Conclusion of Psychological Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey Module at Sumedha Centre

 The Psychological Dynamics and the Spiritual Journey module (5 weeks) of the Sumedha Sadhana (12 week) programme concluded at Sumedha Centre today – 9^th November..

This module had several sub-modules, such as Self-Awareness, Prayerfulness, Process Spirituality, Midlife Dynamics, Sexuality and Intimacy, Celibacy and Hetero-Sexual attachment Dynamics, Trauma and Healing, and Holistic Spirituality. 

All these sub-modules were facilitated by Dr. Jose Parappully, the Director of Sumedha centre.

Participants expressed immense satisfaction with the module. They found it very beneficial Six of the nine participants gave a perfect 10 out of 10 on the Usefulness of the Module.

Some comments:

“The module enabled me to journey within, challenge some of my negative thought patterns, healed me of painful memories and overcome my restlessness.”

“I have experienced physical, mental and emotional healing. I am experiencing peace and harmony within.”

“The module was very practical and interesting. It helped me to let go of the past painful memories. I received a lot of healing. Somatic Meditation, Spirituality, Midlife Celibacy and Intimacy gave more clarity about religious life.”

“From all the modules I benefitted a lot: new insights and awareness.”

“The module facilitator was gifted with various capacities and taken the class in an excellent manner and I am enriched by the classes.”

“The facilitator has been Excellent!! His classes have been deep and meaningful.”

The Sumedha Sadhana concludes on December 14,2024.

The next Sumedha Sadhana begins on February 9, 2025. Registration is open Contact: sumedhacentre@gmail.com

MINI SUMEDHA SADHANA RECEIVES ACCOLADES!

The four week (August 6-September 3) Mini Sumedha Sadhana concluded yesterday. All participants expressed immense satisfaction with the entire programme – planning, organization, content, and execution.

All participants observed that the programme had met all their expectations, and even more. Seven of the 10 participants gave a perfect 10 on the Usefulness scale. One gave 9, two others gave 8 and 7.

The modules were facilitated by Dr. Johny Dominic Padinjar SDB, PhD (Psychological Dynamics), Dr. Jose Parappully SDB, PhD (Spirituality; Meditation; Sexuality, Intimacy & Celibacy), Dr. Varghese Kalluvachel SDB, PhD (Consecrated Life).

Some common observations from participants were these: 

The programme is of excellent quality; it has brought about some real changes in the participants; the module facilitators were all excellent; it was an experience of real community living; liturgies were creative and meaningful; the environment and ambiance wonderful and conducive; there was great freedom – no restricting do’s and don’ts; the food was excellent.

Some quotes from participants:

“I have attended many renewal programmes. This was the best of all.” BM

“I gained lots of new insights. Wonderful ambient. Community spirit was fantastic. I had a good time.” RK

“I came with so much emptiness in me. Those spaces have been filled. So many new perspectives and so much self-awareness gained. I feel I have been healed in many areas of my life. A new self is being born.” SR

“I gained in awareness of self and of God. I felt very much at home. I feel renewed.” VM

“I came to Sumedha full of darkness within.  I have found light. Been able to let go of lots of things burdening me. I enjoyed my stay here. Enjoyed the food and the surroundings. Great family spirit.” N

“I came very distracted, anxious. Very soon I became relaxed. Each class gave me realization of who I am, how I am doing, especially of my dysfunctional behaviours and the need to change.” BE

“Programme helped to let go off many things. It was an experience of liberation.”  TB

“The programme helped me take a good look at myself. Lots of personal time for reflection and prayer. Discovered what I need to change. I go back with a rich experience. Food was excellent.” KM

“I really enjoyed the homely atmosphere. Every one very open minded. Well-conducted sessions.” ED.

“The programme was for me an audit of my life – how I am, how I need to be. Every topic was interesting, relevant and useful. Wonderful ambient and atmosphere. Enjoyed every bit of the programme.  Food was delicious.” LR

The next Sumedha Sadhana (9 weeks) is from October 1 to December 2. A couple of seats available. Contact sumedhacentre@gmail.com

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.

