Avalokiteshvara

Invoking the Bodhisattvas' Names
from Chanting from the heart by Thich Nhat Hanh

We invoke your name, Avalokiteshvara.  We aspire to learn your way of listening in order to help relieve the suffering in the world.  You know how to listen in order to understand.  We invoke your name in order to practice listening with all our attention and openheartedness.  We will sit and listen without any prejudice.   We will sit and listen without judging or reacting.  We will sit and listen in order to understand.  We will sit and listen so attentively that we will be able to hear what the other person is saying also what is being left unsaid.  We know that just by listening deeply we already alleviate a great deal of pain and suffering in the other person.