Conference Day 2 (Wed)
SVB encouraged the audience to use this conference to reshape our personalities/attitudes towards ourselves, instead of just thinking about the concept of pleasure as antidote to pain. Susan Gould-Fogerite spoke primarily about how breathing affects the immune system and how awareness of the breath can help to elevate stress and illness. Swami Ritavan gave a very poetic outline of the use and origin of mantra within the Himalayan tradition. Dr Parker gave a personal account of his own experiences with the management of intense pain, in this case sciatic pain. Ma Radha provided an introduction to the practice of Contemplative Walking. Dr Parker discussed the therapy of Cognitive Behavioral Modeling (CBM). Swami Nityamuktananda explained the basic concept of Samkhya philosophy. Mr Pradeep discussed the fact that dental pain, after the pain of childbirth is the largest pain known.
Pain Conference Proceedings
Date: 25th February 2009
Name of Lecture: …Pleasure as Antidote to Pain
Name of Speaker: …Swami Veda Bharati (SVB)
Program Time: …9.30-10.30am
Actual Time: …9.30-10.25am
Location: Mediation Hall, SRSG
Name of Chairman:… Linda Billau
Name of Reporter: …Klara Gerrits
Reference Material/Presentation/Other Information Collected: …None
Main Points of the Lecture: ....
SVB encouraged the audience to use this conference to reshape our personalities/attitudes towards ourselves, instead of just thinking about the concept of pleasure as antidote to pain. SVB asked if there is a universal principle of pain and went on to say that Buddhist, Samkhya and Ayurveda philosophies agree on the question of pleasure and pain. These texts agree that: 1) There is pain - 2) There is a cause of pain – 3) There is elimination of pain – 4) There are means for the elimination of pain. The physical diseases (anger, greed, jealousy, etc.) arise out of the mental diseases. The definition of pleasure is ‘concentration’. Selflessness, altruism is the source of true pleasure and needs to get integrated in our personality.
There are three kinds of pain distinguished in Samkhya philosophy: 1. Adhyatmika (abhimana/identification is the source of all of this kind of pain); 2. Adhidaivika; 3. Adhibhavtika. Adhyatmika is the pain experienced in the bodily and mental constituents of our personality. This is sometimes incorrectly translated as spiritual pain, but the pure Self/Atman has no ignorance, no pain. The yogis discovered through the process of self-observation/meditation that human beings consist of many layers of energy-fields (5 koshas) with as many levels of identification. The false identification / abhimana of the relative Self with external conditions (‘I’m rich/poor; man/woman’; etc) is the cause of all pleasures and pains. We have to learn how to take away the mental/social/emotional props of the physical pain. Our capacity to remain neutral towards pleasant or painful events around us is determined by the fact if we have a weak or a strong mind. The purpose of meditation is to strengthen the energy field of the mind and to increase the capacity of the mind to remain unaffected by external disturbances and therefore from the pains arising from the minds disturbances.
The book that will be published post-conference will consist of two sections: one scientific section and one philosophical/spiritual/attitudinal section.
Questions and Answers (name of person and details of question): …
Question from Veena Maitra: What is the cosmic personality?
Answer SVB: Indian philosophy distinguishes the individual personality and the cosmic personality. The universe is seen as the cosmic personality in which suns, galaxies, individual personalities etcetera are considered to be the cells of the body that’s called God. In order to understand our own individual personality we have to understand what happens in the cosmic personality and to live in awareness of that.
Other Comments (e.g. references to other resources, talks being held etc): ...Reference was made to the ‘weak/strong mind-paper’ prepared by SVB.
Name of Lecture: …Mind Body Science: Stress, Relax, Breath Practice: Complete breath, guided healing
Name of Speaker: …Susan Gould-Fogerite
Program Time: …11am-12am
Actual Time: …1109am-12am
Location: ...Mediation Hall, SRSG
Name of Chairman: T.P. Sasikumar
Name of Reporter: Lela Pierce
Reference Material/Presentation/Other Information Collected: …Powerpoint
Main Points of the Lecture: ....
