_{QT-011 : Listen.}

_{DISCLAIMER: This blog is a personal collection of diaries extracted from the author’s traces of life with pen, ink and paper. These are conversations between the soul, heart, mind, body and all existing particles, captured and embraced, in hoping to be eternalised towards the path of remembrance. As sincere as honest as could be, the author is imperfect in many ways, whereby all flaws of thoughts are natural in the time of writing. There is no intention of harm towards any entity, except as a form of the author’s own reminder. All content are owned and copyright of Faizal Somadi. Unauthorised use in any manner is prohibited. If there are questions, you’re welcome to write to: contact@faizalsomadi.studio.}

Life with Pen, Ink and Paper.

Qalam Thoughts : Entry 011 : 2016.05.28

Listen.

For most of us, listening is a mere exposure to behaviour of sounds around us, as well as human vocal expressions. Or mentally, listening to the ideas in our mind; or emotionally, listening to the feelings in our heart. In such, we are reading and registering messages. 

To advance ourselves to go beyond our senses and capabilities, and to move ahead of our own capacity, we must truly learn the art of listening. Every craft, every thing, every being has its own form of conversation. And as different as each must be, we must truly learn to listen to their language. 

In calligraphy, we must know when the ink has run dry. We must know when the nib has worn out. We must know when the knife has gone blunt. We must know how different papers reject and accept different inks. We must know when our fingers tremble with aches. We must know when our eyes are seeing fuzzy lines. We must identify things that have gone astray from their natural behaviour.

To pursue further despite such negative conditions will invite more harm than good. In such, we are harming the things that we use, we are harming the things that serves us, we are harming the things that we love. We inflict harm and negative acts upon ourselves, which will affect things around us, the people around us, our family, children and friends; our community, our health, our environment, our economy, the society, culture and even politics. We got so dominative in our own pursuits that we have accidentally burned and sacrificed the others, as well as upon true purposes of things. Unjustly. And more harm upon ourselves, once the chain of negative cycle comes back to us. 

Because we did not listen.

To listen, is to keep our state of awareness active and heightened in whatever things that we do. As much as we want to be careful for ourselves, we must care for things around us. If things doesn't sound right, action must be taken to minimise harm, balance and harmony must be restored, and thoughts must be worked on to develop goodness. Our senses are valuable listening instruments, and laziness is the root of ignorance.

To achieve a good work is not only about your care and attention to the craft. But in balance and harmony, your care and attention to the others will also contribute to the well being of your craft. Therefore, if one could actually listen deeply, the future could be predictably foreseen, and one will know what to change to mould a better future.

Listening, is the first move of a strategy.

"You must listen. You must listen to what you're doing (to the things that you're working with)."

- Iskandar Jalil. Master Potter. Singapore, Kembangan. 2016, April 12.

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Faizal Somadi/2016/May/28

If things doesn't sound right, action must be taken to minimise harm, balance and harmony must be restored, and thoughts must be worked on to develop goodness. Our senses are valuable listening instruments, and laziness is the root of ignorance.