Seeking the Truth of a Person

“The listening we advocate requires a particular mode: the questions are non-adversarial. The listening is nonjudgmental. The listener seeks the truth of the person questioned, seeks to see through any masks of hostility and fear to the sacredness of the individual, and to discern the wounds at the heart of any violence. Listeners do not defend themselves, but accept whatever others say as their perception, and validate their right to it.”

— Gene Knudsen Hoffman, 1995
No Royal Road to Reconciliation

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Today’s Invitation

Set an intention to “seek the truth” without judgement or defensiveness in conversations today. 

Query of the Week

When conflict arises in your community, how do you respond?

If God is in every person, how does that inform your approach to conflict? When have you had a conflict that resulted in deeper trust and connection?

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Author

  • Gene Knudsen Hoffman (1919-2010) was a Quaker peace activist, pastoral counselor, workshop facilitator, poet, columnist, author, and actor. For over fifty years she traveled the world on behalf of world peace and the Fellowship of Reconciliation. She spent a year of study at Pendle Hill and later studied with Thich Nhat Hanh. With Thich Nhat Hanh after the Vietnam War, she organized a retreat for veterans. This work laid the foundation for the Compassionate Listening Project.

    View all posts