Dialogue literally means “to talk among.” For physicist and philosopher David Bohm dialogue meant “observing how ‘thought is generated and sustained at the collective level.’ This kind of inquiry, he said, ‘calls into question deeply held assumptions regarding culture, meaning, and identity. Dialogue is an invitation to test the viability of traditional definitions of what it means to be human, and collectively to explore the prospect of an enhanced humanity.’”[i]
The dialogue that Bohm described is exactly the type of communication we are having in this encyclopedia within the context of Simple Reality with the goal of calling into question the viability of P-B. Our dialogue then goes a step further and defines an alternative paradigm (P-A), and also how to accomplish the required paradigm shift.
Before any truly meaningful dialogue can take place, it must first be established whether the context is one of the relative (P-B) or the Absolute (P-A). If this is not done, then what will take place will not be a profound communication but a perpetuation of human suffering. If the context is one of Simple Reality (P-A) then the outcome will be in support of compassion (response). If not, then the outcome will be an expression of fear (reaction).
For example, participants in a dialogue within the context of Simple Reality will naturally avoid labels which are an expression and/or projection of afflictive emotions and instead speak from the heart, which is an expression of feeling or present moment awareness. In fact, that is how we can determine whether the participants in the dialogue have succeeded in meeting the basic criteria for profound and productive communication.
Is the outcome of the dialogue an expression of or a reaction to fear, or is the outcome an expression of compassion? The purpose of dialogue then is to affirm the reality of compassion over fear, joy over unhappiness, peace over violence, freedom over slavery and perfection over illusion. Let’s talk.
[i] Adams, Anne. “Can We Talk.” Shift: At the Frontier of Consciousness. Petaluma, California: Institute of Noetic Sciences, September-November 2004, p. 16.
