away from me and I was more fully present with my heart and I felt that he sensed that as well. For those ten minutes it was as if his words were showering me with blessings and my presence was holding sacred space for the outpouring of his being. We both smiled (I had tears in my eyes too) and hugged and he went on his way.

Another similar experience occurred years before that when I volunteered with the Special Olympics World Games in Connecticut. Working with kids from all over India, one day I had the pleasure of accompanying a young swimmer from Kerala. Her excitement and joy were finding expression in her native language (of which I recognized a few words here and there, but again did not understand fully) and she regaled me with such tales of hilarity that I smiled and laughed along with her and was heart-fully present with her for the entirety of her stay.


1995 Special Olympics Summer World Games

Both of these experiences were enabled by "letting go" of needing to know exactly what the words meant, and instead letting my heart feel the heart of the other person. I now realize that both of those experiences were embodiments of grace and that being open and heart-centered allowed me to "hear between the words".

Such encounters remind me that by being fully present in a heartful way, without any agenda, much deeper listening is indeed possible.