Essential Dialogue

"Authenticity is an inner attitude and an encounter attitude. It relates to the persons own inner being on one side and to the relationship of one person with others on the other side. Being authentic within oneself is a precondition to enter an authentic dialogue with others. When this happens to leaders, then organizations catapults from merely good to truly great."
Quote from "Authentic Leadership; A Challenge in Capacity Building for Water Management" by Wolfgang Bischoff and Atem Ramsundersingh

The principles and processes of communication and dialogue are the principles and processes of contemplation. All dialogue is within oneself, with oneself. The parts of our minds we identify with are stated as I. The parts of our minds that we suppress are seen as the other and its attributes are projected on to the personal or social other. The dialogue is between these two parts, our divided selves.

The purpose of dialogue is to re-establish internal harmony. The personae and societies that are in full harmony within themselves do not initiate conflict with others; if they do happen to come into such conflict at the initiative of the other, they help resolve the conflict within the other and thereby reduce the friction and confrontation.

In contemplative processes, one brings to manifestation in the conscious mind that which had been lying unidentified. One does not view these divisive parts as principles in opposition to each other but examines them to see where and how they complement each other, and render to one the complete picture of oneself. Nor does a contemplative person postulate opposites in the universe but observes and understands the interaction among complementary forces without each or any of which the universe wouldn't be complete.

Communication and dialogue then becomes an inter-contemplative process. Two together contemplate the various divided parts in order to manifest the picture of the complete and harmonised wholeness which will then become the new identity among the multiple dialogue partners.
When I views itself as the primary and someone else as the other, so also that other views himself as primary and views my I as the other. The abolition of the otherness is the goal of all communication and dialogue. Then there cease to be two primary I's and no two seek to work in partnership, there no longer being two.

In the inter-contemplative processes of this nature, the one, with all its parts assimilated and manifested in its own whole being, works to produce all that is beneficent to the complete All. This is higher than altruism where one selflessly works for the benefit of an other, the other yet remaining a force or principle recognised separately in its own right.

Source: Contemplation and Communication; Remarks during the International Dialogue Diving into Harmony; Providing Leadership for Sustainable Development, A contribution to the United Nations Decade on Education for Sustainable Development by Swami Veda Bharati.