The Diploma programme
Specifics
Dhyanavana offers a quality diploma programme in Spirituality. Those who
successfully complete the programme will be awarded the Diploma on the
convocation day. In general, punctual and regular attendance to all
obligatory and supplementary courses as well as proactive and involved
participation in all other spiritual, formative and socio-cultural
programmes is a basic requirement.
In addition the following modules are specified:
The research Paper:
The diploma students under the guidance of a member of the Faculty will
choose a relevant theme and on approval, produce a research paper as per
the specifications of the faculty and submit it within the stipulated
research methodology, time and format. This too is an essential part of
the requirements for the diploma. The defaulters will be eligible only
for a certificate. However the Internet downloaded material shall not be
used verbatim. The research paper will be published in print or in
electronic media or any other way only with the prior written permission
of the director of Dhyanavana.





The Annual Seminar:
The institute will hold a research seminar each year inviting eminent
experts to deal on a topic that is current and useful for the students
in order to expose them to the new currents in spirituality and eminent
thinkers of the day.






The Annual Study Tour:
Given the multi-religious context of the world
today, it shall be a regular feature in the institute to give
opportunity for the students to have a firsthand contact with exponents
and cultic structures of other Indian religious traditions. This
exposure is intended to avoid prejudices and know the phenomenon of
inter-culturality more objectively so as to appreciate the similarities
and discern also the fundamental uniqueness of one’s own faith.
In addition, on request, there may be also an organized visit to
Christian Holy Places. This however is optional and the expenses shall
be borne by the students.






The Annual Souvenir:
Among many other programmes for talent development
Dhyanavana encourages the students to bring out an annual souvenir. This
annual entirely is a student initiative, evolved and produced by the
students. It is meant as an opportunity for the students to learn the
skills of creative reflection, artistic productions and intellectual
output. It helps them to innovate and enter deeper into the fields of
social opinion making by contributing to the knowledge and decision
making process. It also serves as a record of their year-long communion
and faith journey together. It will be realized and supported by raising
donations and advertisements.

The Monthly Symposium:
In order to provoke and promote proactive thinking process on various
current topics that concern the consecrated life, Christian holiness and
contemporary social and moral trends the students are required to
prepare and present theme papers and engage in guided debate. This will
enable them to develop a critical attitude to the surrounding concerns
and develop a balanced and creative response to them.

Creative Reading of the Charism:
Innovation and creativity is the
hallmark of education even in the spiritual field. The diploma students
are required to enact a creative reading of their charism so as to
provoke in depth reflection for the specific apostolates to bloom
creatively anew in our times.

Group Leadership:
The challenge to Christian life today is from an
exaggerated concept of individual rights. The vibrant community life is
the biggest challenge for the consecrated life tomorrow. The diploma
participants are introduced to leadership, community building skills and
administrative roles by roster by being involved in leading the group
for a time and by hands on method and thus learn to face the challenges
and pick up the skills of promoting and guiding the life in our
communities and organize services.





Eco Programmes:
Human environment today is systematically exploited and
destroyed by a few. Eco-spirituality is hence not only an option but
also a way of life. Dhyanavana Diploma students are introduced to very
many spiritual, social, cultural and ecological ways of ashram life
style. These will include eco-prayer, silence, non-violence, kindness to
all, gardening, cleanliness, simple house management, water harvesting,
energy conservation, waste management etc. These programmes are given
due emphasis and priority in this ashram life style.

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