From kirstenschneide at hotmail.com  Thu Sep 14 00:05:46 2006
From: kirstenschneide at hotmail.com (kirsten schneide)
Date: Fri Sep 15 00:57:44 2006
Subject: [Bohm_Dialogue] Truths
In-Reply-To: <47119B11-550C-4608-B014-BF47224241CF@donfactor.demon.co.uk>
Message-ID: <BAY107-F24BE8C47C5CEBA6D958C7BA8280@phx.gbl>


Seeking Factor,

You want some dialogical truths?

How about chewing on that one for a break ;-?

A black man living in a high-crime American city can expect to live 21 fewer 
years than a woman of Asian descent in the United States. The man's life 
expectancy, in fact, is closer to that of people living in West Africa than 
it is to the average white American.

..... just as an aperitif, Dear!



Love & Skin, Kirsten
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld




>>Which of the zillion truths are you refering to again, please?
>
>Whichever one I mention I am certain that you will have a good
>snarky answer for it, so what 's the point? That's a question and
>that's the truth
>don

_________________________________________________________________
Check the weather nationwide with MSN Search: Try it now!  
http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=weather&FORM=WLMTAG

From ae.dropper at juno.com  Thu Sep 14 16:04:35 2006
From: ae.dropper at juno.com (ae.dropper@juno.com)
Date: Fri Sep 15 16:58:54 2006
Subject: [Bohm_Dialogue] welcoming content
Message-ID: <20060914.100436.3524.2.ae.dropper@juno.com>

Objection to the content here is because of 
[some elaboration on or complication of] the thought
that "This makes me unhappy." 

Objections?

pat
From Rodger.Hyodo at dialogos.com  Thu Sep 14 16:49:49 2006
From: Rodger.Hyodo at dialogos.com (Rodger.Hyodo@dialogos.com)
Date: Fri Sep 15 17:42:01 2006
Subject: [Bohm_Dialogue] Re: Bohm_Dialogue Digest, Vol 19, Issue 15
In-Reply-To: <20060915100002.B1E1622C82@web.internal.van-den-heuvel.org>
Message-ID: <OF7D4B9F19.D39F5FDD-ON852571E9.00483AF7-852571E9.00517774@dialogos.com>







Rodger__ Aikido was essentially unheard of when I started. In most dojos it
just looked like judo. But in one dojo things that should be physically
impossible were being done with ease. I joined.

After a couple of years of practicing I recognized an odd pattern in the
group; physically impossible things were done on only some nights, and
coincidentally on those nights; the group felt in harmony.By harmony I dont
mean agreeable or in agreement. The class was small and the instructor
rarely spoke English.

It was one of those rare occassions that the instructor chose to answer me.
He said, -Each group has an energy, a ki, composed of each individual in
the group. When a group energy is harmonious it is capable of moving beyond
boundaries of prior, self-imposed limitation.

He went on, -However, even if you have 99 of 100 people willing, re: ki/
attitude, it only requires one person to be in-the-group but working
against the ki/ attitude of the group, and the group will not achieve
harmony.

I thought, wow, that sounds pretty flakey/ delicate. But then I realized
this was the only place I had witnessed that remarkable crossing over from
physically mechanical to absolute fluidity; When my vision and hearing
became extraordinary, and laws of gravity very flexible.

Similarly, there were many dialogues with David Bohm when the group would
be sitting paused in a quiet moment and that sudden shift into
unexplainable group awareness would happen. Everyone felt it happen, but
no-one would speak while it was happening out of a respect for the delicate
nature of the new intelligence.
We were beginning to learn something new about thought, beyond prior
boundaries of self imposed limitation. Since 1983 research in neurology has
become incomparable to all that was known about brain function prior to
then. And I know thinking is not thought, but I tend to see a link.

Anyway, my point is; there are always going to be rules of a sort -- no
matter how right/ wrong they appear, they are simply preferences based on
values.
Often this group is everybit as personal as a person-to-person dialogue,
but in this group members remain accessible 24-7 via the internet.

