Myth of Stress Workshop, 7 Dec 2010, 2pm-4.30pm

Run down of Programme:
2.00-2.45pm Myth of Stress [Intro, 7min game (given 5min to discuss), debrief of activity]
2.45-3.15pm Types of stress [10min discuss, 5min each group to present]
3.15-3.45pm Sources of stress [10min discuss, 5min each group to present]
3.45-4.00pm Seeing through stress [compare types and sources of stress on different halves]
4.00-4.05pm Tensed then released activity [aware of what happened when stress and relax]
4.05-4.20pm Deep relaxation [lying down and listen to soothing song]
4.20-4.30pm Singing and doing hand movements for the song "Happiness is here and now"

To improve:
1. For the 7min game, need to clearly instruct the minimum height, define what is a stable structure, 1 monitor for each group (instead of i monitor for 2 grps)
2. For the segment of "Sources of Stress", facilitator had difficulty guiding the participants to clearly list it out as every group easily conclude big concepts, like expectations, attachments, etc. It would be good if each group can choose the top three most stressful things and slowly go through it by using 5 levels of WHYs in search of the sources of stress. [this exercise is to guide the participants to break down their so-called sources of stress by going through their own discovery journey, starts with being aware of stress]
3. For the segment "seeing through stress", facilitators faced difficulty in guiding it.
4. Conclusion, facilitators managed to link the whole process to The Four Noble Truths, but it would be good that The Noble Eightfold Path could be shared with the participants too.

Highlights:
During the segment discussing on sources of stress and seeing through stress, it was chaotic as in the discussion seemed to have gone out of control.. Discussion went into abstract discussions, like "if we could eradicate stress, does it mean that we could then have happiness?", "does attachment bring stress?", "we already know the source of stress is due to expectation, there is nothing to discuss", "i think that attachment is fine, it does not give me stress", etc. Facilitators did some damage control by sharing that this workshop is not an academic session in which we are searching for an answer to a query, it was a session to be aware of your own stress, the sources. If you have found the sources of stress, so what? Have you done something about it? This would be something that everyone of us, as unique individuals, need to address it ourselves.

30 Oct 2010, Dharma Friends Workshop for NUSBS @ NUS Staff Club, Aquarius Room

Objectives given:
- to let our potential Dharma Friends know about their role in being Dharma friends
- to guide our potential Dharma Friends to work well on their role such as to lead the discussions and involve everyone in during the group discussions especially during Dharma Circle (and also Dharma Camp)- to guide them the more effective and persuasive way to share their Dharma knowledge within members in Buddhist Society
- to somehow ensure that they have better knowledge of Dharma compared to other members

The workshop was supposed to be from 9.30am to 12.30pm. At 9.30am, only Nalene turned up, followed by a few members. Logistics were not prepared on time. The workshop only commenced at 10am.

12 of them turned up: Nalene (Welfare), Johan (Dharma), Poh Jin (Secretary), Xin Zhao (Vice President), Kevin (Resource), Jia Qi, Li Min, Xiao Hui, Chin Xia, Si Wei, Soe, HariHom.

10-11am: Difference between facilitator and presenter, common worries to be a facil

itator, benefits to be one, the stages involved in a facilitation, different characters in a group.
11-11.45am: 1st Trial DC with feedbacks
11.45-12.30pm: 2nd Trial DC with feedbacks
12.30-12.50pm: Round up

General inputs:

The participants appeared responsive throughout the workshop and receptive to Trainers' advice and suggestions. Their involvement was encouraging and it was very interactive. During the trials, the dummies did well in facilitating discussion and trainers were impressed with the progress made.

What we did well (Debrief on 11/11/10):

- More familiar with workshop contents as we did it before

- Share real-life facilitation experience

- Conducive venue: quiet, projector, whiteboard available

What to improve (Debrief on 11/11/10):

1. Team work:

- Assign specific roles to each person

- More mindful of dynamics with partner facilitators

- Main facilitator to slow down before moving on

- Communicate any conflicting ideas to partner facilitator first

2. Content/Style:

- More interactive, 50 mins of talk may cause restlessness

3. Others:

- Trial run

- Print hardcopy evaluation forms and ask them to fill up on the spot

Consolidated Feedback from GL Workshop for Dharma Camp 2009

Participants were asked to rate 1-4 on the whole workshop, the morning Personality Test, and the afternoon Team Building Games activities separately. Their ratings were:

(3+3+2.5+2+3.5+3.5+3+3)/8 = 2.9375

There was a bit of miscommunication between me and Wai Kit because he ended up asking for only an overall rating for the whole day, and he allowed non-integers values!