Susan Gould-Fogerite spoke primarily about how breathing affects the immune system and how awareness of the breath can help to elevate stress and illness. She emphasized the “mind body” approach to medicine by explaining how the mental and physical states naturally affect one another. The main tools of “mind body medicine” include; cognitive and behavioral therapy, group and social support, meditation, imagery and hypnosis, relaxation, biofeedback, tai chi, qi gong and yoga. Gould-Fogerite explained the basic structure of the nervous system to include the somatic and autonomic systems (previously referred to as voluntary and involuntary abilities) and further broke it down to sympathetic and parasympathetic aspects of the autonomic system. She outlined the HPA (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis) to show how exactly stress effects and stimulates the mind and body. Furthermore, she referred to the SAM (Sympathetic Adrenal Medullary Axis) and outlined the Psycho-Neural Adrenal Immune System.
After explaining the basic structure of the immune and nervous systems Gould-Fogerite went into the ways that these structures are affected by relaxation and breathing techniques. She explained how the breath is the link between the mind and body and therefore is key to maintain balance between the two. She referenced Swami Rama’s book “the Science of Breath” and mentioned several breathing techniques that can be helpful in relaxing the body and reducing stress. Toward the end of the lecture she taught everyone how to do a complete yogic breath by lifting the arms above the head with an inhale and releasing them down with an exhale. She then guided the group through relaxation in makrasana (crocodile pose). In conclusion Gould-Fogerite stated that there needs to be more quality research to fully characterize the effects of breath in promoting health and elevating stress and illness.
Questions and Answers (name of person and details of question): … none
Other Comments (e.g. references to other resources, talks being held etc): ...
Swami Rama - Science of breath.
Name of Lecture: …Meaning and Use of Mantra Practice: Sweeping breath, mantra meditation
Name of Speaker: …Swami Ritavan
Program Time: …12pm-13pm
Actual Time: …12pm-13pm
Location: ...Mediation Hall, SRSG
Name of Chairman: T.P. Sasikumar
Name of Reporter: Lela Pierce
Reference Material/Presentation/Other Information Collected: …
Main Points of the Lecture: ....
Swami Ritavan gave a very poetic outline of the use and origin of mantra within the Himalayan tradition. He explained that in the beginning there was the word and the word was God - referring to the experience of God. He explained that silence is the mother of all words and out of that came AUM followed by all other words referring to God etc.. Swami Ritavan went on to explain how concentration on the subtle body leads one to “God” and how breath rhythm arises to thought rhythm and mantric vibration travels through the breath as so to elicit an internal experience of word as God – a mind in permeating word meaning. As word begins and ends, thought continues. He emphasized Swami Veda’s words “Don’t let body conditions be mind conditions”.
Swami Ritavan explained and guided the audience through sweeping breath practice. During the practice the following points of attention were indicated:
* exhale crown to base of spine
* eventually breath 2:1
* inhaling and exhaling with awareness moving through the center of the body while internalizing OM
* extend awareness to the area between the feet (when lying in shavasana)
* extend awareness to space quality beyond feet (to wall of the room)
* eventually extend unified flow of prana into universe.
Questions and Answers (name of person and details of question): … None
Other Comments (e.g. references to other resources, talks being held etc): ...None
Name of Lecture: …Integrative Therapy in Clinical Psychology Practice with Practical Session on Nadi Shodhanam
Name of Speaker: … Dr Stoma Parker
Program Time: …230 – 330pm
Actual Time: …230-330pm
Location: ...Mediation Hall, SRSG
Name of Chairman:…Swami Ritavan
Name of Reporter: …Adel Enderson
Reference Material/Presentation/Other Information Collected: … None.
