Hello everyone,
Can we multitask and do something else while listening to a Dhamma talk? Is it disrespectful and bad kamma if we do that? I know that it’s disrespectful not to pay attention to someone when they are speaking, but if we are listening to a pre-recorded video/audio while doing something else, then is it still disrespectful and bad kamma?
I have special headphone’s designed for swimmers and have them loaded with Dhamma talks. I find it very useful to listen while swimming.
I also listen while driving.
I might also listen to the Dhamma while going out because I think it helps us to be mindful
If you don’t mind me contributing to your question, I remember very clearly during the Abhidhamma analysis courses that the mind is not really meant for multitasking, or rather we can say that the mind is meant to focus and maintain concentration on one thing/task at a time.
I don’t recall the exact reference to which citta is involved during focused concentration, but the general concept is that contemplative reflection is a task that the mind must process without interference from other tasks. Perhaps, someone who can cite the Abhidhamma easily can add some information on which citta we are examining during this type of reflection. This is also related to the Abhidhammic analysis of the 17 mind moments, or how thought forms arise in the mind.
I would imagine that if you have a profound interest in what you are listening to, especially if this is a Dhamma talk, you should allow the mind to focus solely on what you are listening. Multi-tasking can be a tool to employ while doing laundry and simultaneously wiping the dust or sweeping the floor, meaning the activities that do not require profound concentration from the mind. But, it would be advised against multi-tasking during dhamma talks (not so much out of respect for the speaker or what is being spoken, but out of the nature of the task of listening to a teaching that requires greater concentration for penetration of its meaning and absorption by the mind.) Some may suggest that even sweeping the floor should be done with full concentration on this task, and I wouldn’t argue with this point, although it may be less realistic in some circumstances.
I hope that this may be helpful to you in some way, it is something to consider if you are interested in understanding the deeper levels involved in information processing by your mind.
Citta can only take one object at a time and them moves onto another although the object may be concept and repeatedly taken.
Even while listening to a Dhamma talk and concentrating on it, other objects are taken from time to time depending on interest and other conditions.
Swimming is semi - automatic, like walking, so it is relatively easy to listen but naturally from time to time other thoughts intrude- it is the nature of the mind to be like this.
Anyway the way I look at it is that even if I only hear a few sentences of Dhamma it still conditions thinking about what was said- the day has started well.
In a similar way that @iviscun said… you will not be getting the full picture.
I think that it can be wholesome in some ways, but not so great in other ways.
It might be okay for light topics you are already familiar with. Once you have read a sutta, it is perfectly fine to speed read that sutta again, or to read it slowly again. In the same way, you can do that with recordings. There is not much of a shortcut to learning. However, with spaced and lighter exposure to things you already know. This might help.
I do my chanting memorization while doing chores or washing bowl. With Anki, including audio, earpod, it’s very doable.
Again I would argue it only really okay if it is something you already know.
I also have often chanted the patimokkha section by section when I would go up or down (or both ) the mountain as “maintenance” for something I already know. I think that is perfectly fine.
BTW: When you do listen to a sermon, it will give you the best results to have your full attention and your hands in anjali (prayer position) 
This is the upmost best, and there is never “too much” reverence for the dhamma. Listening in person, this is a must.
Generally, I wouldn’t discourage anyone from listening to the dhamma in any capacity, while multi-tasking or otherwise. Perhaps, if we have only the choice of multitasking, while listening to the dhamma, it is still more beneficial to be exposed to the dhamma teaching in this way, rather than continuously put it off until “quieter” days. At the same time, as you’ve mentioned, citta is primarily taking one object at a time, although it can be in rapid succession that we barely notice. I suppose that this is why we attempt to slow down the function of the mind in meditation, we don’t really pursue completely stopping its function. Also, this is why we take wholesome objects as practice for our citta to reflect on - as you’ve also mentioned, these can be concepts like karuna, metta, etc. What is practical in my view is learning to distinguish between the nature of a practice as it is based in its actual function (which is what Abhidhamma has done through its thorough analysis of citta), and those instances when we perceive our practice through the lens of cultural and social norms, such as considering aspects of respect for a teacher or that which is being taught. A lot of wisdom in the Buddhist teachings is comprised in gaining insight into the nature of how our mind functions, rather than simply abiding by a set of rules, laws, and conventions, without necessarily understanding the functional reasons that are behind these conventions. Therefore, if we choose to listen to the Dhamma in an isolated manner out of respect for the teacher or the teaching, we will ultimately benefit from this teaching in a greater way because we were able to concentrate on this teaching in an isolated manner. Our respect may have been the motivation for this choice, however the result will have been from the nature of our mind being able to concentrate on it fully. Some people will come to the Dhamma out of respect, and some people will come to it out of their understanding of its profound nature and ability to purify our minds. In both cases, the direction is in increasing the subtler qualities of our minds (jotiparayano=toward light), but perhaps the difference is in the original place of departure: tamo-jotiparayano = from obscurity to light or from joti-jotiparayano = from light to greater light. I think that understanding and discernment in this case does matter because we are talking about listening to the Dhamma of all things. Are we coming to the Dhamma from a well-informed place, or are we stumbling upon in while multitasking in the dark? 
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