Qualitative feedback for the best aspect of the workshop:

The best part is the songs, games. Because, other than that it helps us GLs, to know each other, it gives GLs prior knowledge about some of the songs/games; hence GLs can guide/ lead the group members if they’re confused. The workshop taught me how to interact, approach, and communicate with others. Thus, I can bond easily with my group members. It also taught me more about myself and hence I know about myself and can apply it to be friendly with others.

Course allows us to get to know each other well. Workshop is short and not too draggy and overwhelming. Leaders were supportive and friendly. I learnt to be more open and brave to interact with group mates because even if they don’t talk to you much, it doesn’t mean that they dislike you or think you’re silly.

Games (planning and playing the game together as it creates bonding among group leaders and with the seniors).

Personality test, which develops better understanding in interaction with people.

I like the games and the singing. And the personality test is quite useful too.

The game thinking part. This session is quite useful because it forces me to be impromptu. I learnt a lot from this session like how a game should work and how a game can create bonding between all the members.

The songs and games parts. It is the part that makes me feel fun and peace. (Songs give peace when we sing them and games create a fun situation as well as create interaction among participants.)

Songs and games.

Bonding between GLs in advance is great. It helps in providing communication between groups also.

Food Hunt Dry Run. I think contribute a lot to GLs bonding. And the training on the following day reinforces it perfectly, and easier for us to express our opinion.

I do make use of what I learn from brain colours. I have a better understanding on my group members’ personalities.

I think singing songs together and learning the simple action is quite useful in creating the bonding.

Suggestions for improvements

More discussion among GLs (helps to know each other and to communicate with others)

More games/ songs (prior knowledge for GLs)

Maybe more games

Learn more songs

If possible, we can have the training at somewhere in the west of Singapore

There should be more game practices so that GLs can apply them in their groups.

Maybe next GL training can be at the same place for the camp. It will benefit the GLs by knowing the place better.

Game session part should add longer so that every group leader can be involved as a game master because besides being a good group leader, we should also know how to be a good game master. Also maybe can change the venue to somewhere else because travelling so far will cause a lot of time and maybe it can be saved to extend longer timing for the workshop.

During the workshop, there should be more songs taught and focus on how to develop interaction between one group with another group. In addition to the training on how to build interaction among group members in the same GL. So, the missing part is the training on how to build interaction between one group with another group. Overall, the workshop is good.

Sometimes I know I have to use other method to communicate with them, but I don’t know how to do it. So maybe next time can teach us how you normally overcome the problem if some of your members are quiet.

Maybe seniors may share their techniques in making the atmosphere more lively.

GL Workshop 2009

This year’s timetable will be:
0930am Arrival + Breakfast + linger around
1000am DC1101 - Introduction to Dharma Camp (Kwek)
1015am Who are you? – Icebreaker (Albert)
1100am Who am I? - Personality Test (Cindy): 10 min to do test and tabulate; 10 min instructions; 10 min to discuss moral dilemmas; 20 min to process;
1230pm Makan - Lunch
1315pm D-Box (Sea Ming)
1345pm Workshop: Building a Team (Hidayat)
1550pm Break
1600pm Wrap up: Managing expectations (Kwek)

Icebreaker

Possibilities:
Trust circle!
Human Bingo
Egg -> Chicken Scissors-Paper-Stone
Shout-my-name

Personality Test
Settled.

Team Building
Split into 2 groups, brainstorm for a team building game (or a series of games, as long as within the time frame) to be played for the other group plus facilitators. There are helplines in the centre, which they can ask for help or clues or guides or inspiration. Then everyone will play and then debrief. They will speak a few words and give ideas on how to improve the team-building.

Time limit: 2 hours
10 min Intro and instructions (explaining rationale)
40 min Brainstorm and think of an activity
20 min Execution - Team A
20 min Execute - Team B
30 min Debrief

Materials (They don't know what materials we provide unless they use the Mystery Bad helpline):
Newspaper
Mahjong paper
Straws
Scotch tape /Musking tape/ Double-sided tape, etc.
Ice-cream sticks
String
Markers
CD player
Songs / Game music

Helplines
A. Keywords
B. Pictures
C. Mystery Bag

Issue outstanding: How many clues can they draw?

