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Student happy with children's gift of
leaf hat
Craft craft program with dalit
children, Mysore
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Institute Assistant Elizabeth Pammett with
Nrityavani Dancers: Suchita Kujur and Mahdu Rawat
Oxcart
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Students with Director Louise Graves
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A Course on Spirituality and Global
Awareness in India
What is the Course on Spirituality and
Global Awareness about?
It is about spirituality and recognizing that all humanity is our family.
In India, students spend one week with dalit children running a craft program.
Dalit children are the poorest of the poor, also known as “untouchables.”
At the same time participants visit such places of interest in India as the
Ellora Caves, the Little Taj, the Maharaja’s palace, and the Dubare Elephant
Camp.
The goal of the courses is to deepen students’ knowledge of themselves and
their place in the contemporary world. Students engage in daily meditation and
worship and do critical reflection on the theological, historical, cultural and
psychological factors which have shaped them. It all stems from a compassionate
perspective that all humanity is our family.
Learn about spirituality and recognize that all humanity is our family. At
the same time, visit many places of interest in India including the Ellora and
Ajanta Caves, the Little Taj, the Maharaja’s palace, the Dubare Elephant Camp
This course takes place in both Canada and India.
Pre-trip classes start in Winnipeg (Aug 15-17 and Sept.12-14), Peterborough
(Aug. 22-24) and Ottawa (Feb. 6-28, 2009), and then students depart for India
for a three-week stay. (See website for the institute at www.iitheoed.com for
more details about dates for the trips.) The cost per trip per person ranges
from $4,975.00 to $5,250.00 and includes instruction, visas, program supplies,
basic insurance, return air fare to India, all in-country flights and
transportation, accommodation, meals and entrance fees to historical sites.
Testimonials and Experiences from India
Testimonials...
The course was exceptional! I learned so much about myself and others from so
many different aspects—spiritually, socially, culturally, and interpersonally. I
expected differences between Canada and India, and there were, but it also
became apparent to me that we have so much in common. There was much evidence of
the many commonalities that we as human beings share regardless of where we live
in this world. In a nutshell, I came from this course with a better
understanding of myself and others and what it means to be a citizen of this
earth. It was a unique experience that has allowed me to grow personally and
spiritually. I would recommend this course to anyone interested in discovering
more about themselves and the world around them. Elizabeth.
“So how was India?” you ask. It was larger than life. All my senses were on
overload! Life is lived on the streets, out in the open, nothing is hidden away,
private, everything is exposed. India is exhilarating – it’s a fine
balance…definitely not for the faint of heart and definitely a challenge. Go to
India. Find the balance. In the end it was the people who stole my heart and
took my breath away. When I came home from India, I had been moved to an even
deeper understanding of life, humanity, and the shrinking, global world. An
unshakeable, formidable connection to all that really matters in this world has
taken hold of me. In such an incredibly short time, I was smitten by India and
had fallen in love with her people. I have been touched by the lives of the
ordinary people – the real India. Barbara
India's Experience? How moving and challenging it was... stepping for the first
time, into this part of the world, with members of a group who were all of
different ages, professions, denominations and who all had different
backgrounds. We were exposed to such a different reality—to India’s sacred
traditions and rich treasures. My fears were eliminated as the experience
progressed. Every day we shared our reflections and our struggles. It was a call
to restore our broken, divided world, together, each in her or his own way.
Idalina
I was fortunate to be part of a group of passionate students who took part in a
course called Spirituality and Global Awareness with Dr Graves. She provided a
course program that was full and enriching and which also included much
discussion and daily prayer. As our Indian partners went about their work in the
community they inspired hope in me for the future of humankind. I learned
patience and tolerance from working alongside these people – to be open and
accept others, the rich and the poor - everyone as one human family. Emilie
An experience...
It is the old ones that always pull on my heart. One evening we were waiting at
a train station and as the day disappeared the old ones started to gather. One
by one, each claimed their spot on the hard cement floor. In short order every
inch of the floor was covered with little bundles of rags. Each was an elderly
person curled up under threadbare blankets. One of our group had bought oranges
for our breakfast the following morning. I asked for mine and offered it to the
first woman I found. At first, she looked at me first with suspicion then seeing
the orange, her eyes brightened and her ancient hand took it and deftly hid it
under her cloth. She looked back at me with the biggest toothless smile I have
ever seen and flashed me a thumbs up. That encounter was better than any
breakfast I had ever eaten. Oranges cost 10 rupees or 25 cents Canadian: who
knows when she had had her last chance to taste one. Dr. Louise Graves
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