51st SUMEDHA SADHANA CONCLUDES

 The 51^st Sumedha Sadhana – A Psychospiritual Wellbeing Journey --, the last of the year, concluded at Sumedha Centre, Jharmari (Punjab) on 14^th December. This 12-week  programme had begun on 22^nd September. There were 9 participants – 6 women and 3 men.

Sumedha Sadhana is an inner journey in quest of greater healing and wellbeing. This programme is offered three times a year.

The topics in this 51^st edition included: Self-Awareness and Self-Transformation, Holistic and Process Spiritualties, Psychological and Spiritual Dynamics at Midlife and Beyond, Unconscious Dynamics and the Spiritual journey, Psychosexual and Celibate Integration, Breath Spirit and Wellbeing, Emotional Hygiene, Challenges to Consecrated Life, Prayer and Mediation Practices, Intensive Group Therapy. The programme concluded with an Integration Retreat.

Moments of deep reflection and introspection were interspersed with  qigong, yoga,  recreation, dance, expressive arts, movies, birthday celebrations and picnics – fun and laughter.

Participants found the programme immensely useful for their psychospiritual journey. Four of the participants gave a 10 on 10 on a Scale of Usefulness, and three gave a 9.

Some illustrative comments:

·         “The programme is indeed great. Hats off to Sumedha! I am renewed, revived, rejuvenated. I came with anxiety. I go back bubbling with joy. I enjoyed every moment here.”

·         “I came disgruntled with life. I felt I was in bondage, struggling with lots of negativity. Here I learned to love myself and celebrate my life.”

·         “I have overcome those inner struggles that I was going though. I could let out grief and sadness and experience mental, physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.”

·         “I came here with lots of fear and sorrow. I return with courage and confidence. I experienced healing. Good atmosphere and environment.”

·         “Topics are well covered, modules are well chosen, we were happy with the facilitators, process followed were also good.”

·         “I came with fear and anxiety, restlessness. Here I gained lots of awareness which enriched me. I feel liberated. I am physically and emotionally healed. I am going back renewed, energised, with hope, with a desire to share my life.”

“    "The psychospiritual wholeness journey helped me to journey within myself through the various modules. Sumedha gave me an opportunity to understand myself better. I feel revived, experienced healing and wholeness. The module facilitators were good and experienced persons, well-informed and knowledgeable.”  

·         “I was very much welcomed here. I experienced homely atmosphere. Food was good. I will miss it in my community. Very good accommodation. Nice place to live in. Friendly atmosphere. I liked the community spirit. All the services were provided.”

·         “I have not experienced anywhere else sessions of this sort. I am very happy.”

 

The module facilitators were: Johny Dominic Padinjar PhD, Joe Kokandathil PhD, Jose Parappully PhD, Philip Pinto MA. B.Ed, Thomas KC Kurianthanam MPh.

2025 Sumedha Sadhana Schedule:

SS-52: February 9 – May 3

SS. 53: May 11 – August 02

SS. 54: September 25 - December 17

Registrations for the 2025 programmes are open: Contact sumedhacentre@gmail.com

See also our webpage: https://sumedhacentre.org

33rd Sumedha Sadhana Commences

The 33rd edition of the 9-week-long Sumedha Sadhana commenced on September 28. It will conclude on November 29.

There are 16 participants, including three from Thailand and one from Mauritius.

Sumedha Sadhana is an inner journey in quest of greater healing and wholeness. Participants begin from where they are, looking at what is happening on their spiritual journey. They then move on to explore the psychological dynamics that affect their spirituality and integrate them in healthier ways to create more satisfying life patterns and make their ministry/professional work more fulfilling and fruitful.

SS-32: Moving Toward Conclusion

The 32nd Sumedha Sadhana - a Psychospritual Wholeness Journey at Sumedha Centre is moving toward its conclusion.

Having completed the psychological modules - Psychological Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey (Jose Parappully), Unconscious Dynamics  (Johny Dominic); Psycho-Sexual and Celibate Integration (Joe Mannath), and Group therapy (Maria G. Kanakarathinam), the Sumedhans took a day off to enjoy the natural beauty of the Kumaon Hills and Lakes.

They went on a picnic to the lakes driving through the picturesque Hills: Naukuchiatal, Bhimtal and Sattal. On the way they also spent a relaxing time in the Organic Tea Gardens at Ghorakhal, some 20 km from Jeolikote.

