Dear Gandhi - man of peace ' iPeace group,
When Gandhi conceived of 'Satyagraha' a strong part of his concept grew from his dialogue (dialectic) based profession as a community lawyer and advocate for his people. If we are to create peace among us, it is largely through similar processes of dialogue that we facilitate, not reserved to conflict but more importantly in our everyday life.
We can facilitate formal (debate structured) dialogue as family members, neighbours and colleagues in research for a better life together as well as in conflict resolution among us at each primary level such as in our families, communities or workplaces. Humanity is suffering from communication blocks, when we don't engage at these primary levels to employ each other's gifts and services locally.
I offer an easy to use tool called 'Both-Sides-Now, Equal time recorded dialogues' for research, conflict resolution and contract or agreement attainment. Healing and nurturing our relationships are key to achieving peace. Each of us represents a perspective or voice of nature, life and spirit.
Like the human eye, each of us sees in two dimensions. It is in comparing or triangulating the differences and similarities between the two eyes that the human brain constructs three dimensional perception. While each of our two eyes only have 7 centimetres of separation, as individuals, families, communities and states, we have many degrees of separation from which we can understand this 3-D plus world in all of its dimensions.
Individuals are self-programmed by their experiences to as well resolve disputes and proactively create. The ancient art of dialectics (Socrates) is as well practiced among 'indigenous' (Latin = 'self-generating') cultures of the world, however debate / dialectics have been erased through colonialism and violence from our community practice.
It is simple for all of us to use these practices, today with a voice or video recording device and the time recording functions found on most wrist watches. When a recording (traditionally in indigenous communities in the circle of the people) is being made individuals are called to a higher self. This format can be used with or without a facilitator. We can resolve and align our resources / abilities without the expense and often the interference of professional mediators (lawyers, psychiatrists, counsellors etc.) who may not understand human strengths. While professions can play a role in our lives, they should never try to replace our primary engagements with ourselves.
Mohandas Gandhi as a community lawyer, employed a principle of seeking the best intentions of both his allies and opponents in the courtroom. This form of formal congenial 'debate' (French = 'de' = 'undo' + 'bate' = 'the fight') allows individuals, families and communities, a way of understanding diverse perspectives and as well to create synergies among them.
If all parties in community, dispute or war held the 'right to dialogue' (typically interest or affiliate groups must first engage their members) and these dialogues are published, then no one would take up arms, for in human experience 'truth' (satya) is the far greater force and 'agraha' ('search') is humanity's quest = (satyagraha).
'Both-Sides-Now' comes in a 2 page version. I can refer individuals to some other illustrative resources such as three cartoons by Bill Watterson (I hope Bill W. will give permission to have them circulated for peace), Joni Mitchell's song 'Both-Sides-Now', quotes from Plato's 'The Republic' on Socrates' dialectics and references to indigenous practices of dialogue. Just making this free and accessible process available for all, would disarm combattants everywhere and bring us peace in our time. It is important however to understand that; this violent condition we are held in, is universal and requires that all of us engage each other and learn to see 3-dimensions plus.
Towards 7 billion dialogues everywhere with everybody,
Douglas Jack at eco-montreal@mcgill.ca