26th SUMEDHA SADHANA – THE FIRST WEEK.

The 26^th Sumedha Sadhana – A 9-Week Psychospritual Wholeness Journey – commenced on July 4^th. Participants come from India, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The beginning module, entitled “Psychological Dynamics on the Spiritual Journey,” is facilitated by Jose Parappully, the Director of Sumedha Centre. This is a foundational module on which other Resource Persons will build and expand.

The first week was focused on the Spiritual Journey. Parappully helped participants explore the realities of the “Now Period” of their lives, discover all that is going with them, how they are being affected by them and discern what God might be telling them through all these.

He used the Intensive Journal Meditation, along with Expressive Writing and Drawing in this process of discovery and discernment.

Parappully introduced the participants to Process Spirituality and Centering Prayer – a simple approach to contemplative prayer and discussed ways to cultivate deeper prayerfulness.

Somatic Meditations every morning helped participants to move toward greater integration of body, mind and spirit.

Each day’s activities culminated in the Eucharistic celebration in which participants were able to bring before the Lord their experiences of the day and further process and integrate them.

Beginning of the Day and End of the Day Journalling also helped to integrate the weeks’ experiences.

Friday evening and Saturday morning was spent in silent “Recollection” during which particpants had time to further assimilate and integrate the week’s experiences in prayer and through Expressive Writing and Drawing.

At the end of the week, participants reported that they have already begun to re-frame their experiences and beginning to experience greater serenity and meaningfulness on their Psycho-Spiritual Journey.

Saturday afternoon and all of Sunday participants have the leisure to organize their time the way they want. Many of them use the weekend to visit the nearby tourist attractions.

"SUMEDHA SADHANA - AN EXCELLENT PROGRAMME!", SAY PARTICIPANTS.

The Six-week (May 20- June 30) Sumedha Sadhana programme that concluded yesterday  received excellent ratings from the participants. Some representative comments from the participants:

“The entire programme is excellent for personal growth. It has been very well organised. Every little bit has been taken care of.… I got so much more than I ever expected.”

“Sumedha Sadhana provided me renewal of heart and mind. It helped me work through the chaos in my mind… I feel rejuvenated.”

“ I felt very much at home right from the first day. Everything had been meticulously planned. …”

“I came experiencing a desert. I go back with a sense of awe and wonder. I was helped to reassess my life, find healing of my woundedness and move on…”

“Experiences at Sumedha have expanded my heart to give and receive love… I go back free and happy. Many burdens have been lifted. …. The spirituality offered here is so much deeper than what I have experienced at other Centres.”

“I came carrying lot of mess, loss of meaning in life… I have been able work through these. The journey here has been so beautiful. I return happy and revitalised…”

“It has been a truly sacred experience. I came here with struggles and chaos, a wounded spirit and spiritual dryness… I now experience joy and pace. My burdens have been lifted and I have decided to create a happy future.”

“Sumedha helped me to discover myself, make a paradigm shift in self-concept… I profited so much though I had not wanted to come.”

“I came with lots of struggle… I have been touched and healed and I go back with hope.  My troubled life has been calmed…. Sumedha helped me to put God back into the centre of my life.”

"I came here with a lot of bondage, discontent… The debris of the past has been cleared. A fountain of energy is flowing through me freely.”

“Sumedha has been a liberating experience… It is a well-integrated course – rich inputs, honest sharing, wonderful family atmosphere, and deep prayerfulness in beautiful and healing surroundings.”

“I felt very much at home. Sumedha is a place where I could be myself. There was no compulsion in anything..."

“Sumedha is a place where we can experience lots of love.”

“Sumedha gave me a new life. It has been a beautiful experience.”

A longer (9 weeks) Sumedha Sadhana begins on September 25. Facilitators: Ajoy Fernandes,  Alba Rodrigues, Gerard Alvarez, Joe Mannath, Jose Parappully, and MC Abraham. Registrations for the same are on. Those interested can contact the Centre at sumedhacentre@gmail.com 

See the previous blog for Sumedha Sadhana programme description.