Following the picnic, Sumedhan entered into the Spiritual Retreat (Jose Parappully) that will occlude this 9-week programme. Programme ends on August 2nd.

Next Sumedha Sadhana is from September 28 to November 29. Registration is open.

SUMEDHA SADHANA - PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

Sumedha Sadhana

March 15-May 16; June 1–August 2; and September 28-November 29, 2016

Course Description: This is an inner journey in quest of greater healing and wholeness. Participants begin from where they are, looking at what is happening on their spiritual journey. They then move on to explore the psychological dynamics that affect their spirituality and integrate them in healthy ways to create more satisfying life patterns and make one’s ministry more fulfilling.

Course Content: Holistic, Process & Formative Spiritualities; Cosmic, Creation & Feminist Spiritualities; Religious & Community Life; Prayerfulness & Healthy Emotional Life; Midlife Dynamics & the Spiritual Journey; Identity & Vocational Commitment; Intimacy, Celibacy & Sexuality; Generativity, Stress & Burnout; Shadows & Subpersonalities; Trauma, Healing & Reconciliation; The Universe story, Jesus Story and Our Story; Core Transformation -- are some of the major topics that will be explored. Special place is given to group therapy where participants have the opportunity to face their brokenness and fears, their unhelpful patterns of living and relating and move on to healing and wholeness. The programme concludes with a spiritual retreat.

Tools & Techniques: Insights from Christian faith and wisdom traditions, various psychological theories of development, as well as experiential tools and techniques from Psychosynthesis, Intensive Journal, Expressive Arts, multi-media, prayer & meditation practices, and Sacred Scripture are used to explore and enhance one’s psychospiritual journey. (Age limit: 32-62 years)

Faculty

Ajoy Fernandes PhD (Personality & Spirituality). Alba Rodrigues MA (Cosmic Spirituality, Yoga). Gerard Alvarez MA (The Storied Word: Ours, Jesus’ and the Universe’s). Joe Mannath PhD (Sexuality, Celibacy & Intimacy). Jose Kuttianimattathil PhD (Core Transformation). Jose Parappully PhD (Psychological Dynamics & the Spiritual Journey, Trauma & Healing, Group Therapy, Retreat). M. Goretti Kanakarathinam MA (Group Therapy, Befriending Our Emotions). MC Abraham PhD (Group Therapy). Shalini Mulackal PhD (Feminist & Women’s Spirituality)

29th SUMEDHA SADHANA CONCLUDES

The 29^th Sumedha Sadhana concluded very successfully on August 2. This 9-week Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey programme had commenced on June 1.

There were 16 participants from India, Myanmar, South Africa and Thailand. All of them expressed great satisfaction at the end of the progamme 

They indicated the usefulness of the programme on a Scale of 1 (Very Little useful) and 10 (Immensely Useful) as follows: 10, 10, 10, 10, 9.5, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8).

All said they had got what they were looking for from the programme, and some even more than what they expected.

There were six different modules in the programme: Psychological Dynamics on the Spiritual Journey (by Jose Parappully), Unconscious Dynamics and Emotional Health (by Johny Padinjar), Stories: Ours, the Universe’s and Jesus’ (by Gerard Alvarez), Re-Reading of Religious Life (by Varghese Kalluvachel), Group Therapy (by Johny Padinjar, Jose Parappully and Maria Goretti Kanakarathinam) and Spiritual Retreat (by Jose Parappully). 

Movies, recreation, picnics and somatic meditations were also part of this holistic programme.

Some typical comments from participants:

“The entire programme was an excellent one.”

“A very unique kind of programme. Very different from the beaten path.”

“It was delicious in every way!”

“I am not the person who came to Sumedha – so worn out, depressed, tired, hopeless. Today I return peaceful, happy, energized, enthusiastic, focused on my goal…”

“It was time for me to stop a while – to recollect, reflect, rethink and regain my lost enthusiasm and convictions. I was enriched and enlightened by the inputs I received.”

“I had so many questions when I came here. They all got answered. I learned how to be free and happy and grow as a mature human being.”

“It has touched all the areas of my psychospiritual journey… All the modules were useful and they have helped to integrate myself.”

“Every activity helped me to understand myself and become more free.”

“The two months went so fast… This programme is the greatest gift I was given. I came with a heavy heart and scattered mind…. I go back with a rich experience. I was at the right place at the right time. Gained lots of self-awareness and increased self-worth… Deepened my spirituality.”