Possibly some further consideration should go into the list, re: how
confirmed individuals participate, not just names or pseudo names.
The group might enjoy this process of learning what it gains/ loses by way
of harmony, in favor of some ideas and ideals._R
.
.
Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:39:47 +0100
From: Don Factor <donfactor@donfactor.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Subject: Re: [Bohm_Dialogue] welcoming content
.
I think where Kirsten's participation is concerned in this system,
there is one assumption that, maybe, needs to be looked at again.

Any suggestion, anyone?
don
.
.
.
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From ae.dropper at juno.com  Thu Sep 14 17:29:37 2006
From: ae.dropper at juno.com (ae.dropper@juno.com)
Date: Fri Sep 15 18:24:48 2006
Subject: [Bohm_Dialogue] Re: Bohm_Dialogue Digest, Vol 19, Issue 15
Message-ID: <20060914.113003.3524.6.ae.dropper@juno.com>

In an Aikido group the chances of all in "harmony" are MUCH greater than
in an open dialogue group where, 3 among 10 or 20 will be remarkable. The
"verbal sphere" throws out an unprecedented challenge. Bohm's capacity
for allowance of "Intelligence" combined with his presence and the
presence of those who 
respected his work on thought, could make quite a difference in the 
dynamic of a group, during certain moments.

People in groups can do amazing things together. Get us verbalizing 
together though, and look out! And when we are not overtly arguing 
or fighting or venting, we are 'quietly' fuming verbally. And then
denying this. 
What IS it about those little words???? And on a screen yet. No bodies in
sight 
where guns could be hidden in pockets to account for the danger that is
felt. 
And why all the pretending NOT, and/or pretending insignificance and 
irrelevance of this?

pat

On Thu, 14 Sep 2006 10:49:49 -0400 Rodger.Hyodo@dialogos.com writes:
Rodger__ Aikido was essentially unheard of when I started. In most dojos
it just looked like judo. But in one dojo things that should be
physically impossible were being done with ease. I joined.

After a couple of years of practicing I recognized an odd pattern in the
group; physically impossible things were done on only some nights, and
coincidentally on those nights; the group felt in harmony.By harmony I
dont mean agreeable or in agreement. The class was small and the
instructor rarely spoke English.   

It was one of those rare occassions that the instructor chose to answer
me. He said, -Each group has an energy, a ki, composed of each individual
in the group. When a group energy is harmonious it is capable of moving
beyond boundaries of prior, self-imposed limitation. 

He went on, -However, even if you have 99 of 100 people willing, re: ki/
attitude, it only requires one person to be in-the-group but working
against the ki/ attitude of the group, and the group will not achieve
harmony.

I thought, wow, that sounds pretty flakey/ delicate. But then I realized
this was the only place I had witnessed that remarkable crossing over
from physically mechanical to absolute fluidity; When my vision and
hearing became extraordinary, and laws of gravity very flexible.

Similarly, there were many dialogues with David Bohm when the group would
be sitting paused in a quiet moment and that sudden shift into
unexplainable group awareness would happen. Everyone felt it happen, but
no-one would speak while it was happening out of a respect for the
delicate nature of the new intelligence. 
We were beginning to learn something new about thought, beyond prior
boundaries of self imposed limitation. Since 1983 research in neurology
has become incomparable to all that was known about brain function prior
to then. And I know thinking is not thought, but I tend to see a link.

Anyway, my point is; there are always going to be rules of a sort -- no
matter how right/ wrong they appear, they are simply preferences based on
values. 
Often this group is everybit as personal as a person-to-person dialogue,
but in this group members remain accessible 24-7 via the internet. 

Possibly some further consideration should go into the list, re: how
confirmed individuals participate, not just names or pseudo names.
The group might enjoy this process of learning what it gains/ loses by
way of harmony, in favor of some ideas and ideals._R
.
.
Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:39:47 +0100
From: Don Factor <donfactor@donfactor.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Subject: Re: [Bohm_Dialogue] welcoming content
.
I think where Kirsten's participation is concerned in this system,  
there is one assumption that, maybe, needs to be looked at again.  

