Putting an End to Disputes

Seven Ways of Putting an End to Disputes (Sapta dhikarana-shamathadharma)

1. If a meeting of the Sangha is needed with the

presence of those who are involved in the dispute

so that they can talk about the injustice and

suffering they have experienced, and during this

meeting the Sangha can practice deep and

compassionate listening in order to relieve the

suffering of both sides, then let the Sangha call

such a meeting to resolve the dispute.

2. If a meeting is needed to encourage those

involved in the dispute to recall and tell what they

have seen, heard, and thought about the dispute in

the spirit of deep listening and loving speech, then

let such a meeting be called to resolve the dispute.

3. If a meeting is needed to affirm that a person

involved in the dispute was going through a mental

crisis or illness at the time of the dispute and did

not know that he was causing difficulties and

making others suffer, and now that the crisis is

over he still cannot remember well what happened,

then let such a meeting be called to resolve the

dispute.

4. If a meeting is needed to give those who are

involved in the dispute an opportunity to

recognize and acknowledge their own

unskillfulness and lack of mindfulness, wherein one

person first expresses his unskillfulness, lack of

mindfulness, and regrets using loving speech, and

then the other person(s) will be encouraged to do

the same, helping to de-escalate the conflict, then

let such a meeting be called to resolve the dispute.

5. If a meeting is needed to appoint a committee to

investigate and study the causes and nature of the

dispute, and after investigating this committee

should present a report to the Sangha so that they

can resolve the dispute, then let such a meeting be

called to resolve the dispute.

6. If a meeting is needed to resolve the dispute by

means of a majority vote, since the dispute has

gone on so long unresolved, and after the decision

by majority is made no one can bring the matter up

again, then let such a meeting be called to resolve

the dispute.

7. If a meeting in the presence of the most

respected elders of the community is needed to

resolve a dispute and in this meeting the elders will

declare a general amnesty, encouraging everyone to

use their compassion to put an end to resentment,

like laying straw on the mud, then let such a

meeting be called to resolve the dispute.

From Freedom Wherever We Go by Thich Nhat Hanh