Dialogue implies sincere and genuine communication among persons, among groups, among cultures and among peoples

• Dialogue requires silence as well as words
• We need silence to come to our perception of the truth and to welcome that of others with honesty and openness
• This leads us as companions to grow together in truth.

Dialogue is not

• a succession of monologues - each ignoring the other
• mere superficial conversation, with no personal involvement and no openness to change an opinion
• debate: holding to one's own ideas - no encounter, transformation or growth
• sermon/lesson/indoctrination/brainwashing - one-way exchange implying the other has nothing to say or give, no voice
• manipulation: I persuade the other to my viewpoint, even in the nicest possible way.