-- Thomas Merton
Not listening to others is usually seen as the height of egotism. And it is, when all you listen to is your own ego. For crying out loud, at least listen to some other egos!
But the interior voice that Merton mentions is not the voice of ego but rather the voice of soul, the voice of intuition. It transcends the cacophonous din created by the voices of egos, whether separately or together.
The person who listens to this internal voice is dangerous because the voice nearly always calls for radical actions that defy social convention and leave the powers that be, and their assorted minions, feeling angry, or, at best, uneasy.
The voice heard by the contemplative cuts through the suggestions, pronouncements, and demands of others. The contemplative's visions moves him or her beyond the mundane sights glimpsed by physical eyes alone.
And yet, as dangerous as they are, the contemplatives are our teachers and saviors. They show us a deeper, more encompassing view of life, life without the phony borders and barriers of social convention and small-minded provincialism. Life without the ego edging God out.
But true contemplatives are hard to find these days. Our colleges and universities turn out more mortgage bankers than mystics. And so, it's up to you. More likely than not, you will have to be the first one on your block to see visions and hear inner voices, to step outside consensus reality and head straight for the real thing.
It takes strength, but not pride, to be the neighborhood mystic. Robes are not required, however. Neither is sermonizing to the birds. Simply listen within, not just without. See with inner eyes, not just external ones.
It begins with sitting down in a quiet place, closing your eyes, and shutting up. The rest you will have to discover on your own. Bon voyage!
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