Listening for a Change:

Listeners who dignify everyone, end wars

29 April 2013

"Our listening creates a sanctuary 

for the homeless parts within another person."  

-- Rachel Naomi Remen

"More than money, power, and even happiness,

silence has become the most precious -- and dwindling -- commodity

of our modern world."

-- George Prochnik

IN PURSUIT OF STILLNESS:

Listening for Meaning in a World of Noise (2010)

"Listening is an attitude of the heart, a genuine

desire to be with another which both attracts and heals."

-- J. Isham

"How do I listen to others? 

As if everyone were my Master speaking to me

His cherished last words."

-- Hafiz (1320-1389, Persia)

    Sufi Muslim mystic

"Listening is to relationships, what blood is to the body," is the universal experience of authentic, sustained Dialogue.
    Yet "we are losing our listening," says Julian Treasure, "our access to understanding" and to one another."

     The premium on accurate and careful listening has been replaced by one-way, personal broadcasting.
     Many people take refuge in headphones, when nobody's listening to anybody.

     Our media scream at us -- desensitized and impatient -- hearing only superficial sound bites that get our attention.
     It's harder for us to pay attention to the quiet, the subtle, the understated -- the people.

"Live to listen consciously in order to live fully," Julian Treasure suggests.
     Connected to people and everything around us.

How?
Intention is very important in listening.
     "When I married my wife, I promised her that I would listen to her every day as if for the first time.
     "Now that's something I fall short of on a daily basis.
     "But it's a great intention to have in a relationship."

5 ways to listen better

TED Talk -- Julian Treasure -- July 2011

http://www.ted.com/talks/julian_treasure_5_ways_to_listen_better.html

     Treasure prescribes  RASA -- Receive, Appreciate, Summarize, then Ask, to further explore the other person.
     He appeals to all of us:
     "Connect with each other.
     "Take this mission out."
"Let's get listening taught in schools."

"Transform the world in one generation.
     "To a conscious Listening world.
     "A world of connection, a world of understanding.
     "A world of peace."

~  ~ ~  ~ ~  ~

LISTENERS
in Ivory Coast, West Africa

During 2013 In Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa, a core team of brave, inspired citizen-activists have travelled through Ivory Coast to encourage listening among adversarial villagers and tribes.
     These healing successes are described at http://traubman.igc.org/vidnigeriaivorycoast.htm

LISTENERS
in Egypt, North Africa

     Egyptian citizens with diverse religions and world views are choosing to get off the streets and sit down together.
     They are learning to listen and to consider a common future with communication excellence.
     The author receives messages at Bassil.Vanessa@gmail.com

Youth are teaching dialogue skills in Cairo

by Vanessa Bassil

Common Ground News - 05 March 2013

http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=32735&lan=en

LISTENERS
in the Middle East

     Artisan-of-Listening Elad Vazana has touched thousands of lives in the Middle East.
As one dedicated citizen, he helps dignify everyone and give voice and ears to one another's personal narratives.

Arab - Jewish Leadership Workshop

Empowering the young leaders of today

A Multicultural Curriculum for Students with Special Needs

Life Stories and Live Music Events

Twenty-plus meetings of 20-100 participants allowing 1200 very diverse youth and adults to discover listening and one another

READ much more and SEE PHOTOS at http://www.havayati.co.il/database/database/Elad_Vazana_Activities_Report_2012a.doc
Elad receives e-mail at EladVazana@gmail.com


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These and hundreds of other success stories are preserved at http://traubman.igc.org/messages.htm