D-box
Songs in between sessions with a longer after-lunch session and a final session after wrap up.

Wrap up

- Four Immeasurables in team-building
- Moderating expectations (Internal emotions)
- Right action (Middle path, middle choices) and applying Right Speech

Only when you are bored in office...

Watch the part 1 first

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUF6f83jclI

Then watch the part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASr5GcuDHug

Dharma Friends (DF) Workshop: 20 Sept 2009, 1-4pm

Trainers: Albert, Kwek, CK

There were a total of 20 members (committees and potential DFs) who attended the workshop.

1.00-1.15pm Ice-Breaking
(Albert built rapport with the members by understanding everyone's dharma background, Dharma Circle (DC) and facilitation experience. We had a wonderful group of people with no dharma knowledge, no facilitation experience to experienced DFs)
1.15-1.45pm Who? What?
(Kwek shared on the difference between a facilitator and a speaker. Albert then continued by asking each member, "What makes you attend DC? (one reason)". This was to connect to the objectives of a DF.)
1.45-2.30pm Fight!!!
(Members were then divided into two groups by numbering them "1" and "2". Facilitators were chose randomly. Facilitators were supposed to choose a daily topic to discuss. One group chose "The Happiest Time"; whilst the other group chose "My Angry Period". They were given 20min, each group had 7 ppl and 4 observers. Observers would comment on the facilitators performance and the effectiveness of the discussion.)
2.30-3.00pm How?
(CK shared with the members on some of the common worries DFs had. Albert and Kwek then shared with them some skills, possible group situations and wonderful personnel that a DF may face during DC.)
3.00-3.30pm Fight!!!
(Members continued with another round of trial DC. 3 members from each group were chosen and to be exchanged within the two groups. Again, facilitators were chosen randomly. Facilitators were supposed to choose a Dharma topic to discuss. One group chose "What makes a Buddhist?"; whilst the other group chose "How to repay our parents?". They were given 15min, each group had 7 ppl and 4 observers. Observers would comment on the facilitation skills applied and the Dharma content.)
3.30-3.45pm Dream...
(Members were asked to draw a picture of their PERFECT DF and pen down the qualities which they hope to see during DC. Then, they were asked to put their thoughts on the wonderful group which they hope to have during DC and the wonderful responses which they hope to hear after DC. This activity was to instill positive picture and thoughts to prepare DF for DC.)
3.45-4.00pm Why? Points up & Bonus Points
(Kwek shared the benefits that could be reaped being a DF. Some advice (bonus points) were given to the members. Session ended with a song titled "Reach Out" to encourage these NUSBS Ambassadors continue to reach out and serve the Buddhist community in NUS.)

Feedback:
- Structured
- Beneficial
- Received a lot of knowledge
- Get a lot of tips and tricks being a good DF
- Very good
- Well done
- Today workshop is helpful. I like it.
- It brings all members together.
- Good that it gives an insight of what a DF should be prepared for :)

Point to note (debrief between Kwek and Albert):
- to prepare a slide of your own as both trainers have different delivery style (the
current slide is a combination of Kwek previous slide and Albert's slide)
- ask for comment from all the observers in a group before moving to another group
(during the workshop, trainer asked for comments randomly from group 1 to 2,
confusing)
- time management (workshop exceeded by 15min)

It's been 4 months....

Wow, the last post was by Sea and it was far back to Feb. I think, we have forgotten this place which we frequented previously, including me. Time flies, i have been working at VWO for close to 7 months, work is hectic. In a few months time, there will be a training scheme arranged for me. This means that i will need to take up short courses as well as a graduate diploma qualification. What to do? To be a Social Worker need license.

At this stage of life, i feel like embarking on a different journey with less emphasis on spearheading dhammaduta work. Spiritual practice will be eminent, but will spend more time to look the world and explore new things. I really wish to explore what Christianity is...fascinating...though from our point of view, it is blinded by the truth, but it has stayed on for so long...there must be some essence in it...

I have decided...a low profile truth seeker to be...