Any suggestion, anyone?
don
.
.
.
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From donfactor at donfactor.demon.co.uk  Thu Sep 14 17:51:45 2006
From: donfactor at donfactor.demon.co.uk (Don Factor)
Date: Fri Sep 15 18:43:50 2006
Subject: [Bohm_Dialogue] welcoming content
In-Reply-To: <20060914.100436.3524.2.ae.dropper@juno.com>
References: <20060914.100436.3524.2.ae.dropper@juno.com>
Message-ID: <EA24FAED-EE9E-4AF9-844B-18E4D9105EC0@donfactor.demon.co.uk>

> Objection to the content here is because of
> [some elaboration on or complication of] the thought
> that "This makes me unhappy."
>
> Objections?
>
> pat

Not an objection, but perhaps an oversimplification.

I think that just about anything can be reduced to its lowest common  
denominator, but in that reduction a great deal of meaning gets lost.  
So, it is not the content, in and of itself, that I sometimes find  
objectionable but the meaning of that content. We know what words  
denote. but we have also to intuit the connotation that they carry in  
any particular context. Without this tacit level of understanding,  
there would be no possibility of communication. But to do this we  
have to approach each question with more of an artistic hand than  
just an analytical or literalist understanding.

So sometimes I find the "tone " of someone's remarks objectionable  
because they imply an attitude that distracts us from the seriousness  
of our search for understanding. Peter Krauss's behaviour, first  
under his own name and later as gas, was an example of this. And now  
Kirsten, whoever Kirsten may be, is another, perhaps, so far, less  
extreme example.

I would suggest, though,  that our inquiry here is not meant to be an  
inquiry into whatever someone wants to have happen as if it were a  
kid's playground with one of them wanting to be king or queen of the  
sandpile, nor is it an anything goes sort of exercise. That is what  
Krauss wanted to make it. Rather its an inquiry into some of the more  
subtle and, dare I say, significant realms of human consciousness or  
what Bohm called "the totality of all that is."  And that's what I  
value here. So,  I feel that such a search needs to be treated  
delicately and seriously. And when it is not, then, yes, it does make  
me feel unhappy.

don




From earthsky at tiscali.co.uk  Thu Sep 14 18:22:07 2006
From: earthsky at tiscali.co.uk (Gill Wyatt)
Date: Fri Sep 15 19:16:06 2006
Subject: [Bohm_Dialogue] Re: Bohm_Dialogue Digest, Vol 19, Issue 15
In-Reply-To: <20060914.113003.3524.6.ae.dropper@juno.com>
Message-ID: <C12F403F.9473%earthsky@tiscali.co.uk>

Hi Pat and Rodger,

I have worked with groups as a facilitator for nearly 20 years in differing
capacities. For about the last 10 years I became aware of how some groups
came into harmony through the spoken word ... so that by listening to each
others differences, leaning into what was expressed to unearth the
assumptions and by letting patterns and connections unfold there was what I
have come to call a 'holonic shift'. Its as if the group takes up a
particular thread and gradually each person joins the harmonious (although
at times there will be conflict and strong disagreement) unfolding of a
creative shared meaning. It stuns me when this happens and I feel such awe.

I wrote my Masters dissertation about this. And I'd agree one person can
prevent it occurring. I'm curious about the implication that David Bohm's
presence and the aikido's instructor presence played a part in the groups
energy being harmonious. I've felt a shyness to look at say the part that
the facilitaor plays seeing that I have been the facilitator.

When this 'holonic shift' occurs the functioning of the group lifts to a
much higher level and individuals consciousness seems to be at least
temporarily lifted and expanded ...

I know i have taken only a part of what you were exploring ...and I am
finding my feet regarding how this discussion site works ...

Gill

From: ae.dropper@juno.com
Reply-To: bohm_dialogue@david-bohm.org
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2006 11:29:37 -0400
To: bohm_dialogue@david-bohm.org
Subject: Re: [Bohm_Dialogue] Re: Bohm_Dialogue Digest, Vol 19, Issue 15


In an Aikido group the chances of all in "harmony" are MUCH greater than
in an open dialogue group where, 3 among 10 or 20 will be remarkable. The
"verbal sphere" throws out an unprecedented challenge. Bohm's capacity for
allowance of "Intelligence" combined with his presence and the presence of
those who 
respected his work on thought, could make quite a difference in the
dynamic of a group, during certain moments.