It is a well-planned, well-organized and substantial programme. I got exactly what I needed.”

“I got more than what I hoped for.”

“I felt at home the moment I stepped in to the place…We were provided with everything that we needed. It was a home away from home. Great environment and community spirit.”

“Food, accommodation, facilities and services were excellent.”

The next Sumedha Sadhana (SS-30) is from October 2 to December 3, 2015. Registration is open.

27th SUMEDHA SADHANA CONLCUDES

The 9-week-long Sumedha Sadhana (Psychospiritual Wholeness Journey) concluded on November 30^th. It had commenced on September 29^th.

The 14 participants (5 men and 9 women) from four different countries in general found the programme “excellent”. It was as promised “an inner journey of healing and transformation.”

The programme consisted of seven different modules: Psychological Dynamics on the Spiritual Journey (facilitated by Jose Parappully, SDB, PhD), Personality and Spirituality (by Ajoy Fernandes SDB, PhD), Sexuality, Celibacy and Intimacy (by Joe Mannth SDB, PhD), Core Transformation  (by Jose Mathew Kuttianimattathil SDB, PhD), Feminist and Women’s Spirituality (by Shalini Mulackal PBVM, PhD), Group Therapy (by Jose Parappully SDB, PhD and Maria Goretti Kanakarathinam FMM, MA) and Spiritual Retreat (by Jose Parappully SDB, PhD).

The inputs by the various facilitators were enriched by experiential exercises, group interaction, selected readings, music and films, yoga, qigong,  expressive arts and movement, creative liturgy, prayer and a variety of meditative practices as well as group outings and picnic.

As common feeling expressed by participants was that they experienced Sumedha Centre a “home, not an institution” where they “felt free” to be themselves.

The beautiful natural surroundings of mountains, valleys and streams were very conducive for quiet reflection and meditation as well as for relaxation of body and mind. The healthy and tasty food provided supplemented the salubrious environment.

Some typical participant comments:

“All in all the entire programme was excellent.”

“The sessions were excellent. They were offered with much expertise and experientially.”

“All the facilitators were excellent… They did a commendable job.”

“I experienced Sumedha not as an institution but a home.”

“Felt really at home. No restrictions.”

“My purpose of coming here is fulfilled.”

“Helped a great deal to know and understand the person I am… Helped to go deep into myself”

“Learned to accept and love myself.”

“The inner journey together with all the participants helped me toward greater healing.”

 “Got rid of some deep hurts…”

 “I came with lots of stress and pain. I go back as a healed and renewed person.”

“It was truly a journey of healing and transformation.”

“The programme helped me become a more loving human being.”

 “I came exhausted and burnt out. Discovered the relational patterns that caused it. I return as a better person.”

“Enjoyed my life here very much. Enough time for everything - to read, reflect, pray, rest, relax and lots of space to move around”

 The 2015 schedule of  Sumedha Sadhana:

(SS-28). March 15-May 16

(SS-29). June 1 - August 2

(SS-30). October 2 - Deceber 3)

Sumedha Centre of Psychology and Spirituality is a venture of the Salesians of Don Bosco, New Delhi Province. It is located in the lush green Kumaon foot-hills of the Himalayas, 18 km south of the tourist town of Nainital.

email: sumedhacentre@gmail.com 

SUMEDHA SADHANA – A UNIQUE PSYCHOSPIRITUAL PROGRAMME

The 26^th Sumedha Sadhana concluded today (4/9). 

Participants in general experienced it as a “unique” programme that wonderfully integrates psychology and spirituality.

Those participants who had attended similar programmes observed the kind of psychology-spirituality integration in Sumedha Sadhana is something that they have not experienced elsewhere.

Participants evaluated the programme as “excellent. ”Some commonly mentioned observations:

“gained much more than what I had hoped for.”

“a precious experience.”

“a journey deep into my soul.”

“experienced lot of healing.”

“a real gift from God just when I needed it.”

“every aspect of the programme helped to renew myself.”

“the whole progrmame from beginning to end was a growing experience.”

“feel more integrated within myself.”

“very competent resource persons.”

“very well-organised programme.”

“felt very much relaxed, comfortable and welcomed.”

"wonderful environment and atmosphere."

“the food and accommodation was excellent.”

Most participants found group therapy and the concluding spiritual retreat – as a desert experience of “wilderness and paradise” - most enriching segments of the programme.

Next Sumedha Sadhana commences on September 29^th and concludes on November 30^th.