Dialoguers

 As dialoguers we tend to say that we need to listen, and not to exclude anything; but we can't listen to everything. The whole is too much. There is no way by which we can always get hold of the whole. It is the nature of our thinking to abstract, limit, and define.

You might want to check your favorite online dictionary for a full meaning of "to abstract."

Another act nearly impossible for any of us, is to comprehend the whole truth. So, as practical dialoguers, we need to keep aware that we can't hear everything and that we can practically never understand all that we hear.

As dialoguers it is best not to demand anything of our dialoguing companions. I do hope that we are most often trying to be honest.

As dialoguers we are not authorities. None of us is a father or a teacher of the group. There is a lot that we can learn from one another.

Difficult for new dialoguers to understand is that we seem to have no purpose or agenda, no goal or set destination, that we seem not to accomplish anything, or that nobody seems to have to agree on anything.

Group dialogue practice can be among the best facets of one's life. The practice puts more meaning, understanding, and peace within our reach. Positively.




by Richard Sheehan 

Dialogue Practice: What it is and what it isn't.

Dialogue With RSC: About the nature of this practice    

 Dialogue Practice is not:

~ a place to make a particular point prevail.
~ a debate or discussion.
~ an attempt to gain points.
~ a game to win or lose.

A dialogue practice group is a way: 

~ to an activity which helps us to be us.
~ through the meaning of word.
~ to an honest supportive activity.
~ to greater awareness an enhanced consciousness.
~ to hone our listening skills.
~ to develop new speaking skis.
~ to practice effective methods of communication.
~ to cultural preservation, growth, and creativity.
~ of making a healthy effective society more probable.
~ to meet interesting people in an interesting environment. 
~ of putting honest thoughts on the table where we can look at them and begin to find their meaning.
~ of being heard.
~ of finding pleasure in speaking up.
~ to understanding among us and within us.
~ to satisfying relationship.
~ to exchange ideas and opinions.
~ to share experience.
~ to learn to effectively communicate outside the group.
~ to practice a "second" language.
~ to peace and good-will.
~ for us to see our words as gifts.
~ to keep a stream of meaning flowing among us.

According to David Bohm 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.

 

                There is more on this site and more to come.

                Thank you for reading,

                

                                                             Richard Sheehan

What's So Special About Our Dialogue Practice?

Dialogue With RCS: The title above is just one of the questions people have had about our dialogue practice.

At first the answer seems to be "Not much; Mostly we sit around and listen." 
Then again it is amazing that such a practice exists. It is wonderful that it exists. It is a wonder that anyone shows up at our meetings.

Than too, there are very special facts like: Our dialogue practice builds and maintains cultures! It supports world peace and peace in Colombia. It broadens participants' understanding. It brings increased meaning into our lives! It helps husbands and wives to better understandings!

By checking out more posts on this blog you can find out a lot.

Here are a few other things which seem special about our dialogue practice just now.

~ It's old, but it's new.
~ We come to understand the opinions of others.
~ We feel that our practice is important.
~ We care little when nothing seems to be done.
~ We share meanings.
~ We may come to think together.
~ We sometimes find that our practice affects us at a deeper more beautiful level.
~ We become a better we.
~ We get to know important assumptions and opinions of others.
~ We become more skillful speakers and listeners.
~ Our understanding becomes broader, wider, and deeper.

~ It's for special every day people.

                More to come.


        

                                                                                                            Richard S.

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