Dr.Michael O.Smith writes back....

Dr.Michael O.Smith, Psychiatrist and Chairman, NADA International writes back about his experience  in India....

Dear friends,

Today in the Bal Bhavan (child's building) in South Delhi Suneel arranged a remarkably successful and unique meeting--which developed over several years of interpersonal  building efforts.  That is to say, years of meetings were needed to develop the openness and trust with some of the participants.  The Bal Bhavan is a large area with scattered buildings, creative sculptures, various large plant arrangements, and many sites of special interactions for kids.  It was built in the semi-socialist 60's under Nehru and now has very little funding so the program is propelled by a dedicated multi-talented staff.

We planned a month-long bead treatment of 25 regular attendees in the program.  The children were told to  make a painting and write 3 favorite words. This assignment will be repeated each month and become an on-going record of each child's sense of self and tension.  This method was stimulated by the before and after self- portraits in Jo Ann Lenney's paper.

 We taught the regular teacher, Sulekha, in how to place the beads.  Suleka wears a large bindi and shares many stories of traditional India, using stimulation of various skin locations to make a physiolocal or spiritual effect.  Acupuncture by jewelry, body decoration, or massage has a very deep history here.  Suleka will repeat treatments regularly.  She and other staff will note behavioural changes in these children who they know well.  Correlation with the change of drawings may or may not be evident.  NADA India will help wit these evaluations.

Secondly, Suneel invited a Rotary Club " Inner Wheels" women's group to the same location (and time) for a class and demonstration of NADA ear acupuncture.  Many of their members felt more relaxed and also more energetic.  The value and simplicity of NADA was evident to these middle class and professional women.

A third simultaneous event was very special.  During the regular school class an unkempt older woman crouched behind the students in a mysterious manner.  She approached the Inner Wheels group while they were having acupuncture.  She took a treatment and started talking with them as a strong sensible woman moments later.  It was quite a transformation..She and Suleka started talking as friends instead of seeming adversaries.  The Rotarians were impressed that poor lower class woman could find inner resources and maturity so quickly.  The woman left and returned soon with 5 family members who looked despondent.  All improved readily.  One woman was observing purdah, because of her family situation.  She also was helped by NADA.

We also held the graduation the graduation of Pallavi and Suneel's beauty culture, young women's empowerment group.  They will use the bead treatment as part of their provision of head massage.  Their own extended families will be their first customers.  More innovative evaluations will be used.  All these sessions were conducted in the same space.  Most of the groups did not know each other,  but all of them gained a better perception of the human potential.           

MIKE  

Thank you, Michael for bringing this part of the world to us all.  It is a beautiful glimise into a culture that seems so interesting.

Sheila

 Ditto to Sheila's comments ! How encouraging! May All Highest Blessings rain on Suneel......

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Of course I am beyond thrilled to get this email and to qvell (that is yiddish for burst with pride) over the work you are inspiring/doing. Please give me best and applause to Suneel.

I have a question: the drawings are just whatever the person wants to draw rather than a self portrait ? Any special reason?

Ackerman Ruth