Can You Listen to a Woman: A Man's Journey to the Heart

By David Forsee

What happens when a man meets a woman whose teachings have the power to draw him back to his own heart? Will he listen? This is the story of how one man’s life changed dramatically when he did. Can... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 093145493X
• ISBN13: 9780931454936
• Release Date: March 1999
• Publisher: Timeless Books
• Length: 191 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The Journey to Light

I was very inspired by this book. Inspiration comes to me when I enter into a place of "spirit" and out of the day-to-day. David Forsee has shared such an intimate life experience that it was impossible not to have it touch my own life. It connected so quickly with me because it is an account of an ordinary man who is transformed by his willingness to see his own heart -- with the guidance of his teacher. His struggles in coming to terms with accepting his female guru helped me to gain perspective as a woman living and working in a man's world. I have discussed this book with a male friend who also found it very inspiring and insightful. If you are on your own journey to discover your divine nature and connection with spirit, you will find this book most helpful in understanding your own experiences through the experiences of David Forsee.

'..simple and unmistakable sincerity.'

David tells of his journey from spiritual desert to lush valley, from ego to openess. In this journey the spirit most certainly moves in mysterious ways, it appears where least expected, challenges gender stereotypes, redefines identity and it relentlessly demands response. David's story inspires: it describes a radical transformation, paints a vivid portrait of a charismatic guru, and--perhaps most importantly--it is told with simple and unmistakable sincerity.

journey toward the spiritual self

On the front cover of David Forsee's book Can You Listen to a Woman? there is a startlingly beautiful photograph of Swami Sivananda Radha as a young woman. Her gaze is deep, direct and passionate, perhaps even urgent as if, already, at that young age there is something she must tell us, if only we will listen. In the title of the book David offers the reader the same challenge that was offered him by Swami Radha: Are you listening? Can you hear me? Can you hear the feminine Divine within your own heart? Can you lower your defences to allow the divine to show you who you really are? David offers us his own story, his personal experience with the many layers that lie under the surface of these questions. This is David Forsee's journey toward the spiritual self. Along the way, we meet him in his earlier life as the young man who loses both his parents in a car accident, as a radio journalist, a logger, and as a husband and a father, who is more surprised than anyone by his attraction to the spiritual life. We accompany him as his friendship with Swami Radha grows and as he and his family make their decision to move to Yasodhara ashram in the Kootenays of British Comubia. Eventually David becomes one of Swami Radha's renunciate desciples and is given the name Gopalananda. His new name reflects his potentail to reach higher conciousness by identifying with the spiritual growth of the youthful Krishna. Understanding that potential, is the struggle of his life. As Swami Gopalananda, David Forsee, the accomplished writer, the gifted spiritual diarist, and superb story teller, brings us into Swami Radha's presence through a candid, intimate look into his life with her. The story of Radha and Krishna and their painful separation is a pivotal theme of the book. In one form or another, separation from the beloved is the most poignant aspect in all our lives. In this ancient Hindu allegory, "Radha's separation from Krishna rapresents the separation of individual conciousness from Cosmic Conciousness." According to Swami Radha's teaching's each event in our lives has a purpose that must be understood if we are to make progress on the spiritual path. Seen that way, the longing that accompanies the loss of a mother or the separation from a beloved becomes the power, the sound of the flute that draws us back to the union with the Divine. The experience of loss, then, rather than building up resistance and defenses, becomes a gift with a purpose. Loss will occur over and over until we go deep enough to find out, "what we really need to know". Even the smallest events can be understood from the perspective of a Divine purpose for life. "Most of the time you haven't listened," was one of Swami Radha's final challenges to Gopalananda, as she prodded him to go deeper into his own knowledge, to listen to the feminine voice within. Perhaps that is the challenge to us all. There is much left unsaid in this story.

Remarkable insight, sensitivity, and candor

Can You Listen to a Woman describes with remarkable insight, sensitivity, and candor the many subtleties of spiritual descipleship filled with lessons big and small - all adding up to the miracle of self-transformation. At the same time, it gives us a rare glimpse into the mind and heart of the twentieth century's most extraordinary female guru - Swami Sivananda Radha. While each person's journey to enlightenment is unique, we can all learn from the triumphs and mistakes of others. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone venturing forth on the spiritual path.Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D. Author of: The Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga

A tonic in an age of spiritual "junk-food"

Can You Listen to a Woman is as moving an account of the soul's pilgrimage as I have ever read. It's honesty an courage come as a tonic in an age when spiritual "junk-food" is on the increase everywhere. I recommend it warmly to all who are really concerned about seeing more of the Light as they journey on. A compelling read.Tom Harpur Author of Prayer: the Hidden Fire