Neutral zone
When the decision is made the neutral zones comes. Clients do know what they do not want but they do not have a clear picture of the future yet. Here the coach can help to find what motivates them to move mountains, what is necessary to set clear goals and steps to reach them. Here they also explore what will be the catalyst and what difficulties they can expect when they start to work on action plans and execution. (Kozak:2012)
New beginning
New beginning starts with getting ideas how the clients continue their lives. The coach can support the devotees to create their new, ideal life. They can visualize the future, what options they have, what would be the ideal situation. The coach is a sounding board of new ideas and this time they brainstorm so later they can decide which one to chose, which fits most of their values. As most of these devotees are out from the working field for many years or some of them even do not have much working experience, the coach can help to discover their strengths and weaknesses. The coach can help how the devotees can start to work
again, exploring their options and might even suggest resources for writing resume, what to do in an interview, etc.
Devotees hear the importance of their spiritual practices for many years, naturally this is also a very important part will be in their new lives. They can discover how to create a time schedule and maintain the enthusiasm to follow their earlier practice. Regular service opportunities could be explored to keep an active engagement with the community.
During the process of moving in to a temple devotees go through a resocialization. It is a change in personality and mind so the devotees can operate as monks and nuns. Similarly when they are moving out they need to resocialize again so they can continue their life as a civil person. This is also an area where the coach help is essential.
When all these ideas listed value based, measurable goals can be formed and clear milestones can be set. They create a plan how to achieve them. The coach gives structure for creating these goals and also to follow them up. After the discovery and planning phases they discuss accountability. Lack of experience and confidence may bring out hesitancy in the clients so they need to discuss and commit themselves to decisions and what was discussed in the sessions. When clients start to work on their goals they reach results and setbacks. The coach recognize them and celebrate them with the clients. Acknowledgment helps to boost self-confidence which might have been damaged at the ending phase. The coach encourages the client continuously when needed. Failures also considered as challenges and learning experiences where the devotee can learn from and gives them guidance and understanding what not to do again.
These are just examples how a coach can help the client, but they show how relevant coaching is in this situation.
Conclusion:
The process of transition a monk and nun in HSKCON to civil life is very similar to any major life changes. Leaving a well protected, safe, familiar environment, where there are clear rules and security to an unknown environment where uncertainty and fear of losing is dominant is very fearful. The general principles and tools of coaching can be used, but adjusted to this particular conditions. A coach can help the devotees through the whole process: from the ending of the old life, the neutral zone, and the new beginning where the new life is created. A trained and experienced coach can be a valuable tool in this transition and coaching is an additional, professional help what can be added to the existing and working structures in HSKCON.
Reference:
Bhaktivedanta, Swami (1975), Nectar of Instructions, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.
Bridges, W (1980). Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes. Da Capo Press.
Bridges, W (1991). Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change. Da Capo Press.
HSKCON (2011) Organizational and operational rules of HSKCON, Bylaws.
HSKCON (2011) Process of joining, Bylaws.
International Coach Federation (n.d.):
Kamarás, István (1998) Krisnások Magyarországon, Iskolakultúra Kiadó.
Kozak, Mihaly (2012) Dharma Coaching Model - from monk to civil life12 Mihaly Kozak
Klostermaier, Klaus (1998). A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Oxford:Oneworld Publications.
Sivarama, Swami (1993). Élet a templomban, Internal handbook, HSKCON.
Tasi, István (2001) Táncoló fehér elefántok, Tattva 1. p 66-67