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Guidelines for Dialogue |
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"Bohmian Dialogue" is an opportunity to
explore the possibility of experiencing group consciousness. It is a way
of communication devised by quantum physicist David Bohm in partnership
with spiritual teacher Krishnamurti. Its aim is to explore consciousness
collectively to see if we can discover the sources of "fragmentation"
in our thinking (reflected in society), and what we can do to restore
wholeness. In essence, dialogue is a way for a group to think and feel
together--to collectively explore the spontaneous unfolding of meaning.
"Consciousness" means "knowing together" (from the Latin consciere, "to
know with" others). Dialogue honors the profound power of silence as the
source of wisdom. We are encouraged to "feel our thinking"--to pay
attention to the feelings in our bodies (what Bohm called "proprioception")
as messages that inform our thinking and our thoughts. We begin in silence and from that moment on there is (typically) no group leader or facilitator. Each one of us is responsible for the communication of the whole group--until the end of the session. In training sessions, a facilitator may occasionally step in to draw attention to a learning opportunity or to call the group back into dialogue (if, for instance, we might b slipping off into some other form of communication such as conversation, debate, or discussion.) Dialogue has no agenda, and there is no particular order to topics we may explore. The "material" for communication is whatever we as a group pick up on. It may turn out that none of the topics covered in this course will come up. Ideas rom class texts or discussions can serve as "seed crystals" that may or may not catalyze dialogue. There are no rules in dialogue. yet certain procedures seem to work for group communication. These include: -- Only one person speaks at a time. -- We do not speak to force a point, to win an argument, or to contradict what someone else has to say. -- We listen openly, suspending all evaluation, judgment, and prior "expert knowledge." -- We listen to what others say as a "revelation" form someone else's viewpoint (which otherwise would remian unknown to us). -- We listen carefully (with our bodies as well as with our ears and minds) for the meaning being spoken, and do not get caught up in analyzing words or ideas. We lsten for, and acknowledge, assumptions. -- We speak (if we have something to say) becauseur viewpoint is also a valuable contribution. Our silence, too, can be a contribution. -- We pay attention to the different qualities of silence, and agree to be fully present even when the whole group is silent. -- We pay attention to the group process or dynamics--to the movement or flow of consciousness through the group--so that when we speak we do not close somebody else down. Nor do we suppress our own speaking. -- in dialogue, we do not provide answers or solutions...we just openly explore. Dialogue is an opportunity to experience the subtle flow of consciousness through each of us individually and through the "organism" as a whole. It is a way to deeply feel the source of our thinking, to learn to listen for meaning, and in doing to transcend the limitations of our individual minds. Dialogue is about being in relationship. --by Christian
de Quincey |
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