By jessica armour | project coordinator
The Awakening Leadership Training has been running since 3rd September, and we are now just completing our second dimension of learning. We have had participants from different regions of the world joining us to create a learning community filled with diverse perspectives and life experiences. So far our cohort has included friends from Cambodia, UK, Brazil, Myanmar, Colombia, India, Thailand, and beyond! We expect an increasing range of participants, especially from the SE Asian region, over the next 3 months of the programme.
Our learning community has been growing and learning together, and was initiatied with a shared learning experience with alumni from previous ALT cohorts. Our pre-training session focused on building a community of good friends, or Kalyanamitta, and was able to utilise the energy and experience of alumni, to bring new forms of co-created learning and deep relational experiences into the classroom, for the new participants to directly experience.
From this strong foundation, we began the Worldview dimension of learning, looking at our existing worldviews, values and beliefs, and the crises the world is now facing, and exploring what new ways of doing and being in the world can rebuild our connections with each other and the world around us, and help to heal the damage that we have been doing.
REFLECTION: Paradigm Shift and Emerging Cultural Values (Module 2)
“Wow, an intense 5 days of intellectual enquiry and debate into worldviews and human core values, relating to the current environmental, health, economic, political and social global crises, and how we might change the paradigm. Detailed theoretical frameworks and notable historical movements in time gave rise to much discussion and concluded with ideas as to how we might blend empirical science and traditional culture, to create new human values with nature at the centre, moving from global to local, and encouraging interdependence, cooperation and compassion, a balanced holistic integrated mindset.”
Jayne, UK
From here, we moved into exploration of transforming consiousness through a variety of meditation techniques, with space for practice and reflection, and dialogue on theories of the mind from spiritual to neurological perspectives.
REFLECTION: Module 3: Mindfulness and Inner Growth
19-23 September, 2019 (Wongsanit Ashram)
"What do you need to be mindful? You just need discipline, meditation and breathing. This module was a perfect combination of practice and theory. We learnt a lot of techniques of mediation which contribute to understanding ourselves and the relation between our body, feelings, mind and the objects of the mind. For me, the great challenge is to be mindful every day, every time in any situation. This world needs mindful people washing dishes, talking, listening, walking, taking decisions, sleeping, as well as working." Laura, Colombia
Healing ourselves is foundational in the shift from a mechanistic view of the world, to a more holistic and integrated view that sees humans as part of, not centre of, the world around us. Two modules then focused on trauma healing, utilising psychological, empathic, and art-based therapies to explore more about ourselves and each other, with compassion.
The second dimension of learning, Social Dimension, has focused on 4 training modules, Non-violent Communication, Gender and Social Justice, Conflict Transformation (Deep Democracy) and Participatory Decision Making. The aim is to provide diverse perspectives on how we can find new ways of living together that sustain and promote compassion through power sharing.
NVC built upon previous trauma healing workshops and gave new tools for participants to expand their exploration into deep-rooted patterns not only within ourselves, but how they impact on relationships with others. NVC provides important tools to help us deal with interpersonal conflict in ways that respects ourselves and others:
REFLECTION: Module 6: Compassionate Communication (NVC)
7-10 October 2019 (Wongsanit Ashram, Bangkok)
"Every day we face conflict: from our inner voice of judgement, to open vocal arguments. The basic skills of NVC are an invaluable means to help us understand and overcome the disconnect that happens when we come into these conflicts with ourselves and others. Learning how to listen empathically is the key to rebuilding connections and exploring what ourselves and others actually need. As the founder of NVC, Marshall Rosenberg said, ‘every criticism, judgement and expression of anger is the tragic expression of an unmet need".
Jessica, NZL
The final 2 modules have just been completed, and have both contributed to providing a solid foundation for participants to understand themselves and others, before moving on to new learning on political economy.
Unfortunately this year, there has not been enough interest in the Eco-Political Economy Dimension, and will now be revised to a forum that will be focused on the topic of 'Redefining the Market', and will inlclude academics, activists, and community members who represent community models that have long experience in self reliance activities.
After this, the Ecology Dimension will be taking place in N Thailand, in an indigenous community, and intentional community, and a tradtional community that is now redefining itself through youth who have returned to the village to make their lives there with creativity and sustainability.
Links:
By jessica armour | coordinator
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