Activities at Jeevan Sangham, Bodh Gaya – Patna Peace Mission, Bihar

Three areas of activities were pursued by Fr. Eucharist Lawrence, SJ who engaged full time in dialogue activities since August 2018.

Educational field (through peace and value education workshop, meditation, training programs, lectures, conducting competitions, celebration of festivals, teaching courses, etc.)
Promoting Psycho-spiritual Development of Persons (through retreats. recollection workshops, vipasana meditation, lectures, teaching, etc.)
Promoting Inter-religious Understanding, Friendship, Harmony and Collaboration (through associations, prayer services, wisdom sharing exercises, promoting green environment, peace parks, etc).-
Research and publication on themes related to Inter-religious Dialogue

Overall the Transformative Spirituality Retreats conducted by him have been acclaimed as very creative, effective and spiritually transformative. The clientele for the workshops, seminars, meditation exercises, talks, etc., were mostly from schools, colleges and Magadh University of Bodhgaya and from other places in Bihar and outside Bihar. The program of Training in Meditation conducted by us for school children has become a big attraction in schools. The Personality and Leadership Development workshops were well appreciated. The Peace Education Workshops conducted by us are in high praise not only by teachers but also by lecturers and professors of Colleges and Magadh University, Bodhgaya.

After two years of vigorous activities, Jeevan Sangham Dialogue Ministry has become a Resource Centre. As can be noted in the list of programs, there have been requests from various institutions and places. But the pandemic 2020-21 restricted the activities. The Inter-religious Dialogue Commission of Asia-Pacific Jesuit Conference has recognized him as a resource person to contribute to their endeavours now and then as per needs. In research, writing and publication on themes related to Inter-religious Field attempts have been made but more is yet to be done.

2018

August 1-8: attended the Jesuit-Buddhist Conference in Hiroshima, Japan.
September 4: conducted a speech contest in Prajna Vihar School, Bodh Gaya to promote respect for religions among the students.
September 9: addressed the Principals of Patna Province Jesuit Schools, regarding the programs offered by Bodhgaya Dialogue Ministry.
September 19: gave talk to 500 Youths in St.Xavier’s College, Patna in two sessions on Mind Training to promote concentration and self-awareness skills.
September 20: gave Mind Training to 300 students in St Mary’s School, Aurangabad.
September 22: conducted a Speech Competition in Project KannyaVidhyalai in Pachayatti, Bodhgaya to promote Inter-religious Understanding and Harmony for 130 girls.
October 3: guided the Pune Master of Theology and Spirituality students on their visit to important temples in Bodhgaya and gave talk on Mind Mastery.
October. 8-19: gave classes on Theravada Buddhism to Students of Vidyajyoti College of Theology, Delhi.
November 5:^:conducted Speech Competition in Takshila School, Bodhgaya on theme “The purpose of all religions”, to promote respect for all religions.
November 4: conducted Meditation for about 100 students in PrajnaVihar School, Bodh Gaya.
November 19: conducted Speech Competition for students at Hansraj Public School, Bodhgaya.
November 21: attended North Zone Dialogue Co-ordinators and partners meet at Kolkata.
December 4: conducted Mind Training Meditation for PrajnaVihar Teachers, Bodhgaya.
December 7: conducted ‘Theory and Practice of Mind Training’ for 100 students in D.A.V Cant High School.
December 15: conducted Essay Competition to promote Inter-religious Harmony among students in YMCA, ICPS Hall, Bodhgaya, for 5 Schools, 15 students.
December 18: participated in the Inter-religious Christmas Celebration organized by YMCA ICPS group.
December 19: Jeevan Sangham organized Inter-Religious Celebration of Christmas together with YMCA ICPS, Bodhgaya for schools.
December 25: Jeevan Sangham Jesuits and Amar Jyoti Sisters organized Christmas
Celebration for collaborators and partners in Bodhgaya and Gaya.