People in groups can do amazing things together. Get us verbalizing
together though, and look out! And when we are not overtly arguing
or fighting or venting, we are 'quietly' fuming verbally. And then denying
this. 
What IS it about those little words???? And on a screen yet. No bodies in
sight 
where guns could be hidden in pockets to account for the danger that is
felt. 
And why all the pretending NOT, and/or pretending insignificance and
irrelevance of this?

pat

On Thu, 14 Sep 2006 10:49:49 -0400 Rodger.Hyodo@dialogos.com writes:
Rodger__ Aikido was essentially unheard of when I started. In most dojos it
just looked like judo. But in one dojo things that should be physically
impossible were being done with ease. I joined.

After a couple of years of practicing I recognized an odd pattern in the
group; physically impossible things were done on only some nights, and
coincidentally on those nights; the group felt in harmony.By harmony I dont
mean agreeable or in agreement. The class was small and the instructor
rarely spoke English.

It was one of those rare occassions that the instructor chose to answer me.
He said, -Each group has an energy, a ki, composed of each individual in the
group. When a group energy is harmonious it is capable of moving beyond
boundaries of prior, self-imposed limitation.

He went on, -However, even if you have 99 of 100 people willing, re: ki/
attitude, it only requires one person to be in-the-group but working against
the ki/ attitude of the group, and the group will not achieve harmony.

I thought, wow, that sounds pretty flakey/ delicate. But then I realized
this was the only place I had witnessed that remarkable crossing over from
physically mechanical to absolute fluidity; When my vision and hearing
became extraordinary, and laws of gravity very flexible.

Similarly, there were many dialogues with David Bohm when the group would be
sitting paused in a quiet moment and that sudden shift into unexplainable
group awareness would happen. Everyone felt it happen, but no-one would
speak while it was happening out of a respect for the delicate nature of the
new intelligence. 
We were beginning to learn something new about thought, beyond prior
boundaries of self imposed limitation. Since 1983 research in neurology has
become incomparable to all that was known about brain function prior to
then. And I know thinking is not thought, but I tend to see a link.

Anyway, my point is; there are always going to be rules of a sort -- no
matter how right/ wrong they appear, they are simply preferences based on
values. 
Often this group is everybit as personal as a person-to-person dialogue, but
in this group members remain accessible 24-7 via the internet.

Possibly some further consideration should go into the list, re: how
confirmed individuals participate, not just names or pseudo names.
The group might enjoy this process of learning what it gains/ loses by way
of harmony, in favor of some ideas and ideals._R
.
.
Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:39:47 +0100
From: Don Factor <donfactor@donfactor.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Subject: Re: [Bohm_Dialogue] welcoming content
.
I think where Kirsten's participation is concerned in this system,
there is one assumption that, maybe, needs to be looked at again.

Any suggestion, anyone?
don
.
.
. 


_______________________________________________
info:
www.david-bohm.org/mailman/listinfo/bohm_dialogue

post to: dialogue@david-bohm.net

dialogue facilitator:
facilitator@david-bohm.net

Administrator of the mailing list:
admin@david-bohm.net

_______________________________________________





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From benschcoe at hotmail.com  Thu Sep 14 18:35:56 2006
From: benschcoe at hotmail.com (Regina Bensch-Coe)
Date: Fri Sep 15 19:28:05 2006
Subject: [Bohm_Dialogue] Re: Bohm_Dialogue Digest, Vol 19, Issue 15
In-Reply-To: <OF7D4B9F19.D39F5FDD-ON852571E9.00483AF7-852571E9.00517774@dialogos.com>
Message-ID: <BAY123-F30505C9288C357ED190098B7290@phx.gbl>

Many posts ago, Pat contributed an essay comparing the work of Byron Katie 
and David Bohm. Unfortunately, Byron Katie’s work began (or reached a large 
audience) after David died.

