A beautiful transformative space was created over three days for not only learning perspectives and approaches but to experientially taste these practices and ways of being. It was attended by over 200 people from all over India and had speakers and facilitators from all over the world.
It was the first of its kind in the country exploring the applications of Mindfulness in Mental Health and Community. This three day space for contemplation, application and exploration with lead trainers, teachers and peers was held from 7th to 9th October, 2016.
The focus of the Conference was on honouring various perspectives on mindfulness, philosophical as well as theoretical, and to bring together various evidence-based mindfulness approaches in therapy, counselling and community under one roof.
Through diversity we hoped to get a sense of that ONE TASTE, of `beingness’ or Presence and touch into the essence of the practice of mindfulness that becomes the impetus for ourselves and the people we serve.
The concept and application of Mindfulness has pervaded every field. However, to really understand Mindfulness and the essence of the practice we need to include the wisdom perspectives. The secular practice of Mindfulness does not exclude but includes the deep wisdom that comes from Buddhist and other wisdom orientations.
So the conference included perspectives from wisdom traditions as well as an exploration of research based applications in mental health, counselling, psychotherapy and community with leading trainers and practitioners from around the world through in person interactive sessions.
At the heart of ‘understanding’ Mindfulness is also the practice and a direct experience. So the conference included the practice of Mindfulness.
Ven. Geshe Dorji Damdul inaugurated the Conference and started the conference with a session on Wisdom Based Mindfulness from the Buddhist tradition
Ven. Geshe Dorji Damdul
Director,Tibet House, Cultural Center of His Holiness The Dalai Lama
Ven. Geshe Dorji Damdul travels widely within India and abroad to teach Buddhist philosophy, psychology, logic and practice. He was appointed as official translator for H.H.the Dalai Lama.He has been involved with translating many texts from Tibetan to English.
Session: Wisdom Based Mindfulness
Mooji
Mooji is a spiritual teacher originally from Jamaica. Mooji is a disciple of Papaji, a devotee of the advaita and non-dual teacher Ramana Maharshi. Universal in his appeal, Mooji’s wisdom, compassion, openness and humour profoundly touch the hearts of those who meet him, thereby inspiring each one to find within themselves the deep peace, love and silence they recognise in him.
Session: Presence
Sandy Dias Andrade
Founder Director, Just Being Center
Sandy Dias Andrade trained in mindfulness based interventions, Integrated Somatic Psychotherapy and other interventions that include the body, mind, soul and spirit in psychotherapy. She has developed the Presence Oriented Psychotherapy training for psychotherapists who wish to bring a Presence orientation to their work.
Session: Mindfulness & Presence in Psychotherapy
Fiona Parr
Focusing Oriented Therapist
Fiona Parr is a Focusing-Oriented Therapist, Teacher and Mentor and an International Focusing Institute Certifying Coordinator based in the U.K. She has been practising Focusing for 25 years and teaching for 15 years.
Session : How your Self-in-Presence brings change
Nithya Shanti
Nithya Shanti is an internationally respected spiritual teacher, seminar leader and educator, committed to sharing practical wisdom teachings for happiness and awakening with people in a joyful and transformational way.
Session: Beyond Mindfulness: Instant Advanced Meditation
Bruce Stevenson
Psychotherapist
A psychotherapist in Internal Family Systems (IFS), Bruce Stevenson has also trained as an integrative psychotherapist. He has also been a Buddhist monk for five years. He has also been a student of A.H.Almaas in California.
Session : Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Mindfulness
Dr Sandip Ravindra
He is an assistant professor in the department of psychology, SNDT Women’s University, Pune. He did his Masters and M.Phil in clinical Psychology from Nagpur and Pune University respectively.
Session: Contemporary research in Mindfulness: issues and challenges
Dr Raja Selvam
Senior Trainer in Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing (SE) professional Trauma Training programs and developer of Integral Somatic Psychotherapy (ISP). Among many influences, he also draws from Advaita Vedanta.
Session : Trauma, Body, Psychotherapy and Mindfulness
K B Jinan
K B Jinan is an activist, designer and educationist. He has been working with traditional artisans in various parts of India. In the process he has been addressing his own de-colonizing and de-schooling process.
Session: Learning to See
Robyn Walser, PhD
She is associate director of the National Center for PTSD Dissemination and Training Division, and associate clinical professor in the department of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. As a licensed clinical psychologist, she maintains an international training, consulting, and therapy practice.
Walser has coauthored three books, including Learning ACT, The Mindful Couple, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma-Related Problems.
Chandrashekar Datye
He is an engineer by profession and a Vipassana teacher. He offers voluntary service in Vipassana Centers and in other activities like MITRA Project & Anapana training.
Sessions : Anapana training and its applications.
