Sunday, April 21, 2013

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.


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