Byron Katie holds public sessions throughout the world. Her style of 
dialogue involves doing “the work.” The person fills out a sheet and answers 
ordinary questions. Actually, they are fill-in-the-blank questions. For 
example, the first question might be: ___________ (name) should or should 
not  _______________.

“The work”-sheet is a list of assumptions,  inquiry of the assumptions, then 
turn-arounds. It looks quite simple, and noneffective, until Byron Katie 
dialogues with the individual. The session is two hours long, thus, Byron 
Katie only has time to work with three or four people. Most people in the 
audience want to do the work with Byron Katie, however, it is kind of 
frightening doing it in front of 1,000 people. The work can be extremely 
intimate.

Experiencing a core belief emerge, and then dissolve, is amazing. Witnessing 
this, is equally amazing.

At one session, the second person Byron Katie called up to the stage was a 
young, attractive,  fairly intelligent woman. I don’t remember her name. But 
for the sake of this story, let’s call her Kirsten.  According to Kirsten, 
her life was miserable because her boyfriend would not give her enough 
attention. He needed to change so that her life would be better. This is a 
very typical opening to the way the work starts. Byron Katie then amplifies 
what’s on the sheet and helps the individual see other possible 
perspectives. For example, “Is it absolutely true that he does not give you 
enough attention.”  “Is it absolutely true that _______”… continues on until 
there is a break in the belief.  Or, it is suspended, while other statements 
are explored. Sometimes during this suspension state, Byron Katie works with 
the audience, and eventually returns to the person on the stage.

Now for Kirsten it was ABSOLUTELY TRUE that she was perfect; the person that 
needed to change was her boyfriend. To the audience, it was obvious that she 
was using the forum to fit her agenda. Most of us were anxious to see how 
Byron Katie would dialogue with this very challenging person. However, Byron 
Katie was not the least bit disturbed. Byron Katie does not work with force 
or frustration, she just flows with, and follows an invisible energy. It is 
invisible, and yet it is not, because wherever she goes seems to be right.

While suspending the Kirsten challenge, she began working with someone else 
in the audience. As we watched the interaction, we observed Kirsten sitting 
there next to Katie, smiling and patiently waiting to resume interaction. 
Then, Byron Katie worked with another person in the audience until there was 
a breakthrough. Now, we were wondering: “How is she going to deal with 
Kirsten since time is running out?” In fact, we were already ten minutes 
beyond the scheduled time.

Suddenly, Byron Katie got up and sincerely thanked everyone at the session 
and said good-bye.  We were in shock. Byron Katie did not even give Kirsten 
special acknowledgement. She did not ignore her, she smiled at her as she 
did at everyone in the audience. We watched in silence as Kirsten got up and 
quietly walked away … with her boyfriend.

For Byron Katie, Kirsten is not a problem. However, Byron Katie only works 
with those who are willing to do the work. For me, this was one of the 
greatest learning experiences ever. The world is filled with Kirstens.


I sense that for some here in this dialogue group, Kirsten is not problem. 
There is a magic button called: delete



