Pre-trip classes: Aug 14-16, Sept 11-13

Travel & Study in India:  October 2-24

Post-trip class: Nov 27-29

Weekend 1: Friday August 14,  6:00-9:30 p.m. (Dinner included)

Introduction to course, (syllabus and trip itinerary), participants, professor

Pre-trip essentials: visas, health, luggage, food                                             

Lecture/Discussion: History India

Saturday August 15,  9:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. (Lunch and snacks included)

Introduction to contemplative prayer

Overview Religions of India

Plan Craft Program                                                             

Sunday August 16,  12:30-4:00 p.m. (Lunch included)

Meditation practice                                                                                         

Liberation Theology, part 1                                                                    

Weekend 2: Friday September 11,   6:00-9:30 p.m. (Dinner included)

Liberation Theology, Part 2                                                                             

Saturday September 12,    9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Lunch and snacks included)

Introduction to contemplative compassion practice "Tonglin"                         

Trip Preparation: logistics, travel arrangements, program updates

Pack Supplies

Sunday September 13,     12:30- 4:00 p.m. (Lunch included)

Who we are: discussion of personal understanding and experience              

of spiritual growth and theology

Travel and Study in India:  Friday October 2- Saturday October 24

(all air and ground transportation, meals in India, and accommodation included)

Fri Oct 2-3        Depart Ottawa travel to Delhi, India

                        We depart Ottawa for India traveling with Jet Airways via Europe. We cross the International Time line and therefore lose a day on our journey over. We arrive in Delhi in late evening and need to claim our baggage and clear customs and immigration. We spend the night in a hotel.

Sun Oct 4         New Delhi- Kathgodam

                        We have a quiet morning in Delhi. After lunch, those who are rested enough can visit the Baha'i Lotus Temple and the Red Fort. In the evening we check out of the hotel and board an overnight train for Kathgodam

Mon Oct 5         Kathgodam-Bhimtal

                        Our train arrives in Kathgodam early in the morning. We will transfer to the pastoral centre "Suchetna" for breakfast and a rest. We will leave excess luggage at Suchentna as we will return here in a few days. We take a private mini bus to the hill station: Bhimtal, which will be our home base as we get acclimatized to the sights, sounds, smells and food of India.  While here, we will stay at the Mount Alvern Convent. We will be joined on this leg of our journey by Fr. Thomas D'sa from the Regional Bible Institute and staff from the institute and Suchetna. In the afternoon we will have an introduction to contemporary religious and spiritual issues in India.

Tues Oct 6         Bhimtal

                            Our orientation continues interspersed with time for rest.

Wed Oct 7         Bhimtal-Kathgodom (Suchetna)

                            We move from Bhimtal to Kathgodam where we will stay at the pastoral centre: Suchetna. From here we will learn about the social work being engaged in by the church. On the way to Suchetna, we will visit a rural village and meet with members of a women's self help group. In the evening we meet with girls from the education program from girl drop-outs offered at Suchetna.

Thur Oct 8        Suchetna

                        Today we learn about the social justice work being engaged in by the church in this region. We will visit local villages and meet with facilitators and self-help groups.

Fri Oct 9            Suchetna

                        In the morning we will visit and meet with members of a local rag pickers community. The afternoon is free. In the evening, we board the train for another overnight ride back to Delhi.

Sat Oct 10        Delhi-Agra-Delhi

We arrive in Delhi in the early morning and will travel by private bus to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. We return to Delhi in time to board an overnight train for Varanasi.

Sun Oct 11        Varanasi

                    We transfer to Varanasi by overnight train. We will stay at the pastoral centre: Nav Sadhana, home of the college of art and music Kala Kendra. There, we will learn of efforts at working with the arts and spirituality and inculturation. In the evening, we will attend worship at a local Christian Ashram.

Mon Oct 12        Varanasi- Sarnath

                    We spend this day in the village of Sarnath, Just outside of Varanasi. This is where the Buddha first taught. We will visit the major Buddhist temple in this quiet village and join in evening meditation.

Tue Oct 13         Varanasi

                        This morning, we will pay an early morning visit to the ghats on the river Ghangas and watch devout Hindu's perform rites of purification and devotion and visit the sites used for cremation. In the afternoon we fly to Bangalore via Delhi. We will be guests of the National Biblical Catechetical Liturgical Biblical Centre (NBCLC).

Wed Oct 14        Bangalore: NBCLC

                    Today we will meet with Sr. Francoise Bosteels an artist who works creates dolls to give voice to the voiceless and to call out for justice and compassion.

Thur Oct 15           Mysore - Arts Program

                        The Satya Seva Sisters have taken on a special outreach to the impoverished children living in the neighbourhood. Dozens of children gather at their convent every evening for tutoring in their school work and dinner. While we are there, we will have chance to interact with the children over arts and crafts projects.

                            We travel to Mysore by train, and stay in the Hotel Ginger for the duration of our time in Mysore.

Fri Oct 16            Chamundi Hill - Arts Program

                        During the day, we will visit the Hindu temple on Chamundi Hill. In the early evening we will continue to run our Art program.

Sat Oct 17            Mysore Palace - Celebrate Diwali

                        The palace in Mysore boasts stunning architecture. Today we will tour the palace and tonight we celebrate the festival of lights Diwali.

Sun Oct 18            Free Day - Celebrate Vikram

Mon Oct 19           Bird Sanctuary - Arts Program

                        Today we make a side trip to visit the bird sanctuary on the Chauvery River. In the even we continue the Arts program.

Tue Oct 20             Beedee Factory- Arts Program          

Wed Oct 21-23        Dubare Elephant Camp

                        We will drive by private car to the hill country of Coorg. This region is the home of the Dubare Elephant Camp. This will be our retreat centre where we will reflect on our journey, discussions, discoveries. Of course, we will have time to play with the elephants as well!

 Fri Oct 23-24    Transfer to Delhi for return to Canada

Post-trip class: Friday Nov 27,    6:00-9:30 p.m. (Dinner included)

Sharing of pictures and stories

Evaluation   

Saturday Nov 28,  9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Snacks included)

Theological reflections on the journey, liberation, and spiritual growth

What does liberation look like now?

Evaluation 

Sunday Nov 29,   12:30-4:00 p.m.

Meditation Practice

Our personal discoveries

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