When I began to look for a poem today, I chose one by Hafiz. It reminds me of the following Buddhist proverb:
How do I listen? The question is eloquent, as it does not have a fixed and expected answer. It suggests being present and mindful as another person speaks and as the universe speaks to me. Hafiz counsels me to treat what the other says as a gift to be cherished as the last words of a Master.
It is when I listen that the teacher appears. I am ready for the teachings of the Other. Emmanuel Levinas capitalized other to point out an unconditional responsibility for the Other. How I listen reveres the Other, who is my teacher in that moment.
How
Do I
Listen to Others?
As if everyone were my Master
Speaking to me
His
Cherished
Last
Words.
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About ivonprefontaine
In keeping with bell hooks and Noam Chomsky, I consider myself a public and dissident intellectual. Part of my work is to move beyond (transcend) institutional dogmas that bind me to defend freedom, raising my voice to be heard on behalf of those who seek equity and justice in all their forms.
I completed my PhD in Philosophy of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA. My dissertation and research was how teachers experience becoming teachers and their role as leaders.
I focus on leading, communicating, and innovating in organizations. This includes mindfuful servant-leadership, World Cafe events, Appreciative Inquiry, and expressing one's self through creativity. I offer retreats, workshops, and presentations that can be tailored to your organzations specific needs.
I published peer reviewed articles about schools as learning organizations, currere as an ethical pursuit, and hope as an essential element of adult eductaion. I published three poems and am currently preparing my poetry to publish as an anthology of poetry.
I present on mindful leadership, servant leadership, schools as learning organizations, how teachers experience becoming teachers, assessement, and critical thinking. I facilitate mindfulness, hospitality retreats. and World Cafe Events using Appreciative Inquiry.
I am writing and researching about various forms of leadership, how teachers inform and form their identity as a particular teacher, schools as learning organizations, hope and its anticipatory relationship with the future, and hope as an essential element in learning.
ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
Really wise words. Thx.
You are welcome Micheal.
Thx. Have a nice weekend, and thank you for your informative postings. Michael
Hard to listen as true observer without judgment or bias.
A Clarity emerges when we can let go of Ego ‘I’ And others needs appear
Being present and empty of thought uncovers the teacher, sometimes inside ourself.
It is part of being human and that makes us vulnerable.
Many things can be a ‘teacher’, giving a lesson needed for the moment or for a lifetime.
Thank you Ivon for reminding us of Buddha’s great teaching
You are welcome and thank you Eddie.
A profound poem. If only we could all practice it all the time. Thank you for sharing and reminding us to keep learning. ☺
Thank you for the comment.
love this
Beautiful reminder, Ivon. I find that nature, too, teaches us provided we are able to listen.
It is about listening for sure. Thank you.
Truly listening is just about the most difficult thing to do. So much noise from within and without. How does one quiet these intrusions so they can really hear!
It is hard. It took me most of my career to stop and listen. Once I got there, it made a difference.