Learner Nick Consoletti convened this peer day, attended by myself, Pat
Knox, Hirsh Diamond, and Mary Benda. This happened to be the first peer
day that Nick has convened, and he did his best to provide us with lots
of material about Dialogue, including his personal background and experience
with it, and the history of the concept as developed by David Bohm. To help
us with our self-evaluations, Nick provided copies of articles and newsletters.
I longed for an experience of Dialogue. Halfway through the day I realized
that Nick and I had miscommunicated. Early in the day I had said something
like "I am not as much interested in Dialogue as I am in the chance
to experience it." Nick seems to have heard the first half of this
sentence, but not the second. He seemed confused why I was at the peer day
if I wasn't "interested." I couldn't seem to get him to understand
my real interest. I meant that experiencing Dialogue, as close as we could
under the limitations of a peer day, meant more to me than learning the
full history of the concept. It is the difference between learning about
a bicycle, the history of the manufacturer, how the gears work, where the
rubber for the tires came from, etc. vs. getting on the thing and trying
to ride it.
We met a coffee shop for Nick's history and overview. We then went to the
Theosophical Library in Capital Hill and watched Bohm talk about Dialogue.
I liked the video, though I think it might have benefited from editing.
Alternatively, an actual taping of a Dialogue group in action with Bohm
providing a voice-over might have proved really enlightening.
Dialogue brings attention to the assumptions behind our speech; it draws
our attention to the substance of thinking. Bohm speaks of thought operating
but then hiding, so that we get the impression that nothing precedes or
grounds what we think. Bohm uses the term 'thought' to include any product
of the mind, including emotions. Other people and groups play a special
role in this process.
Clearly, since we live in a world surrounded by the benefits of thinking,
what has prevented us from developing something like Dialogue before? I
will try to answer this in my own way, though we did not address this topic
directly during the day.
My habitual ways of thinking emerges from the ground of my existence and
experiences. My thoughts feel right and natural and therefore become invisible
to my self for further examination. When I try, I may end up convincing
myself all over again how right I am.
Another person has a different history, experiences and thoughts. We may
disagree, or agree, for slightly or significantly different reasons. When
we allow ourselves to question each other about the basis of our thinking
assumptions and presuppositions can be exposed to more thinking and reflection.
We might still hold our thoughts, but not as naively as before.
Bohm feels a big group, 20 minimum, is too large for rigid group think to
take hold for very long, if they accept the Discipline of Dialogue. He sees
no facilitator and no starting 'topic' and no 'work the group has to do.
We start, and we talk and think about what we say and think. Then we go
home and come back next week.
As Nick admits from his experience of promoting and running such a group
for eighteen months in Eugene, Oregon, people who self-select to joining
a Dialogue group share an attitude about the value of examining consciousness.
Bohm feels the Discipline of Dialogue stands on its own merits. He seems
unaware or indifferent to the long-standing transfer of learning challenge.
Educators and trainers constantly puzzle over how to help people transfer
skills and knowledge gained in one context, usually classroom, training
or retreat settings, to other contexts, such as the workplace or boardroom.
We can benefit from supporting a cultural and group norm that examination
of assumptions be allowed within a group, at any time, particularly during
times of group stress and high-risk decision making. Irving L. Janis wrote
the classic text in this area, Victims of Groupthink: A Psychological Study
of Foreign-Policy Decisions and Fiascoes in 1972. But the lessons can be
applied to any group making important decisions.
Three members of the Pacific Northwest Organization Development Network
answered my wish to experience Dialogue in action on August 17th when they
led the Spirituality in the Workplace workshop for chapter members. The
facilitators had us draw how 'spirit' has affected the way we work. I drew
a large tombstone with "Baby Doe, 8-10-95 to 8-17-95" to symbolize
my belief that the spirit of these babies dying so young guide my work in
preventing infant mortality. We shared our drawings with another person,
then with a small group of four before the whole group met to touch on highlights.
In groups of eight we used these four Dialogue Principles to continue our
dialogue: