We pierce the ear of an eved with a Claim against Ozen 'sheshama'? -it seems like the EAR did its job?!
A horse that runs with the rider not being ready is an untrained 'vildeh ferd'. idealistically, (& perhaps by matan torah shepaskah zuhama like adam bef. Cheit) The ear should not hear when the nefesh is not ready to be mekabel.
R' Alivah eiger did not SEE the light at a family simcha & complained about the darkness, when they were lit on shabbos for the jews by a goy. The Chofetz chaim didn't HEAR a talmids 'white lie'.
R' Yeruchom da'as torah ma'amar on b'shalach. Any limb of the body should ideally not function w/o its 'trainer'.
though this may be an overly - lofty level for ourselves, there can be a practical application of this lesson.
Our ears fool ourselves to feel accomplished by hearing news, music, or even a shiur when really our mind was tuned out. Perhaps we can start a practice of not physically doing things when our inner self is not ready & attentive. Whether eating, looking around, hearing etc.