Regina


>From: Rodger.Hyodo@dialogos.com
>Reply-To: bohm_dialogue@david-bohm.org
>To: bohm_dialogue@david-bohm.org
>Subject: [Bohm_Dialogue] Re: Bohm_Dialogue Digest, Vol 19, Issue 15
>Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2006 10:49:49 -0400
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Rodger__ Aikido was essentially unheard of when I started. In most dojos it
>just looked like judo. But in one dojo things that should be physically
>impossible were being done with ease. I joined.
>
>After a couple of years of practicing I recognized an odd pattern in the
>group; physically impossible things were done on only some nights, and
>coincidentally on those nights; the group felt in harmony.By harmony I dont
>mean agreeable or in agreement. The class was small and the instructor
>rarely spoke English.
>
>It was one of those rare occassions that the instructor chose to answer me.
>He said, -Each group has an energy, a ki, composed of each individual in
>the group. When a group energy is harmonious it is capable of moving beyond
>boundaries of prior, self-imposed limitation.
>
>He went on, -However, even if you have 99 of 100 people willing, re: ki/
>attitude, it only requires one person to be in-the-group but working
>against the ki/ attitude of the group, and the group will not achieve
>harmony.
>
>I thought, wow, that sounds pretty flakey/ delicate. But then I realized
>this was the only place I had witnessed that remarkable crossing over from
>physically mechanical to absolute fluidity; When my vision and hearing
>became extraordinary, and laws of gravity very flexible.
>
>Similarly, there were many dialogues with David Bohm when the group would
>be sitting paused in a quiet moment and that sudden shift into
>unexplainable group awareness would happen. Everyone felt it happen, but
>no-one would speak while it was happening out of a respect for the delicate
>nature of the new intelligence.
>We were beginning to learn something new about thought, beyond prior
>boundaries of self imposed limitation. Since 1983 research in neurology has
>become incomparable to all that was known about brain function prior to
>then. And I know thinking is not thought, but I tend to see a link.
>
>Anyway, my point is; there are always going to be rules of a sort -- no
>matter how right/ wrong they appear, they are simply preferences based on
>values.
>Often this group is everybit as personal as a person-to-person dialogue,
>but in this group members remain accessible 24-7 via the internet.
>
>Possibly some further consideration should go into the list, re: how
>confirmed individuals participate, not just names or pseudo names.
>The group might enjoy this process of learning what it gains/ loses by way
>of harmony, in favor of some ideas and ideals._R
>.
>.
>Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:39:47 +0100
>From: Don Factor <donfactor@donfactor.demon.co.uk>
>Subject: Re: Subject: Re: [Bohm_Dialogue] welcoming content
>.
>I think where Kirsten's participation is concerned in this system,
>there is one assumption that, maybe, needs to be looked at again.
>
>Any suggestion, anyone?
>don
>.
>.
>.


>_______________________________________________
>info:
>www.david-bohm.org/mailman/listinfo/bohm_dialogue
>
>post to: dialogue@david-bohm.net
>
>dialogue facilitator:
>facilitator@david-bohm.net
>
>Administrator of the mailing list:
>admin@david-bohm.net
>
>_______________________________________________
>
>


From donfactor at donfactor.demon.co.uk  Thu Sep 14 20:33:29 2006
From: donfactor at donfactor.demon.co.uk (Don Factor)
Date: Fri Sep 15 21:25:33 2006
Subject: [Bohm_Dialogue] Re: Bohm_Dialogue Digest, Vol 19, Issue 15
In-Reply-To: <BAY123-F30505C9288C357ED190098B7290@phx.gbl>
References: <BAY123-F30505C9288C357ED190098B7290@phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <42C4D1FC-49E3-4170-B053-31ECF05F0D95@donfactor.demon.co.uk>

Very interesting. I think this shows something of the difference  
between a moderated group, or a group with a designated leader, and a  
Bohm style group. In a Bohm group the intention is not to solve  
personal problems or even collective problems, but rather to use the  
group as a kind of experiment aimed at seeing the way groups function  
in general. The idea is that the BD group becomes a kind of  
microculture with all of its dissonances, cliques,  scapegoats,  
harmonies and moments of creativity and insight where the  
participants are both experimenters and subjects. That, anyway, is a  
description of the BD in a living situation with 20 or more  
participants all sitting together in a circle.

What  we started here in this 'virtual dialogue' is, I think, a  
slightly different experiment, aimed at seeing if a group of people  
could continue Bohm's explorations, taking off from where he left  
off, while, of course, continuing to look deeply into his proposals  
and trying to use something akin to his  methods along the way. For  
me this has been a compelling and deeply serious exploration. What I  
and some of the rest of us have been attempting to do is to move  
toward a deeper understanding "in which we see the totality as an  
actual process that, when carried out properly, tends to bring both  
thought and what is thought about in a harmonious and overall orderly  
action, incorporating both thought and what is thought about in a  
single movement, in which analysis into separate parts (e.g., thought  
and thing) has no meaning."