Main Points of the Lecture: .... Dr Parker gave a personal account of his own experiences with the management of intense pain, in this case sciatic pain. He considers that his pain was psychosomatic and he recalled how he observed an improvement in his symptoms following the successful treatment of one of his own clients through psychotherapy. The speaker then discussed the work of John E. Sarno for the treatment of psychosomatic musculo-skeletal pain (see book references below). The principle of the approach is that many pains are created by the unconcious mind as a mechanism for distracting the mind from other more disturbing or unacceptable emotions. The speaker discussed the use of clinical hypnosis prior to surgery in which the suggestion of optimal healing and limited pain sensation is given to a patient before surgery. This has been effective with the speakers own clients from his work in a psychotherapy setting. Examples of this were provided such as the use of hypnotherapy to ‘switch off’ or ‘dim’ the pain centres and thereby effectively reduce the intensity of pain felt by the person.
In the second part of the session Nadi Shodhanam was introduced as a practice similar to other clinical techniques for the treatment of post-traumatic stress. The use of Nadi Shodhanam to alternately stimulate the left and right hemispheres of the brain has been found to be effective in balancing emotions and to moving into a meditative state. It was noted to be a low impact practice suitable for long term use, and it was suggested that 3 rounds moving up to 9 rounds can be effective when completed twice per day. Some guidance was provided on the technique and then a practical session was completed. This comprised a short systematic relaxation in Shavasana, followed by a guided practice of 1 round of Nadi Shodhanam.
Questions and Answers (name of person and details of question): … None.
Other Comments (e.g. references to other resources, talks being held etc): Reference was made to two books by John E. Sarno ‘The Mind Body Prescription’ and also ‘The Divided Mind’.
Name of Lecture: …Contemplative Walking Meditation
Name of Speaker: … Swami Ma Radha
Program Time: …330-400pm
Actual Time: …330-350pm
Location: ...Meditation Hall, SRSG
Name of Chairman:…Swami Ritavan
Name of Reporter: …Adel Enderson
Reference Material/Presentation/Other Information Collected: …None.
Main Points of the Lecture: .... Swami Ma Radha provided an introduction to the practice of Contemplative Walking and discussed it’s use for encouraging an awareness in daily life and a method of training the mind to harmonize and co-ordinate it’s actions with the body and breath. She asked the audience to consider how we walk through life, and how we carry our pains. The speaker provided guidance on the practical method of contemplative walking by dividing the group into two and providing a guided practice covering the posture, the breath, the gaze, the position of the hands and the method of self- observation during the practice. The speaker noted that Contemplative Walking is a useful preparation for sitting meditation as well as being meditation in action.
Questions and Answers (name of person and details of question): … None.
Other Comments (e.g. references to other resources, talks being held etc): ... None.
Name of Lecture: …Cognitive Behavioral Modeling in Chronic Pain Management
Name of Speaker: …T. Fernandez, specialized in Chronic Pain, anesthesia, interventions
Program Time: …430–515pm
Actual Time: …440-520pm
Location: ...Seema Dental College
Name of Chairman:…S. Parker
Name of Reporter: …Klara Gerrits
Reference Material/Presentation/Other Information Collected: …
Main Points of the Lecture: ....Dr Parker discussed the therapy of Cognitive Behavioral Modeling (CBM) as being practiced in his clinic. Patients with chronic pain often suffer severe pain during long periods of time, feel desperate and have high expectations of medical interventions. In CBM the patients with chronic pain are helped to recognize their cognitive state, understand the link to their physical well-being and alter it to improve the quality of life, despite - often negative - medical results. In CBM physical pain-relief goes hand in hand with education, to encourage lower anxiety and depression-levels, higher confidence-levels and a positive cognitive state such that he can take the necessary action to gain the long-term goals for a better quality of life. The speaker gave various examples of CBM-patient-interventions. The speaker quoted Swami Rama: “There is a need for us to understand ‘our own inner self’ to gain control over the mind and its modifications.” CBM-practitioners started to introduce yoga (ie breathing techniques) as part of the technique to bring about the desired lasting change in body and mind. Self-awareness was identified as a common factor in both yoga and CBM.
