GUIDELINES
for Dialogue
VOW
Resolve that our time together will be met with openness and spacious awareness.
LISTEN
Focus 100%. Listening means acknowledging and attending to what is heard, without addition or subtraction. We must be careful not to categorize, define or otherwise accessorize the already complete truth of what we hear. In other words, if we release our grasp on our supposed “position”, we naturally make room for something new.
ASK QUESTIONS
Become curious. Cultivate a willingness to go beyond what we ‘know’ and encounter with genuine interest what arises in the here and now. Invite the courage that it takes to maintain a “don’t know mind”.
SUSPEND JUDGEMENT
Notice reactions and judgments to others and ourselves, and let them go. Avoid gossip. Understand and acknowledge the impact of what is said, which can sometimes be quite different than our intent.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Protect the confidentiality of our exchange. Take home learnings, but don’t identify anyone other than yourself. If you want to follow up with anyone regarding something they said during a session, ask first and respect their wishes.
SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE
Being ourselves, share the confusion and clarity; look to our experience rather than our opinions. Avoid leaning on the words of experts and authorities. Do not speak for a whole group or express assumptions about the experience of others.
BECOME NEW
Risk showing up as we are in the moment, leaving behind our habit mind and also our habitual story lines, about both ourselves and others.
TRUST
Trust the strength and wisdom of process. Refrain from the urge to ‘fix’ or give advice. Rather, see and reflect the completeness of each person, situation and condition, just as it is.
BECOME EQUAL
Each person speaks with the voice of the whole. Everything that arises within us and within the dialogue is some aspect of the truth.
MOVE UP/MOVE BACK
Encourage full participation by all present. Take note of who is speaking and who is not. If you tend to speak often, consider “moving back” and vice versa.
Resolve that our time together will be met with openness and spacious awareness.
LISTEN
Focus 100%. Listening means acknowledging and attending to what is heard, without addition or subtraction. We must be careful not to categorize, define or otherwise accessorize the already complete truth of what we hear. In other words, if we release our grasp on our supposed “position”, we naturally make room for something new.
ASK QUESTIONS
Become curious. Cultivate a willingness to go beyond what we ‘know’ and encounter with genuine interest what arises in the here and now. Invite the courage that it takes to maintain a “don’t know mind”.
SUSPEND JUDGEMENT
Notice reactions and judgments to others and ourselves, and let them go. Avoid gossip. Understand and acknowledge the impact of what is said, which can sometimes be quite different than our intent.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Protect the confidentiality of our exchange. Take home learnings, but don’t identify anyone other than yourself. If you want to follow up with anyone regarding something they said during a session, ask first and respect their wishes.
SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE
Being ourselves, share the confusion and clarity; look to our experience rather than our opinions. Avoid leaning on the words of experts and authorities. Do not speak for a whole group or express assumptions about the experience of others.
BECOME NEW
Risk showing up as we are in the moment, leaving behind our habit mind and also our habitual story lines, about both ourselves and others.
TRUST
Trust the strength and wisdom of process. Refrain from the urge to ‘fix’ or give advice. Rather, see and reflect the completeness of each person, situation and condition, just as it is.
BECOME EQUAL
Each person speaks with the voice of the whole. Everything that arises within us and within the dialogue is some aspect of the truth.
MOVE UP/MOVE BACK
Encourage full participation by all present. Take note of who is speaking and who is not. If you tend to speak often, consider “moving back” and vice versa.
