Compassionate Integrity Training CIT-Faciltator-Guide-2.1-Final | Page 139

C OMPASSIONATE I NTEGRITY T RAINING
A S ECULAR E THICS A PPROACH TO C ULTIVATING P ERSONAL , S OCIAL AND E NVIRONMENTAL F LOURISHING
E XPLORING THE N ATURE OF S YSTEMS P ART IV: E NGAGING IN S YSTEMS WITH C OMPASSION *
Goal: To help participants recognize common humanity, that whether people are causing benefit or harm in
the system, they are all human beings who aspire to greater happiness and want less difficulties in their
lives. This exercise is also designed to enable participants to see the value of approaching social change
through compassion and not anger and resentment.
Materials: The system drawing each group used for Exploring the Nature of Systems Part III: Veil of
Ignorance , and at least one marker for each participant (preferably multiple colors)
Time: 15 to 20 Minutes
Instructions:
7.
This exercise is designed to be used after Exploring the Nature of Systems Part III: Veil of Ignorance.
If they are not already, ask participants to gather back into their breakout groups by system.
8.
Ask participants, “List on your systems drawing all of the categories of people you identified in the
previous activity.”
9.
After they have had a few minutes to begin this task, instruct, “Discuss and list all of the
aspirations and concerns or fears that each of these groups of people have.”
10. After allowing five to 10 minutes for them to complete this portion of the activity, say, “We will
now hear from each group the different aspirations and concerns or fears that each of these
categories of people have.” Invite each group to present their answers to the rest of the group.
11. After each group has had a chance to present, ask, “What insights emerge for you while hearing
these aspirations and fears?” Ideally, they will recognize that all of the people in the system have
common concerns and aspirations; if not, you can hopefully lead them there based upon what they
report. This would be a good time to remind them of what was discussed during Skill 5:
Impartiality and Common Humanity.
12. Next, instruct, “How would this system change if individuals in the system had more compassion?
How would it change if people had more resentment and anger?” Give them five to 10 minutes to
discuss these questions. Invite each group to report on their discussion.
C ENTER FOR C OMPASSION , I NTEGRITY AND S ECULAR E THICS | L IFE U NIVERSITY | M ARIETTA , G EORGIA
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