Questions and Answers (name of person and details of question): …
Question: Is CBM a therapy?
Answer: patients do not want to be associated with ‘therapy’. In CBM we are not changing the person. The person himself has to change his cognitive model, with the help of group-based, as well as individual, therapy. There is a minimal role for the patient’s doctor, in specific interventions for pain treatment, for example over a CBM-process of around six months.
Other Comments (e.g. references to other resources, talks being held etc): ...None
Name of Lecture: …Five Elements and Emotional Pain
Name of Speaker: …Swami Nityamuktananda
Program Time: …515-6pm
Actual Time: …515-6pm
Location: ...Seema Dental College
Name of Chairman:…S. Parker
Name of Reporter: …Klara Gerrits
Reference Material/Presentation/Other Information Collected: …None
Main Points of the Lecture: ....
Swami Nityamuktananda explained the basic concept of Samkhya philosophy, which is shared by indigenous cultures all over the globe. Everything in the universe is one energy, which manifests in innumerable forms, from subtle to gross, on the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical level. The entire universe consists of the five elements earth, water, fire, air, and space. With our senses we can perceive these five energy fields. The speaker made clear that each human being is made up of a unique mixture of the five elements, out of which one element is predominant in forming our character and individual mind. Each element has different qualities (for example: earth – solidity; water – fluidity; fire – transformation power, etc.) and the different mixtures of energies in our constitutions determine our different reactions to pain. Attachment to memories and feelings keeps our emotions alive, even after the energetic and chemical response has been dealt with. The speaker explained how the different constitutions influence our different reactions on pain and has as effect that there are five different kinds of emotional pain. Cultivating self-awareness (‘know yourself’) helps to bring about a state of balance between the energies. We can heal our own, and others’ emotional pain by supporting the weak energies and controlling the strong energies. Self-knowledge and knowledge of the cosmic laws are needed to undertake this process.
Questions and Answers (name of person and details of question): …
1. Question from Veena Maitra: Is this knowledge confined to the traditional systems of medicine?
Answer: Complementary treatments have entered conventional medicine in the UK, but in the rest of Europe this integration is more difficult. It is possible and needed to integrate both conventional and alternative therapies, and to work from the basis of the five elements.
2. Question from participant: Is there a scientific base for this wisdom, in the sense of various energy fields?
Answer: Yes! In international conferences this knowledge is shared by both indigenous and allopathic medicine.
3. Question from Mr. Sasikumar: How is a patient diagnosed? Answer: A diagnosis is made through observation and self-awareness.
Other Comments (e.g. references to other resources, talks being held etc): ...
* The movement of life in the Five Elements - Swami Nityamuktananda Saraswati
Name of Lecture: …Management of Pain in Dentistry
Name of Speaker: …A. Singh
Program Time: …6-630pm
Actual Time: …Lecture was cancelled
Location: ...Seema Dental College
Name of Chairman:…
Name of Reporter: …Klara Gerrits
Reference Material/Presentation/Other Information Collected: …Powerpoint
Main Points of the Lecture: .... Lecture was cancelled
Questions and Answers (name of person and details of question): …
Other Comments (e.g. references to other resources, talks being held etc): ...
Name of Lecture: …Music & Reducing Anxiety in Dental Patients
Name of Speaker: …C. Pradeep, principal of Parirayam Dental College, Kannur, Kerala
Program Time: …6.30-7.00
Actual Time: …6.15-7.00
Location: ...Seema Dental College
Name of Chairman:…S. Parker
Name of Reporter: …Klara Gerrits
Reference Material/Presentation/Other Information Collected: …Powerpoint
Main Points of the Lecture: ....
