Haa-Haa, Hee-Hee

7 layers of existence

Objective: Icebreaker or to explain the seven layers of existence in a fun and experiential

manner.

Requirements: No props required.

Total time for the exercise: 30 minutes

Trainer notes:

Ask the class to divide themselves into four groups.

Tell them that will have to perform four actions, each of which will have a corresponding sound.

Haa Haa – Throw Hands up in the air, and shout, haa-haa

Hee Hee – Fly like a bird, stretch hands to the sides, and shout, hee-hee.

Hoo Hoo – Hands are thrown up the air, inclined to the right side, shout hoo-hoo.

Hey Hey – Hands up in the air, inclined to the left side, they should shout, hey-hey.

Round 1

Ask each of the four groups to do one particular action.

Round 2 and 3

Ask one group to do all four actions while the other three groups should clap.

Each group will have a chance to do all four actions.

This can go on for two rounds.

Round 4 and 5

Ask the first group to do the haa-haa action.

As they begin the hee-hee action, the second group should start the haa-haa action.

As they begin with the hee-hee action, the third will start with the haa-haa action.

In this manner, all the four groups will do all the four actions, but there will be a time lapse of one action, i.e. the previous one.

This can go on for two rounds.

Round 6 and 7

Then all four groups should do all four actions together.

This can go on for two rounds.

Then the whole class can sit down.

If the game is being played as an icebreaker, then it can stop here.

If it is being played for part 1 course participants, then proceed with the following debrief

Ask the participants what happened? (FACTS)

Expect to hear

● had fun

● had a childhood memory of a drill in school was completely focused on the game

● body is feeling light

● felt stupid

● was judging what might happen next

Ask the participants how they feel? (FEELINGS)

Expect to hear

● found the exercise absurd

● did not want to do it

● wondered what the game was about

● felt energetic and happy at the end of it

How do we relate the game to ourselves? (FINDINGS)

During the game, our bodies were performing the actions and we became aware of our breath, which was cooperating with the body. These are the first two levels of existence, the body and the breath.

Several of us wondered what we were doing, what this session was about. These thoughts represent our intellect.

Thoughts such as “I won’t participate in this game” or “This is silly and absurd” represent the ego.

Thoughts or visions of childhood games represent our memory.

Several participants felt completely focused and in the present moment, and this is the level of the mind.

At the end of the exercise, we felt happy and joyful. And this is our soul or spirit.

The seven levels of existence are body, breath, intellect, ego, memory, mind and soul.

Note for the trainer:

The responses will come from the participants

Use those to explain the seven levels. If the participants do not come out with the responses, then verbalise them yourself.

“Treat a man as he is, he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be, and he will become as he can and should be.”

3. Don’t be a football of others opinion

Objective: To establish the point of “Don’t be a football of others opinions”

Requirements: No props required.

Total time for the exercise: 10 minutes

Trainer notes:

Tell participants to find a partner each

Of the pair, 1 person is A and 1 person is B

Say,

Partner A has to talk to partner B about some neutral topic

(something that does not concern either of the two, eg weather, some story etc)

Give 30-40 seconds

Now say,

Partner A has to criticize Partner B. (Make sure that the criticism is superficial, eg concerning the clothing of partner B etc)

Give 30-40 seconds

Now say,

Partner A had to Praise Partner B

Give 30-40 seconds

Debrief

Ask,

How did you feel in round 1 (feelings)

Expect to hear

● nothing really

How did you feel in round 2 (feelings)

Expect to hear

● Felt a little bad at being criticized

● Felt upset

● Felt angry

How did you feel in round 3 (feelings)

Expect to hear

● Nice

● Happy

● Cheerful

● Good about yourself

How is this relevant to what happens in our life (Findings)

Establish the point that in less than 5 minutes, our mind went from feeling nothing to bad to good, just because of what our partner said to us.

Similarly in life we become a football of peoples opinions

Go on to explain the course point as necessary.

Date: 2014-12-29; view: 859