Consensus

Also known as “conscious decision making”, consensus is a collaborative decision making process where the entire group is in agreement. True consensus is rare, but an ideal to strive towards. The Quakers (one of the models of “true consensus”) have a view that “there is a bit of God/truth in everyone.” This is an important part of consensus: each person holds some part of the truth, and so each different point of view needs to be offered to the group in order for the entire truth to come forth.

Whereas in a democratic decision making process, one side attempts to persuade the other side, consensus is collaborative, where a holistic solution results from each voice adding their bit. Thus, the solution represents the whole group (instead of the majority), and therefore each member of the group feels invested in the solution and can sincerely share in the decision’s responsibility.

Consensus is a demanding group practice. Each member’s full and authentic participation together with each member’s willingness to “let go” or “look at the bigger picture” is essential. It also takes lots of time and conscious focus from each participant. Ideally, one’s ego-centered perspective is set aside so that “truth” can come forward for the greatest good of the group.

At Lama Foundation, according to the by-laws, all membership and business decisions need to be made by consensus, and each member of the resident circle needs to receive consensus training (along with mediation training). Each resident circle spends much time and energy in meetings to plow through the numerous decisions needed to operate Lama, and decisions can take some time to reach.

Membership decisions for residency are each autumn, and prospective residents are requested to be at Lama by August 1st so that people have almost 2 months to get to know each other before entering into consensus. Business decisions require a 3-week process of introduction, discussion, then decision. The in-between meeting time is for people to really feel into the proposal, and also to examine what personal issues arise and whether these issues need to be voiced to the whole circle. Larger expenditures and building sites require consensus from the “Lama Council” which consists of members from the resident circle, the continuing members circle (past residents) and the trustee circle.

Interestingly, when engaging in the consensus process, Lama Foundation always uses “a heart” for the entire course of the meeting. A “heart” guardian collects a list of names of people who volunteer to sit in a heart/meditative space for about 20 minutes, during which they do not participate in the discussion and can ring a mindfulness bell to halt the meeting at any time if they perceive that the meeting has become “ungrounded”. Examples of “ungrounded” may be cross-talk, more than 1 person speaking at the same time, or if the meeting needs a little space of silence. The “heart” is a remarkable tool for keeping the energetic of the meeting focused.