Listening with undivided attention
The fifth component of spiritual health is unconditional love and the cardinal sin # 5 is conditional love and indifference. The spiritual practice to mitigate conditional love and indifference is listening with undivided attention.
Who would think that listening with undivided attention is a spiritual practice? It seems so pedestrian and easy. Try it especially when the person is saying things that are upsetting.
Giving people our attention nonjudgmentally and just listening is the most precious gift in the world. It takes much self discipline and restraint and forbearance. Peace Pilgrim said “I look for the Divine Spark in every person and focus on that.” Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote seven principles the first of which is the inherent worth and dignity of every person. The best way of living this principle is to develop the art and habit of listening to people with your undivided attention.
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