Conclusions and proposal for action

The Encounter of Worldviews Foundation, a specialized platform for the contents, structures and methods on Dialogue, organized the International Dialogue Conference: Diving into the Deep - Towards a Mutual Understanding. The conference was held at Vanenburg Castle Putten, The Netherlands on 28-29 November 2002.

88 participants, 'captains of influence' from business, NGO's, religions, consultancy and other groups invested time and energy into a conference about encounter and dialogue.

The objective of the conference was to create a global Framework for Action on global Dialogue and Encounter from the heart of human being and the depth of nature, sustained and encouraged by the spiritual sources of all worldviews. This objective has been largely achieved. This final report on the conference presents the consolidated findings and proposals for action as the key features of the Dialogue Conference. This is based on the plenary sessions and interactive workshop sessions that took place during the Conference. The consolidated findings and proposals for action are intended for governments, international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions on the field of business, education, politics and spirituality.

The conference resulted in at least three major insights that are important for the continuation of Encounter:

First, it is vitally important to bring inspired people having different worldviews together in intense dialogue over critical global issues. Creating opportunities for such dialogues is one of the tasks of Encounter.

Second, a good, well-prepared dialogue is the best way to achieve this. Dialogue is at the core of Encounter approach. This way of working must be elaborated further - also professionally, so that it bears fruit both the concrete Communities of Practice that have emerged from the present conference, and for the next conference.

Third, Encounter can function as a link between people and organisations who are involved in similar ways with global issues. These can be people and organizations working from a particular worldview (Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Humanism etc.) or people and organizations seeking links with the process of global renewal from the perspective of public morality.

1. In line with the United Nations' debate for the application and enforcement of global ethics in international laws and national norms, Dialogue and Encounter are essential means by which the stumbling blocks of distrust, discrimination and prejudice (often laying dormant beneath the surface of global agreements) can be overcome.

2. The major obstacles that need to overcome for Dialogue to occur are:

• Lack of trust. Without trust, there is no effective Dialogue.
• Fear. A feeling of vulnerability and insecurity lead to fear-based orientation.
• Biased attitude. Prejudice, preconceptions, 'frozen'self perception, stereotype-thinking are common used instruments of self-control.
• In-authenticity. Avoiding being oneself.
• Lack of heart-mind-body. There needs to be a total package of human being to create connectivity between people.
• No balance between spirituality and materialism.
• Impatience. Time and maturity of spirit.

3. The main ways for the encouragement of successful Dialogue are:

• Every Dialogue (and change) should begin within oneself.
• An awareness of personal internal and external barriers creates the necessary openness to Dialogue.
• Cultivation of attitude of 'letting-go' / 'surrendering oneself to the others'.
• Creating an atmosphere of collective 'openness' (democracy, transparency) and 'collectiveness'.
• Go beyond the 'physical dimension of time' and start a 'journey'.

The Encounter of Worldviews Foundation committed herself to seven main proposals.

1. To establish a virtual collaborative workspace/forum on the Encounter website.
2. To support and facilitate all working groups on the basis of clearly articulated proposals that include personal/organizational commitments supported by group members.
3. To publish and Disseminate the Outcomes of the Conference in a final report.
4. To invite all participants to post Successful Encounter Stories as a first step for building a collective memory.
5. To conduct a survey on self-contemplation among Conference participants.
6. To have a serious look into the possibilities of organizing the next Conference in approximately 2 years to reflect, evaluate to go one step further.
7. To look into possibilities to facilitate the publication and dissemination of outcomes and results of working groups.