2019

January 21-25: conducted “Character Formation and Life-Orientation’ workshop for St Michael’s Students at Atmadarshan, Patna.
February 16: conducted Meditation in PrajnaVihar School for the teachers.
February 18-23: conducted Value-orientation Workshops for students of St Mary’s High School, Biharsharif.
February 27: took a class on Buddhism and Bodhgaya for Khaspur Jesuit Juniors and guided them guided tour of temples in Bodhgaya.
March 6-8: conducted workshop for 82 teachers of St. Xavier’s School, Patna at Atmadarshan.
March 14: conducted Mind Development Program for Lathkuttha Children in Barachatti Block.
March 18: conducted Meditation for the Sundersahi Children in Barachatti Block.
March 25: conducted Meditation for Pathalgadi Children in Barachatti.
March 27: Nataya Centre children in Barachattiwere trained in Meditation.
March 28: give one day workshop to St. Anna School Teachers, Sasaram.
March 31^–-April 2: gave 2 day workshop in Notre Dame Academy, Munger.
March 3-6: conducted 4-day workshops for students and teachers, Notre Dame Academy, Jamalpur.
April 8-11: conducted workshops for St. Xavier’s 8^th standard students at
Atmadarshan, Patna.
April 15: conducted Speech Competition for 5 High School Students on the Occasion of
Mahavir Jayanti at (JeevanSangham).
April 16: organized Inter-religions Celebration of Mahavir Jayanti, Jeevan Sangham Hall.
April 17L Missio sponsored Youth Workshop conducted at Jeevan Sangham Hall, Bodh Gaya for 73 youths, 8 professors from Magadh University, Bodh Gaya.
April 23-27: conducted workshops to the 10^th Standard students of St Michael H. School at Atmadarshan, Patna.
April 29-May 1: conducted workshops to students of Heartman’s High School, Patna.
May 2: conducted Stress Management Workshop for the B.Ed Students of St. Xavier’s College of Education, Patna.
May 8: conducted Budhist Psychotherapy and Stress Management Workshop Department of Buddhist Studies, Magadh University, Bodhgaya: 95 students, 13 Professors attended.
May 14: conducted Peace Education Workshop for 102 teachers at Manav Bharati National School, Bodhgaya. .
May 15: conducted Youth Workshop for College Youths at Shakya Muni College, Bodhgaya: 95 Youths participated.
May 16: gave a talk on Relevance of Buddhism at a seminar organized by Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) at the Mahabodhi Society of India Hall, Bodhgaya.
May 17: conducted Drama Competition for School children on topic “The Life and Teaching of Lord Buddha” for 22 children.
May 19: organized Inter-religious Celebration of Buddha Jayanti in Mahayana Hotel, Bodhgaya: for 110 persons (students, teachers, parents and religious leaders).
June 11-14: conducted workshop to teachers of Sacred Heart High School, Dumka.
June 16-24: conducted Transformative Spirituality Retreat at NRC, Delhi.
July 3-10: trained 1067 students (from 8^th to 12^th standards) in Meditation to promote Concentration and Character-Formation, at Creane Memorial High School, Gaya.
July 14: conducted Peace Education Workshop for about 95 teachers at Creane Memorial High School, Gaya.
July 19: conducted Peace Education Workshop for B.Ed students, Gaya College, Gaya and Anugraha Memorial College, Gaya for 116 students.
July 21: participated in an Ecumenical meeting to foster unity among Christians.
July 22-23: conducted Meditation for about 323 students at JivanVikash Vidhyapith, Bodhgaya.
July 24: conducted Meditation for 90 students at Maitreya Universal Education School.
July 25-26: conducted Inter-school Inter-religious students program at NavJyoti Niketan, Patna.
July 27: conducted Peace Education Workshop for about 90 teachers from different Schools at Jeevan Sangham, Hall, Bodhgaya.
July 30: conducted Meditation for 90 students at MineHaha School for at Kotarwa, Bodhgaya.
July 31: conducted Meditation for 101 students at Siddhartha Compassion Trust School, Bodhgaya.
September 16-21: gave a course on prayer and meditation to 22 catechists of northern Dioceses.
September 25-26″ conducted Peace Education Workshop for 200 students of
Department of Education, St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata.
September 28: conducted Peace Education Workshop Peace Education Workshop, Jeevan Sangham, Bodhgaya for 90 Teachers from different schools of Bodhgaya.
October 15-18″ conducted workshops for 120 teachers in two schools in UP
October 18-22: conducted Workshops for students and teachers in at St. Ignatius School, Aurangabad.
October 25-28: conducted Youth Workshop in Chakradharpur, Jharkhand for 100 boys and girls.
November , 9: Inter-religious celebration of Deepawali was held among students and teachers of different schools who had gathered at Creane Memorial High School, Gaya.
November, 16: Inter-religious celebration of Guru Nanak Jayanti was organized at Jeevan Sangham Hall. Students and teachers from different schools and a few friends Sikh community also attended this celebration.
December 13: conducted training in Meditation for the students of Siddharth Compassion School, Bodhgaya.
December 17: conducted training in Meditation for the students of Mini Ha Ha High School, Kataruwa.
December 26-Jan 1: 2020: conducted Transformative Spirituality Retreat to 6 sisters at Jeevan Sangham, Bodhgaya.

2020

January 2-4: conducted Peace Education Workshop for teachers in Chatra SCN Sisters’ Schools.
January 11: Inter-religious celebration of Christmas-2019 with school children, Jeevan Sangham Hall.
January 24: training in Meditation was conducted for the students of Maitreya School, Bodhgaya.
January 25: training in Meditation was conducted for students of Mummy Jee’s School in Bodhgaya.
January 25: training in Meditation for students in Sandhya Modern High School.
January 27: training in Meditation for the students of Jean Amitabh Trust School, Bodhgaya.
January 29: a Workshop on Stress Managemnt and Buddhist Psyschotheraphy for students of Department of Psychology, Gaya College, Gaya.
February 5: training in Meditation for students of 5^th to 7^th classes of Takshila School, Bodhgaya.
February 6: training in Meditation for students from 8^th to 11^th classes of Takshila School, Bodhgaya.
February 7: training in Meditation for the students of St. Thomas Academy, Gaya.
February 17: training in Meditation for the students of Prajna Vihar School, Bodhgaya.
February 18: training in Meditation for the students of Amar Jyoti School, Bodhgaya.
February 24: Workshop on Peace Education, Department of Education, Magadh University, Bodhgaya for B.Ed and M.Ed Students, Lecturers and Professors.
March 16-18: conducted 3 Workshops; 2 for students and 1 for teachers of Chatra SCN Sisters’ School.
April-May 2020 was busy in distributing food for the poor in and around Bodhgaya with the generous donations of Venerable Buddhist Monks and Nuns who are associated with our Dialogue Ministry. By the grace of God and the good-will of our Inter-religious Friends, we could distribute to the poor dry food to the worth of Rs. 232100. (Two lakhs, thirty two thousand and a hundred Rupees).
August 7: participated in the online International Conference organized by Jesuits of Asia-Pacific Conference.