Come to Terms With The Dialogue

Dialogue With RCS: Here are a half a dozen terms I have used to write of our dialogue groups

I have written a few words about each term to remind you of its meanings.

 

Assumptions:

                We have differing experiences and so differing opinions and assumptions.We have differing views because of who we are. We often come to interpret our worlds differently from one another. We develop conscious and unconscious ideas about the ways of the world which are difficult for others to understand until they know more of our experiences.

Defending:

             Without the abundance of shared cultural meanings good dialogue brings, it is unreasonable to expect a peaceful society. Defending our own or another's opinions keeps us from laying out our assumptions were we can all look at them and try to appreciate their meanings  and so keepings from productive and satisfying dialogue we want an need. It is shared deeper meanings we seek. Also defending our assumptions consumes the energy we could better use to achieve a clear understanding  of the assumption of another.

Go-under:

Without good dialogue we are likely to miss opportunities and lose understanding s. We are likely to miss out on good positions, to go under and lose out as individuals, corporations, families, nations, churches, parties. The shared meaning we gain in good dialogue helps us , maintain, grow, and strengthen party, church, nation, family, corporation, and self.

Coherent:

             For many, an important benefit of dialogue practice is experiencing the power of collectively shared meaning. Most ordinary talk in in society may well be called incoherent. Our dialogue practice is designed to promote areas of  coherence in the vastness of misunderstanding. The meanings we share a cohesion of understanding.

Group:

             Fora truly effective dialogue of of sufficient variety of viewpoint A group of between 15 and 40 seems optimal. It is possible to do preparatory work with a dedicated, active organizing group of say nine may be adequate. A long lasting group with regular meetings is called for.

Thinking Together:

Is a frequent result of a dialogue group and ought perhaps be a aim of your group. We learn to stay close to the same page and to carry each other's thoughts forward. Individuals sharing common meanings in a coherent way have power for peace and creativity. Thinking together coherently calls for dialogue sustained  long enough to to share a body of coherent meanings. 

You strengthen culture, create it enjoy it, and pass it on. That's what this dialoging is about.



                                                                    by Richard for you

Dialogue Diffrently

Dialogue With RCS: What it is, what it is not, and what is to Bohm.    

 

                 I write about a new kind of dialogue. It is mostly for groups of as small as 9 to groups of about 39. 

                Below are some descriptive notes about what is, and what it is not. See other posts on the benefits of this more productive and satisfying way to communicate. It can work wonders with your husband and has been successful in some very large groups.

Our dialogue practice is not a:

~ place to make a particular point prevail.

~ debate or even a discussion. 

~ time to attempt to make points.

~ game to win or lose.

 

This new dialogue practice is a way to:

~ meaning and understanding.

~ an activity which helps us to be us.

~ through the meaning of word.

~ an honest, supportive activity.   

~ greater awareness and enhanced consciousness.

~ hone your listening skills.

~ develop new speaking skills.

~ effective methods of communication. 

~ cultural preservation and creation.

~ make a healthy, effective society more probable.

~ meet interested people in an interesting environment.

~ put honest thoughts "on the table" where we can look at them and begin to find their meaning.

~ be heard.

~ find pleasure in speaking-up.

~ understanding among us and within us.

~ satisfying relationship.

~ exchange idea and opinion more safely. 

~ share experience.

~ more effective communication beyond the group.

~ practice a "second" language.

~ peace and good will.

~ to see our words as gifts.

According to Dr. David Bohm a similar dialogue practice is:

~ participating in a flow of meaning between us, through us, and among us.

~ an activity out of which emerges new and renewed understanding.

~ an activity which helps us to be an us.

                Could you find a way to practice a dialogue of this sort? Could you practice a dialogue more of this sort in your group?

                You can open a window below to make a comment, a suggestion, and ask a question. You might have to click on where where "no comment" is printed below.

                Thanks for reading.

                                                                                Richard Sheehan

Dialogue of a Different Sort

An introduction to what I call the dialogue.

 

            There are kinds of dialogue. I intend to post about one of them. It is not the kind written into a novel or a film script. It is seldom used between two people, but can be. It is a kind of group talk which is rare today. It is a face to face communication that has come into use by some corporations and churches. It has been found useful for successful communication among persons of differing backgrounds. I have called it Magic Table Dialogue and a Dialogue For Peace. For now I will just call it the dialogue.

            The dialogue is a sort of practice. It is use to "create areas of coherence in the vastness of misunderstanding." I see it as doing just that, Another benefit of the dialogue practice is our experiencing the power  of collectively shared meaning. Yes, practice. I am writing about a practice. Much ordinary talk in our society may be called incoherent. The practice is an attempt to move us toward greater coherence.

            To learn to use the dialogue I write about takes practice. It takes practice to develop proficiency in its use. The dialogue and its practice has rules and skills to learn. The rules point to the nature of correct practice; perhaps a bit like at the gym or in yoga.

            A long range aim of the practice is learning  to think together coherently. An earlier aim could be called "effective listening." It might be called  listening practice, but it calls for the use of mind as well as ears. The satisfying power of thinking together may be begin with improved listening skills.

            Thinking together is not learned quickly and is not even much considered in early practice. Even so, it is a goal of the practice. It is a growing and learning process in which our individuality is respected and honored.

            There were times and places this kind of talk was more common. It became more uncommon and is still rare, but is experiencing renewal. It seems tome that it is urgent that more of us practice this dialogue and I intend to post more about it. It may be urgent for our benefit and the benefit of our world that we practice a more effectively honed, coherent communication. You can begin to practice more effective dialogue right now.

            You can learn to form a dialogue practice group for you and others.

            A dialogue practice group benefits and can thrive when its members strive for diversity and inclusiveness.

            For our well-being and, perhaps, our survival we need to better share our awareness and and experience, and become better able to talk more coherently together. Being able to talk more coherently enables us to better think together which enables us to do intelligently and effectively that which we deem necessary.

            That's it for now. This is the end of this little introduction. I intend to post more about the dialogue and its practice. Comment in the "comments" window below.

            Just talk can lead to action. Better talk can lead to better action. Very good talk can lead to really good action happening sooner.

                    RCS