Brain Education and Consciousness

A Classroom at UBE

I participated in my first class yesterday. The class is called "Brain Education and Consciousness" and is taught by Dr. Shin Hye Sook. The class was mostly in Korean but Professor Shin summarized what was said in English from time to time.

Consciousness has many different meanings but in this case, it refers to an awareness of one's self in your environment and in the universe as a whole. Brain Education (BE) as an educational program, helps children and adults become more aware of themselves and their influence on those around them and on the earth through experiential exercises and activities.

When we become more aware of the impact our thoughts and emotions have on your own well-being and the well-being of others, than we have a greater ability and are more motivated to change it. When we're disconnected from ourselves and from each other, our natural tendency to live in harmony with our own bodies, with each other, and with the earth is diminished.

I met a young woman on the bus today on the way to Seoul who teaches a class of 30 Sixth Graders at a local elementary school. This is her first year teaching--she is 24 years old. She talked about how she is growing with her students--that as she grows as a teacher, they are growing too.

But, she wants more for them than just learning how to write a test well or how to compete with each other. I told her about how the Busan School District (second largest city in South Korea) has introduced Brain Education programs for their teachers and students with great success. She was excited about how BE could help her students and plans to talk with her principal about the program.

Tomorrow, I'll start the rest of my classes. It is almost 1 a.m. here, which means it is almost 12 p.m. in the Toronto area so while some of you are enjoying your lunch, I will be sleeping. Good night!