Cultural Assumptions East/West & OST
Participants: Lisa, Isac, Tim, Bhav, Brian, Mark, Alan, Jorie, Larry, Tim, Spark, Gail, Jackie, Shawn, Wong, Sharon, Suzanne, Jackie, Joy,
- and we waited…
- Isac thought he was very westernised, then stayed in San Francisco for 1 year and found himself very Japanese! Difficult to integrate the East and West.
o Found OST very western but also existentialist, same idea found in Zen Buddhism—ultimate
o Importance of Now, felt very included.
- In a mixed group there is a western dominance in OST, and does it cater for softer non-interrupting Asian participants
- 400-500 people, 38 nations, HQ of international organisation, noticed the non-dominance of
Westerners.
- The circle is an African idea, a family circle way of working which is very Asian
- Bhav have said that the principles fit with their values. A lot depends on the facilitator and their worldview.
- OST can be perceived as western at first, however, once they experience it they recognise the eastern values.
- Spend one day with the translators to really understand OST before you do it
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- Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.
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- The tool can allow diverse groups within the OST to find a space and work either together or a part
- Are people getting their needs met in the room but we don’t see it with our cultural eyes
- The culture is more about mindset, background experience, class, gender, etc – could even be difference between expectations of sponsor and participants
- Group therapists do look out to make sure everyone is speaking, but someone can be silent and fully present – we can’t guess what is going on inside each person
- Dialogue is not as much as about talking, it is about witnessing
- We can participate by fully receiving or being fully present
- If you are not getting what you need, you can get up and start another group, or if there is a dominate boss, he can’t be all places at the same time
- The opportunity and invitation to contribute is there…
- Learning is always two ways, not that someone giving alway something to others.
- Very interesting experience in an OST workshop in San Francisco. Frustration also.
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- Silence is important and also pace and slowing things down in a mixed environment
There are so many things important appeared in the discussion. Lisa kindly took notes during the discussion, but impossible to put them in right way right now here.
Hoping to put them through internet with more participation....
