What is Generous Listening?

Generous listening is a form of listening that hears beyond words, with both the heart and mind.

It takes time – and requires presence.

It shakes beliefs – and deepens knowledge.

It brings us to moments of revelation and insight, moments that fundamentally transform the way we connect with ourselves, others and nature.

To reach those moments one needs to get out of their comfort zone and engage with oneself and others with no agenda.

Generous listening offers a reunion with ourselves and all living beings.

It is in this reunion that we find authentic connections.

Why Generous Listening?

We have been taught to get our messages across. But have we learned to listen to others generously?

When one talks, someone needs to listen. Yet listening is not easy. To do it deeply, one must overcome prejudices, fears and preconceptions. In a world overflowing with speech so many feel unheard.

We have an immense capacity to listen but often find it uncomfortable. Awkward. Difficult. Even boring.

Listening calls for openness to the unknown; a willingness to let the “other” exist equally within the “self.”

Listening is an invitation.

Listening becomes transformation.

Call for Papers: Generous Listening in Organizations
Vuslat Foundation and Tufts University’s Tisch College of Civic Life

July 16 (dinner) until July 18 (lunchtime), 2023

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Lend your
ear.
Own your
heart.

Generous Listening Workshops
In Collaboration with TOG

01-19.05.2022

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Lend your
ear.
Own your
heart.

The Generous Listening and Dialogue (GLAD) Center

Tufts University
Jonathan M. Tisch College
of Civic Life

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Lend your
ear.
Own your
heart.

Vuslat Foundation Fellowship for Generous Listening

MIT Transmedia Storytelling Initiative

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Lend your
ear.
Own your
heart.

The Listener
by Giuseppe Penone

22 May - 21 Nov 2021
Venice Biennale Architettura

Meetings on Architecture
Generous Listening Symposium

30 October 2021
Teatro Piccolo Arsenale

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Lend your
ear.
Own your
heart.

Who we are?

Vuslat Foundation is a global initiative that fosters a deeper appreciation of listening as the essential element of all our connections. Established in Switzerland in 2020, Vuslat Foundation partners with academia, civil society, and the private sector to generate knowledge and research, develop methodologies and tools, and build awareness and inspiration on generous listening.