There is in every person something that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine ... There is in you something that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. Nobody like you has ever been born and no one like you will ever be born again -- you are the only one.
If you cannot hear it, you will never find whatever it is for which you are searching and if you hear it and then do not follow it, it was better that you had never been born. You are the only you that has ever lived; your idiom is the only idiom of its kind in all the existences, and if you cannot hear the sound of the genuine in you, you will all of your life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls.
The sound of the genuine is flowing through you. Don’t be deceived and thrown off by all the noises that are part even of your dreams and your ambitions when you don’t hear the sound of the genuine in you. Because that is the only true guide you will ever have and if you don’t have that you don’t have a thing ... Cultivate the discipline of listening to the sound of the genuine in yourself.
There is something in everybody that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in other people... I must wait and listen for the sound of the genuine in you. I must wait. For if I cannot hear it, then in my scheme of things, you are not ever present. So as I live my life then, this is what I am trying to fulfill...that I’m secure because I hear the sound of the genuine in myself, and having learned to listen to that, I can become quiet enough, still enough to hear the sound of the genuine in you.
Now if I hear the sound of the genuine in me and if you hear the sound of the genuine in you, it is possible for me to go down in [my spirit] and come up in [your spirit]. So that when I look at myself through your eyes having made that pilgrimage, I see in me what you see in me. [Then] the wall that separates and divides will disappear, and we will become one -- because the sound of the genuine makes the same music.
Howard Thurman was a social pioneer, compassionate mystic and mentor to Martin Luther King Jr. (who introduced him to Gandhi). Excerpt above from Baccalaureate address at Spelman College in 1980.
Seed Questions for Reflection
What does the sound of the genuine mean to you? Can you share a personal story of a time you heard the sound of the genuine and followed it? What helps you discern between your inner voice and your ego's voice?
Wow. I have not heard such a clear road map to finding our interconnectedness - through our genuine selves, each of us re-discovering our true being, resonating in harmony.
DU
durga
Jan 23, 2024
everyone's lives is the same, find & know themself first. its helps a lot of things to them.
As sit here looking through my memory for an instance of hearing the genuine in me, to not fabricate a fictional moment of such, I realize I am listening for the genuine in me at this moment.
Even though I don't recall such an instance, I realize my waiting and listening is the hearing of the genuine in me, the authentic Truth of I am.
This is just what replied to my enquiry for an instance of hearing the genuine in me.
Sound of genuine means to me the ability to see/hear one's authentic self beneath the expectations, messages and ways of being placed on us externally. It is un-learning those ideas and reconnecting with who we were as very young children.
For example, in my life I have lived an intention of compassion for everyone, no exception. This began when I was a young child and witnessed my father being treated without compassion and I was bullied at school. While these are external events, they connected me to the value of compassion. This is the sound of the genuine for me.
If I'm compassionate to everyone it expands love and understanding which feels pretty genuine to me. Not sure I explained this well.
its a noun the same thing as a bachelor's degree from college.
another meaning ;farewell ceremony for graduating seniors from high school or college.
SE
sergebesch
Jul 17, 2023
"non self" is not being experienced... other people really stop to exist when you close your eyes... they fittingly re-appear when you see them... the matrix fills the gap. good dreams everybody!
To me, the sound of genuine means my true feeling inside. I have been searching for a local group of sports or hobbies for 5 years. They were Outrigger Canoe, Zumba, Hiphop, Veggie Garden, and tennis. I enjoyed them at some level, but not fully and I don't feel that I belong to any of them truly. When I felt selfishness in me, that's my ego and if it is for all including myself, then that's the inner voice collectively.
WOW- the wonderful one within - is unique and flows from the same Source.
This is so well told - "because the sound of the genuine makes the same music".
When my intentions focus on others, beyond my own time/space limitations, then I step aside and let her do Her thing.
