Insight Dialogue as Spiritual Therapy

Insight Dialogue is a meditation practice codeveloped by the author that integrates Buddhist Insight Meditation (Pali: vipassana; Sanskrit: vipashyana) with dialogue or "talking circle" practice. Bringing together the two ancient threads of profound mindfulness of the experience of rising and falling and the power of relationship to other people, the practice of Insight Dialogue offers a means of meditation that is highly therapeutic: The entanglements born of stress and confusion are brought to the surface and released. This transformational process is discussed in two ways: as reconditioning and deconditioning. Reconditioning refers to changing bad habits associated with speaking, listening, and relating by the intentional practice of new habits such as pausing for mindfulness. Deconditioning refers to the fundamental release of underlying patterns that generate entanglement. The Insight Dialogue guidelines are presented along with a brief discussion of how the practice works in face-to-face groups and online.