Listening may seem like a simple, everyday task, but as Samael Aun Weor points out, truly rare are those who know how to listen.
The act of hearing, in its deeper and psychological sense, goes far beyond capturing sounds or words. To truly understand what is being said, it is necessary to be fully present, conscious of oneself, and open to what surrounds us. In this context, the great Gnostic master challenges us to reflect on the state of our own consciousness and warns us of the difficulty in listening in a true manner.
Samael Aun Weor teaches us that, in many cases, people are physically present, but their consciousness is wandering in other directions. When someone says they listened, but were not transformed by the words, it could be a clear sign that their consciousness is asleep. In this state, whatever is heard is immediately filtered through the ego, pre-existing concepts, and mental constructs. Instead of absorbing the message in its pure form, the mind translates and interprets everything according to its own criteria, preventing true listening. Thus, the ego becomes an obstacle to genuinely connecting with the word, whether external or internal.
But how can we learn to listen in a true manner? The master emphasizes that in order to do so, it is necessary to awaken consciousness. A sleeping mind cannot perceive the depth of a message because it is absent, in a psychological place far away. When we are distant from ourselves, how can we hear what is being said? Samael questions us: Are you sure you are truly present right now? Reflecting on this question, we can realize how our minds often travel to other places, to scattered thoughts and internal distractions.
Moreover, the human mind, full of vanity, pride, and fixed concepts, also resists true listening. Often, we are so filled with our own ideas and theories that we do not leave space for the word to penetrate. Just as in the story of the birth of Jesus, where there was no room in the inn, our inner inn is often full, with no space for the new, for transformation. The ego, with its beliefs and certainties, occupies all the space, making it impossible for the true word—one that comes from above—to enter our being.
Samael Aun Weor suggests that we must keep our bowl turned upward, ready to receive spiritual nourishment. When we are full of ourselves, with our minds saturated with concepts and theories, the bowl is turned downward, and nothing can enter. True listening requires that we acknowledge our own inner misery, the emptiness of the ego, so that we can create space for the new. Only when we are willing to abandon our certainties and put ourselves in a receptive posture can the word penetrate deeply into our being.
Another important point raised by the master is the analogy with the temptation of Jesus in the desert. Satan offers him the kingdoms of the world, trying to make him bow to worldly pleasures, that is, to divert his attention to the external world. But Jesus did not succumb to the temptation because he was vigilant, with the bowl turned upward, waiting to receive the inner word. His listening was deep because he was always present, attentive to what came from within.
Similarly, to develop the ability to listen psychologically, we must be in a constant state of attention and vigilance. True listening requires constant presence, a remembrance of oneself, and the relaxation of the body. The body is often tense and anxious, preventing us from being truly present. Thus, Samael Aun Weor teaches us that we must learn to relax and continually remember who we are so that we do not get lost in distractions.
Finally, the master invites us to reflect on our own capacity to listen. We may be physically present, but mentally, we may be wandering elsewhere, stuck in the past, the future, or our own ego. True listening requires that we be at home, in tune with our own being, and this is continuous work. Only when we manage to be present in our own inner house will we be able to listen in a true and receptive way, making room for the transformation that the word can bring.
Thus, true listening, psychological listening, is an art that demands discipline, vigilance, and above all, a continuous awakening of consciousness. Only when we manage to be present in our own inner house will we be able to listen in a true and receptive way, opening space for the transformation that the word can bring.
