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.

ONE MONTH OF THE 22nd SUMEDHA SADHANA

The 22^nd Sumedha Sadhana is half done. Another month to go.

During these past four weeks of the Sadhana, participants explored the psychological dynamics on their spiritual journey.

Using concepts from psychological theories such as Eriksonian and Attachment, Jose Parappully helped participants to relive their developmental history through theoretical inputs and experiential exercises. He further helped them to examine the contours of their spiritual journey through the lens of these developmental experiences.

Participants were further helped to discover themselves and know more about their personalities through approaches and techniques based on the psychology of Carl Jung. Ajoy Fernandes, helped them discover their personality types (Myers-Briggs), recognise and redeem their shadows and integrate their animus/anima.

Gerard Alvarez helped participants to further deepen their self-understanding by  exploring with them their Personal Stories, the Story of the Universe and the Jesus Story.

Through these different approaches and techniques they have gained, the participants remarked, a deeper understanding of themselves and the dynamics that drives their behaviours and relationships and the way they live their spirituality, and also gain insights and tools to better integrate and enhance their psychospiritual journey.

During the month the participants were also privileged to receive a visit from Most Rev. Anthony Fernandes, the Bishop of Bareilly. He spent around 45 minutes interacting with them and sharing with them the history of Jeolikote and the Pastoral Centre which is now housing the Sumedha Sadhana.

Psycohpspiritual wholeness journey was also enhance through participation in the celebration fo the Paschal Mysteries - the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

The 22nd Sumedha Sadhana continues for another month.

And the 23rd Sumedha Sadhana commences on May 20 and concludes on June 30th. A few seats are available for this programme.