How well did the facilitator lead the group and create a safe space? Please explain and give examples.
Very well. Use of "My friend, Will..." in reference to co-faciltiator is very nice and feels welcoming to all. Creates a sense of safe space.
How well did the facilitator explain this Skill using the PowerPoint presentation? Please give examples.
Good intro/overview using first slide depicting all skills and each series, with light and quick reminders of the gist of each skill and their components. Good overview of extended compassion slide, then going to the group.
How well did the facilitator explain and lead the activities in this Skill? Please explain and give specific examples.
Could have been better, but hard to remember to simulate setup and debrief of activities. Would have preferred hearing a workable set of instructions and debrief questions as if the activity was actually being described by practiced facilitators. Might have been best to ask participants for their thoughts on wishing, aspiring and engaged compassion before moving to yours.
How well did the facilitator lead the Mindful Dialogues and Reflective Writing Exercises in this Skill? Please explain and give specific examples.
NA
What aspects of this Skill did you think the facilitator did exceptionally well? Please give examples.
Calm demeanor, practice presence, good will. Good content delivery with a few exceptions noted below. Great going to group for first comments thoughts. Excellent work there. Excellent consistency in going to participants for first input/thoughts.
How well did the facilitator lead the Contemplative Practice in this Skill? Please explain and give specific examples.
NA
What aspects of this Skill could the facilitator improve? Please give examples.
Emphasize compassion as a motivation, not an action, even if they disagree based on theological or other considerations. The three levels of compassion are all still compassion and recognize that we can't do everything for everyone. So, even though wishing compassion doesn't include a responsibility for taking action, it is still a good thing and constitutes compassion. We do want to cultivate wishing compassion; it is comparable to "lovingkindness" in Buddhist thought. Better to not equate empathic distress with wishing compassion. Also, better not to cast empathic distress as undesirable since it is natural and self-protective and can provide the "space" one might need to withhold compassionate action now so that it can be better "spent" later (not taking the time to help someone in distress over dropping their things on the way to making a close connection for a flight to a location at which you will be able to take compassionate action that will help scores or hundreds of people).