Mr Pradeep discussed the fact that dental pain, after the pain of childbirth is the largest pain known. It’s stressful, for both the patient and the dental professionals. Fear in the patient leads to restless, rigid patients, and will in the end lead to avoidance of the dental visits. Mr Pradeep uses music therapy in his dental practice to reduce the anxiety in his patients. Listening to (classical) music has been shown to have therapeutic effects in changing mood, relieving stress and bringing about relaxation and contentment. Through a questionnaire based study the use of music therapy in a dental setting has been shown to reduce the pain felt. In his two year study (600 patients) all patients listened to music in the waiting room, followed by half the patients listening to music during the treatment. The speaker shared the results of the study: the patients listening to music showed lower tension and better treatability; 98% of the patients indicated to like listening to music in future treatments.
Questions and Answers (name of person and details of question): …
- Question 1) What is more: the real pain of the patient or his fear? Answer: Both are real.
- Question 2) Can it be that ones favorite music will become traumatized when associating it with dental visits? Answer: The speaker advised not to use your favorite music(!)
Other Comments (e.g. references to other resources, talks being held etc): ...None
Name of Lecture: …Ayurvedic Perspective – Nature & Sources of Pain
Name of Speaker: …D. Sharma
Program Time: …8-9pm
Location: ...Meditation Hall, SRSG
Name of Chairman:…Swami Rada Bharati
Name of Reporter: …Shruti Singhal
Reference Material/Presentation/Other Information Collected: …Powerpoint
Main Points of the Lecture: ....
Dr Sharma started his lecture with a Guru varana. Swami Veda Bharati in his lecture earlier that day had mentioned that a peaceful and strong mind stimulates the pleasure centers and a weak mind stimulates the pain centers. SVB said that pleasure is an antidote to pain. Dr Sharma referred to the same talk as an essence of his own talk. He went on to explain the basic terminologies of ayurveda, including the pancha mahabhutas (five elements), three doshas (bodily humours), seven dhatus (body tissues), three malas (excretions) and three gunas (sattva, rajas, tamas). The science of Ayurveda is based on balancing these aspects of personality. Ayurveda looks at health at three levels: the body, the mind, the soul. Creating a joyful state of being by harmonizing these three levels is the object of Ayurveda.
Furthermore the speaker mentioned that vata aggravation is the main cause of pain. Also, a person with vata-predominance is more susceptible to pain than others. After discussing the three doshas briefly, Dr Sharma went on to explain the concept of pain (vedana or shool in Ayurveda) and its different types as considered in Ayurveda. While still on the subject of vata, Dr Sharma discussed the Prana Energy System in detail.
The first intervention for pain is control or balance of vata, because the flow of vata impacts the 35 million prana-channels of the body. Besides, prana vayu connects the individual energy to the cosmic energy through inhalation and exhalation. So the significance of breath, prana, and the vata-control cannot be overestimated.
Dr Sharma emphasized that the Himalayan System of Dhyana Yoga trains the practitioner for the balance in the pranic system through several mindfulness, breathing and silence practices. Besides balance of vata Dr Sharma also mentioned a few other ways to develop a peaceful and joyful mind, like having positive thoughts, proper diet, lifestyle, etcetera.
In the end Dr Sharma was inspired to show the significance of breathing and relaxation with a documentary. He played a DVD in which a caesarian was performed on a pregnant lady from Iran, without administering anesthesia, with the help of hypnosis, breath regulation and relaxation.
Questions and Answers: …
A few questions regarding the practice of yoga nidra in relation to meditation and hypnosis, role of meditation in balancing vata, role of grace in pain management, etcetera, were addressed during the discussion.
Dr Sharma said that watching the body, go through the experience of pain in a detached manner, is what the practice of breathing and meditation is all about. He shared about his personal experience of pain. He suffered from six months of pain due to throat cancer, but considered it to be the happiest time of his life because he could experience detachment from body and its suffering, through meditation.