Everyday our thoughts betray us. Operating in complete secrecy they make us see the world as it may not really be. And if questioned stand up and say “It’s not our fault!”.
In On Dialogue David Bohm has written a compelling series of essays that have serious implications for how we, as individuals, communities and society, can manage the chaotic mess we are starting to see. Bohm suggests the cause of all the symptoms we see such as broken down communication, terrorism and isolationism are rooted in the nature of thought. We each old our thoughts dearly; perhaps in both senses of the word.
To illustrate I’ll use the example of a racist thought but it applies to all. Imagine or recall a situation in which you have had a racist thought. Bohm argues that in such a situation we completely fail to recognise the source of our racist tendencies. We do not acknowledge that we are the source of the thought. Our reactions, be they positive or negative, physical or emotional, all play out in accordance with the original thought, yet the failure to see the true source of the thought renders us powerless to change our actions. Cultural narratives, past experience and social standing may only shape the racist thought. They did not create it.
“…it is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces society, and indeed the whole of human nature and consciousness today. Moreover, it may turn out that such a form of free exchange of ideas and information is of fundamental relevance for transforming culture and freeing it of destructive misinformation, so that creativity can be liberated.”
David Bohm believes that by practicing [Dialogue](http://www.muc.de/heuvel/ dialogue/) we can begin to overcome the problem and start to turn society back towards a more stable life. Dialogue is a communication style that is extremely open and seeks understanding over correction and multiple answers over one. It helps to highlight the thoughts we are having and bring them into the open.
I’ve believe Dialogue is an excellent discipline to practice.