Council

Councils are held in many different venues throughout the Sangha.

It is a sharing practice in a circle with the three tenets of not-knowing (being open to all that arises); bearing witness (right listening, right speech) and taking action, speaking just enough and expand-ing to include all. The format includes talking pieces and setting a ritual container.

Overview of Council Rules

1. We sit in not-knowing. Always returning to not-knowing throughout.
2. We bear witness by speaking and listening from the heart.
3. We speak leanly, at the same time, saying what is important for us to say.
4. We may hold silence.
5. We listen without judgment, comment, etc. either out loud or in our own thoughts.
6. We speak only from our own experience.
7. We receive another’s sharing as our own sharing.
8. We do not prepare what we are going to say. We simply plunge.
9. All sharing remains in the circle. We honor confidentiality.
10. We use a talking piece. We speak or maintain silence when it is held by us; we listen when it is held by another. We do not cross talk.

We are also offering Introduction to Council workshops from time to time. This class covers the tenets of Council practice, including how to facilitate a Council and the special circumstances of Council when it is practiced in the context of ongoing relationships in the Sangha. Emphasizes mindfully communicating with each other while holding the intentions of deep listening, speaking from the heart, and lean speech.