23rd SUMEDHA SADHANA CONCLUDES

The 23^rd edition of Sumedha Sadhana concluded today. This 6-week-long programme commenced on May 25^th.

Sumedha Sadhana is an intensive inner journey in quest of greater healing and wholeness.

Using insights and practices from spiritual traditions and psychology participants were helped to gain a deeper insight into the psychological dynamics operating on their spiritual journey and integrate these in healthy and meaningful ways to live more satisfying and fruitful lives.

The major module of the programme was “Psychological Dynamics on the Spiritual Journey” which focused especially on healthy spirituality, early life experiences and midlife dynamics.” This module also explored human sexuality and affectivity and their healthy integration in the context of the participants’ celibate lifestyle. It was facilitated by Jose Parappully, the Director of the Centre.

In the module “Befriending Our Emotions,” M. Goretti Kankarathinam presented the meaning of emotions and emotional maturity and helped participants to explore and understand some of their major positive, negative, hidden and dominant emotions and to process them through art, music, imagery, role play and experiential group exercises.

In the related module “Core Transformation” Jose Kuttianimattathil helped participants experience healing of painful experiences and emotions and learn to live from the core state within them which radiates peace, love and harmony.

The Sumedha Sadhana experience concluded with Group Therapy facilitated by Jose Parappully and Peter Lourdes. Group therapy provided participants opportunity to face their brokenness and woundedness, their defences and unhelpful patterns of living and relating, and to move toward greater healing and wholeness.

The programme received excellent ratings from the participants. Some representative comments from the participants will be posted in our next blog.

A longer (9 weeks) Sumedha Sadhana begins on September 25. Facilitators: Ajoy Fernandes, Alba rodrigues, Gerard Alvarez, Joe Mannath, Jose Parappully and  MC Abraham, Registrations for the same are on. Those interested can contact the Centre at sumedhacentre@gmail.com

SIX WEEKS OF THE 22ND SUMEDHA SADHANA

Six weeks of the nine-week long Sumedha Sadhana concluded yesterday. During these six weeks there were four difference Modules. The first and the longest, facilitated by Jose Parappully PhD, the Director of the Centre, was "Psychological Dynamics on the Spiritual Journey" during which Parappully helped participants to evaluate and enhance their spiritual journey by means of relevant psychological theories of developmental  especially Eriksonian, Attachment and Self-Psychology.

Following that Ajoy Fernandes PhD, helped participants explore the question "Who am I?" using Jungian perspectives. Participants discovered their personality types using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and how their type influence particularly their spirituality and their relationships. They discovered their "persona" and sought to redeem their "shadow" and integrate their "animus" and "anima."

The third module, facilitated by Gerard Alvarez MA, was "Stories: Ours, Jesus' and the Universes's." Alvarez helped participants discover how these three stories intertwine on the psycho-spiritual journey. He demonstrated, through films and rituals, how sacred scripture(Jesus' Story) can be a powerful means to deepen one's own story and the importance of being more aware of and paying greater attention and respect to the Universe Story.

The last module was "Sexuality, Celibacy and Intimacy" facilitated by Joe Mannath PhD. Mannath helped participants to retrace their psychosexual developmental journey and address some major tasks and challenges on the way to healthy integration of sexuality and intimacy on the celibate journey.

Time at Sumedha is not all serious inner work. There is also time to play.
Having completed the six weeks and the four modules participants took time to relax by going on walking picnic down the stream that flows below the Centre and had some fun jumping over rocks and climbing trees by the waterside.

These modules have prepared the participants for the climax of the the entire programme, namely group therapy and the concluding spiritual retreat. Group therapy begins on 22 April and will be facilitated by Peter Lourdes PhD and Jose Parappully PhD. The spiritual retreat which follows the group therapy will be facilitated by Jose Parappully.

Between the therapy and the retreat, participants will take time to relax by going on a day-long picnic to the lakes that are such an attractive feature of the landscape surrounding Sumedha Centre.

The current progrmame concludes on May 10th and the next Sumedha Sadhana commences on May 20th.