It taught him how to listen -- how to listen with a quiet heart and a waiting soul, open soul, without passion, without desire, without judgment, without opinion.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of listening deeply and empathetically, free from distractions and judgments.
Hermann Hesse's quote highlights the transformative power of attentive listening, suggesting that true understanding comes when we approach others with an open heart and mind. By letting go of personal biases, desires, and preconceptions, we can genuinely connect with the experiences and feelings of others, fostering deeper relationships and compassion.
In practice
In a workshop on communication skills, this quote can be shared to encourage deeper engagement among participants.
I shall no longer be instructed by the Yoga Veda or the Aharva Veda, or the ascetics, or any other doctrine whatsoever. I shall learn from myself, be a pupil of myself; I shall get to know myself, the mystery of Siddhartha." He looked around as if he were seeing the world for the first time.
That is where my dearest and brightest dreams have ranged β to hear for the duration of a heartbeat the universe and the totality of life in its mysterious, innate harmony.
I, also, would like to look and smile, sit and walk like that, so free, so worthy, so restrained, so candid, so childlike and mysterious. A man only looks and walks like that when he has conquered his Self. I also will conquer my Self.
You're quite right there," he said. "I have practiced abstinence myself for years, and had my time of fasting, too, but now I find myself once more beneath the sign of Aquarius, a dark and humid constellation.
I call that man awake who, with conscious knowledge and understanding, can perceive the deep unreasoning powers in his soul, his whole innermost strength, desire and weakness, and knows how to reckon with himself.
Despair is the result of each earnest attempt to go through life with virtue, justice and understanding, and to fulfill their requirements. Children live on one side of despair, the awakened on the other side.
What is grand is necessarily obscure to weak men. That which can be made explicit to the idiot is not worth my care.
It is not unprofessional to give free legal advice, but advertising that the first visit will be free is a bit like a fox telling chickens he will not bite them until they cross the threshold of the hen house.
The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain.
What you focus on grows, what you think about expands, and what you dwell upon determines your destiny.
There cannot be mental atrophy in any person who continues to observe, to remember what he observes, and to seek answers for his unceasing hows and whys about things.
If people did not sometimes do silly things, nothing intelligent would ever get done.
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