Many years ago I heard a phrase that has stayed with me and the phrase is the ear of the

heart, listening with the ear of the heart. And it's St. Benedict. And what I wanted to do in this

gathering tonight is to explore what that really means. I mean, what would it mean if we move

through our life and we're able to pause and be with each other and listen with the ear of the

heart, what would happen. And I'll do it by taking three basic pieces that feel essential if

we're to awaken the ear of the heart. And the first is a quality of purposefulness that we know

this matters, that we're intentional about listening, deep listening, about the sacred art of

listening. That's the first. The second is a commitment to cultivating this kind of presence

that is, and I hope that you felt it a little with the guided meditation, profoundly receptive,

not trying to control, really open and yet completely engaged. That's part two. Part three

of awakening the ear of the heart is a quality of interest that's seeking to understand.

So it's receptive and yet truly engaged in a live way, seeking to understand. So we'll reflect

together on each of those elements, but to begin with intention, the Buddha taught that this

entire existence arises on the tip of intention. That's a huge statement. And what that's saying is

that in this moment, to the degree that your intention, your consciousness, it has a sense of

what matters, to that degree that will unfold itself. So where you're paying attention and what's

mattering to in any moment, create your experience. And we can become more conscious of our intention.

So we then, sensual, does listening matter to us? And I invite you to take a moment to reflect

on a relationship in your life that might be difficult, a relationship where even in the last

weeks there was some tension. Okay, so if it helps you to close your eyes, close your eyes, but

take any relationship where you've maybe sensed, it's a relationship that's important to you,

where you've sensed tension, difficulty. I'd like to actually have you go in your mind to a time

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