How this might play out in practice is always difficult to predict.  
For a long while I have tended to refer to Bohm dialogue in its face- 
to-face form and also this variant as a "praxis", that is, I see it  
as a combination of theory and practice, each part flowing into and  
out of the other..

And for what its worth, I have found it to be fruitful in many  
respects, although not always comfortable, nor easily explainable.

And, all of the stuff concerning Kirsten is part of that collective  
learning experience. How we deal with "it" is what is interesting.  
Whether we succeed in changing anything is pretty much beside the  
point. I guess you could say, at this stage of the project, I see her  
as a kind of lab rat, but a voluntary one, or so it would seem.

don

On 14 Sep 2006, at 17:35, Regina Bensch-Coe wrote:

> Many posts ago, Pat contributed an essay comparing the work of  
> Byron Katie and David Bohm. Unfortunately, Byron Katie?s work began  
> (or reached a large audience) after David died.
>
> Byron Katie holds public sessions throughout the world. Her style  
> of dialogue involves doing ?the work.? The person fills out a sheet  
> and answers ordinary questions. Actually, they are fill-in-the- 
> blank questions. For example, the first question might be:  
> ___________ (name) should or should not  _______________.
>
> ?The work?-sheet is a list of assumptions,  inquiry of the  
> assumptions, then turn-arounds. It looks quite simple, and  
> noneffective, until Byron Katie dialogues with the individual. The  
> session is two hours long, thus, Byron Katie only has time to work  
> with three or four people. Most people in the audience want to do  
> the work with Byron Katie, however, it is kind of frightening doing  
> it in front of 1,000 people. The work can be extremely intimate.
>
> Experiencing a core belief emerge, and then dissolve, is amazing.  
> Witnessing this, is equally amazing.
>
> At one session, the second person Byron Katie called up to the  
> stage was a young, attractive,  fairly intelligent woman. I don?t  
> remember her name. But for the sake of this story, let?s call her  
> Kirsten.  According to Kirsten, her life was miserable because her  
> boyfriend would not give her enough attention. He needed to change  
> so that her life would be better. This is a very typical opening to  
> the way the work starts. Byron Katie then amplifies what?s on the  
> sheet and helps the individual see other possible perspectives. For  
> example, ?Is it absolutely true that he does not give you enough  
> attention.?  ?Is it absolutely true that _______?
> continues on until there is a break in the belief.  Or, it is  
> suspended, while other statements are explored. Sometimes during  
> this suspension state, Byron Katie works with the audience, and  
> eventually returns to the person on the stage.
>
> Now for Kirsten it was ABSOLUTELY TRUE that she was perfect; the  
> person that needed to change was her boyfriend. To the audience, it  
> was obvious that she was using the forum to fit her agenda. Most of  
> us were anxious to see how Byron Katie would dialogue with this  
> very challenging person. However, Byron Katie was not the least bit  
> disturbed. Byron Katie does not work with force or frustration, she  
> just flows with, and follows an invisible energy. It is invisible,  
> and yet it is not, because wherever she goes seems to be right.
>
> While suspending the Kirsten challenge, she began working with  
> someone else in the audience. As we watched the interaction, we  
> observed Kirsten sitting there next to Katie, smiling and patiently  
> waiting to resume interaction. Then, Byron Katie worked with  
> another person in the audience until there was a breakthrough. Now,  
> we were wondering: ?How is she going to deal with Kirsten since  
> time is running out?? In fact, we were already ten minutes beyond  
> the scheduled time.
>
> Suddenly, Byron Katie got up and sincerely thanked everyone at the  
> session and said good-bye.  We were in shock. Byron Katie did not  
> even give Kirsten special acknowledgement. She did not ignore her,  
> she smiled at her as she did at everyone in the audience. We  
> watched in silence as Kirsten got up and quietly walked away with  
> her boyfriend.
>
> For Byron Katie, Kirsten is not a problem. However, Byron Katie  
> only works with those who are willing to do the work. For me, this  
> was one of the greatest learning experiences ever. The world is  
> filled with Kirstens.
>
>
> I sense that for some here in this dialogue group, Kirsten is not  
> problem. There is a magic button called: delete
>
>
>
> Regina
>