Clock Line: 2 o’clock
Initiation: The Inner Ear Awakens
Theme: Divine Listening, Receptivity, Compassionate Awareness
Outer Priest: Buddha
Inner Priests: Ananda, Padmasambhava, Thich Nhat Hanh
Religion: Buddhism (Mahayana + Vajrayana + Zen)
Narrative Station Title: “The Silence Between Breaths: The Gate of Hearing”
▶︎ Revelation Tie-In: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” — Revelation 2:11
THE GATE OF SACRED LISTENING
Simeon means “hearing,” and this gate opens the faculty of spiritual audition—to hear the divine whisper behind all things. It is the gate of inner stillness where the soul becomes an instrument of reception. Not to speak, but to hear. Not to perform, but to perceive.
Buddha, the Enlightened One, stands as the outer priest of this gate. Having silenced the restless mind through deep meditation, he teaches the middle path: to listen not only with the ears, but with the soul.
“Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.” — The Dhammapada
▶︎ Revelation Tie-In: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice…” — Revelation 3:20
STATION 2 — THE GATE OF SIMEON
The disciple asked the Master, “What is Truth?” The Master said nothing. The disciple leaned closer. Still silence. Then the disciple heard it: Not words, but the wind. Not doctrine, but the breath.
And the Gate of Simeon opened— In a soundless sound, In the space between thoughts, In the compassion that arises from listening.
▶︎ Revelation Tie-In: “And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters.” — Revelation 14:2
QUALITIES NEEDED: STILLNESS AND RECEPTIVITY
To enter this gate, the initiate must cultivate deep listening. Not to speak over others. Not to impose. But to witness.
“If you truly love someone, you will listen with your whole being.” — Thich Nhat Hanh
Hearing becomes healing. In the stillness, compassion flows.
INNER REQUIREMENT: DETACHMENT FROM INNER NOISE
Simeon asks: What voice are you listening to? The ego shouts. The Spirit whispers.
“When the mind is silent, the heart hears God.” — Padmasambhava
To pass through this gate is to enter the cave of the heart and hear what has always been speaking.
GNOSTIC PARALLEL: THE CALL OF THE HIDDEN WORD
In Gnostic teachings, the Logos is not just speech, but vibration—a living Word heard in stillness.
“Blessed are the ears that have heard me.” — Gospel of Thomas, Logion 24
To hear is to awaken. The Word calls us home.
WHAT TO BRING: EMPTINESS AND PRESENCE
Bring no argument. Bring no defense. Bring an empty bowl and an open ear.
“Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” — James 1:19
MELCHIZEDEKIAN INSIGHT: THE PRIESTHOOD OF LISTENING
The order of Melchizedek includes those who mediate not through command, but through presence. The true priest listens before offering bread.
To hear God is to embody peace.
“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way…” — Isaiah 30:21
INNER PRIESTS OF GATE 2
▶︎ Ananda — the devoted disciple of Buddha, known for his perfect memory of the Buddha’s teachings.
▶︎ Padmasambhava — tantric master who brought Buddhism to Tibet and taught the subtle energies of inner silence.
▶︎ Thich Nhat Hanh — the modern Zen master who taught mindfulness as a form of sacred hearing.
CONTEMPLATIVE REFLECTIONS
- What voices do I listen to most?
- Can I make room for silence in my life?
- How does true listening change the way I relate to others?
PRAYER FOR PASSING THROUGH THE SECOND GATE
O Still Small Voice, Open the ears of my soul. Let me hear what the Spirit is saying. Silence the storm within me. Make of me an empty bell, Ringing with compassion, Tuned to your whisper. Amen.
THE REVELATION OF HEARING
This is not hearing of the world. This is the inner ear of Spirit. The Gate of Simeon does not shout. It invites. It opens when you become quiet enough to notice it was always open.
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