When I did my first Insight Dialogue retreat, there were two sitting Buddha statues facing each other on the fireplace mantle. At first, I thought the statues were misplaced, but through the retreat I slowly realized that this was the best symbol to represent my experience there.

This reflected symbol is rarely found in Buddhism. Usually it’s a single Buddha, sitting quietly in meditation, alone, calm. Though in that calmness, what if we face another? Are we still calm?

Insight Dialogue showed me a tool to help me take my meditation practice in relationship. To learn how to face another in our shared humanness and open to an emergence that is beyond what either of us could ever do alone.