EV
Eva
Jul 11, 2023
for me the sound of the genuine comes from a place where I am feeling at ease and comfort, and in unity with the surroundings. a place where i have joy and comfort and infinite love with no reason. The sound of ego tries to please and seek validation. that's how i discern it from the sound of ego. Years ago, when i walked to the church in lower manhattan, i heard the sound of the genuine saying to me, "God is in you. You are going to places to activate it, but remember it is already in you." i always remember that sound.
Owning my story and yet being more than my story. Saying yes to that authentic voice, but first listening, being kind in a very soft and tender way to that place of manifest spirit - walking without alarm.
JU
Julien
Jul 11, 2023
This reflection is absolutely critical in our lives to live our true self. I would really like to know from which work this is quoted in Howard Thurman’s work. Could someone tell me that. Thank you.
Many years ago I copied a shorter version of this message and put it above my desk where I could see it every day. I have memorized it and use it regularly when I speak to audiences. It took a while, but I am finally listening to and following this internal guide.
Buried deep below the noise of our self-centered cunning, crooked and crafty mind, lies that unobtrusive unassuming voice of our conscience that constantly guides us through the very many ordeals of our lives--if we only cared to keep quiet inwardly and be all ears thirsting to hear what it has to say in the form of a feeling in our guts.
AP
Arlin PaulerJul 26, 2023
Yes, conscience!
That's our word for the human capacity to discern the genuine from the fabricated. Conscience is knowing without thoughts or words for what we know, a form of intuition.
Conscience is a very useful term I tend to forget to use. Thank you for reminding me.
I think of the sound of the genuine as the sound of one's own inner truth. I listen for and hear the sound of the genuine in myself often. I don't always follow it but often do. At a meeting of 150 people last week, I heard the sound of the genuine in myself and followed it in terms of expressing it, ie, my truth, though I was concerned that what I had to say would not be well received. My genuine was well received and several people commended me for what I said. What helps me cultivate listening to the sound of the genuine in myself is knowing that my genuine is my truth. My genuine is me. To ignore it is to ignore me and deprive me and others of my genuine. Positive response I've gotten for expressing my genuine also helps me listen to and express my genuine.
The sound of genuine is acting from a place of love and kindness. Slowing down appreciating the gifts I have to give to others, my time, deep listening.
Is there soundless sound? Yes. When the noises are created in the noisy mind and by the noisy mind I do not hear my genuine voice. When I and the person are talking with noisy mind we do not hear the genuine voice. According to my understanding, when I listen to my genuine voice as well as the genuine voice of the other person there is genuine understanding of myself and the genuine understanding of the other person. Genuine listening with a quiet mind creates the sound of the genuine. The sound of the genuine has depth in it, the realness in it, the authenticity in it. There is a word in my native language that describes the noisy and meangless sound as bakavas. Such communication causes headaches and frustrations.
I have expereinced and I expereince genuine sound when my mind is calm and clear. These are the precious moments when I am able to think and act clearly and wisely. Mindful listening helps me hear my self-created noises and it creates genuine, enriching, and wholesome r... View full comment
Is there soundless sound? Yes. When the noises are created in the noisy mind and by the noisy mind I do not hear my genuine voice. When I and the person are talking with noisy mind we do not hear the genuine voice. According to my understanding, when I listen to my genuine voice as well as the genuine voice of the other person there is genuine understanding of myself and the genuine understanding of the other person. Genuine listening with a quiet mind creates the sound of the genuine. The sound of the genuine has depth in it, the realness in it, the authenticity in it. There is a word in my native language that describes the noisy and meangless sound as bakavas. Such communication causes headaches and frustrations.
I have expereinced and I expereince genuine sound when my mind is calm and clear. These are the precious moments when I am able to think and act clearly and wisely. Mindful listening helps me hear my self-created noises and it creates genuine, enriching, and wholesome relationship with me and with others.
Keeping my mind and heart open, clear and free and realting to others mindfully helps me create and sustain genuine relationship with me and others in my life.
I love this short, sweet and thought provoking passage authored by Howard Thurman.
Namaste!
Jagdish P Dave
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AmyJul 6, 2023
Truth spoken here … “when I listen to my genuine voice as well as to the genuine voice of the other…there is genuine understanding …”. Jackpot!
