“BIO-ENERGETIC MANIPULATION”

The Homa Therapy in-residence drug/alcohol de-addiction program.

Teachers Guide

Class 12: Homa Therapy Post-In-Residence Discipline Maintenance Program

The in-residence program is a beginning. The progress experienced can be a steppingstone to continued sobriety and further emotional, physical and spiritual development. For this to happen, however, a discipline maintenance program is integral.

The aspects are:

• Agnihotra
• Homa
• Diet
• No substance abuse
• Meditation timings
• Periods of silence
• Juice fasting
• Anonymous meetings

Daily sunrise and sunset Agnihotra maintains the healing cycle. Other than remaining clean, i.e., free from substance abuse, this is the most crucial aspect of maintenance. Daily Agnihotra is the one action most likely to allow us to remain drug free. There is no substitute.Om Tryambakam Homa, should be done 1 – 2 hours daily at anytime convenient.

The cleansing diet you experienced in the in-residence program is wonderful, but may be altered to suit individual tastes. For maximum well-being, we suggest a diet free from any meat, foul, fish or eggs. Whenever possible, maintaining silence is helpful and will prove to be a valuable centering device as well as a means of conserving energy. The following times are special energy points each day in addition to sunrise and sunset Agnihotra. Maintaining a program of sitting for meditation for as much as 15 minutes at these times will prove very helpful. 5:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 12:00 noon 3:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.

It is good to refrain from food one day a week until sunset. A liquid fast is suggested. Monday is recommended but any day will do. Attending Anonymous meetings of your choice at least twice a week is recommended. Many attend more frequently. It goes without saying that if you reside near a location where 24-hour Homa is maintained, your attendance there can only speed up and maintain your recovery on the road to sobriety, peace of mind and greater self-esteem.

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings

Day 1: Introductory Meeting

A. Begin with Homa. Sit quietly until the fire goes out.

B. Welcome to the introductory meeting of our Alcoholics Anonymous Study Group. During these study sessions we will follow the meeting format of AA.Anonymity is the foundation of the AA program. “Who you see here, what you hear here when you leave her, let it stay here.” Just as in regular AA outside meetings we will use our first names.During these meetings, please refrain from “cross talk” and interrupting each other. We are not here to debate, but to study a program which can help us grow in our recovery from alcoholism/addiction.

C. Leader reads the Preamble: “Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of individuals who through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from the disease of alcoholism (i.e., drug addiction)”Their primary purpose is to abstain from alcohol/drugs and to carry this message of recovery to those who still suffer.”

D. Read Twelve Steps (Pg. 59-60 Big Book) (Leader can read them aloud)

E. Read Bill’s Story, chapter 1 of the Big Book. (Go around the room each person taking a turn reading 1-2 paragraphs. They can feel free to comment after a paragraph if they want or pass to the next person.)

F. Discussion following Bill’s Story

G. Assignment: Read “More About Alcoholism” from AA Big Book, Chapter 3. (Plus Chapter 4 optional reading)

H. Close Meeting with “Will you join me please in the Serenity Prayer”: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

Day 2:

A. Begin with Homa

B. Welcome to the second meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous study group. Tonight we are going to focus on “Solution”.

C. Read (going around the room) Chapter 2, “There Is A Solution” in the AA Big Book.

D. Discussion (using Chapter 2 as a theme)

E. Assignment: Write on “Why are you here?” and “Who are you here for?” Write freely.

F. Close meeting with Serenity Prayer (altogether)

Day 3: How It Works

A. Begin with Homa

B. Welcome to the third meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous study group. Tonight we are going to read the Chapter entitled “How It Works” in the AA Big Book.

C. Read (going around the room) “How It Works” Chapter 5 in the AA Big Book.

D. Open discussion on Chapter 5

E. Assignment: Read “Doctor Bob’s Nightmare” (Pg. 171-181 AA Big Book) F. Close meeting with Serenity Prayer (altogether)

G. Remind group of anonymity

Day 4: We Are Powerless Over Alcohol/Drugs

A. Begin with Homa

B. Read (going around the room) Step 1 in the “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions” book.

C. Open discussion on powerlessness, how our lives have been out of our control.

D. Assignment: *Write your own personal drinking/drugging history, when and where it began. . You may uncover unpleasant memories, but it is an important step in learning about yourself.

E. Close meeting with “Serenity Prayer”

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Day 5: Attitude of Gratitude

A. Begin with Homa

B. Read the 12 Traditions on Pg. 564 of the Big Book

C. Read (going around the room) “Doctor, Addict, Alcoholic” (Pg. 439-452, Chapter 17 in AA Big Book)

D. Discuss expectations and acceptance and the role it plays in the recovery process.

E. Assignment: Write a gratitude list and share it with another participant in the program. This is the beginning of a daily exercise that helps us focus on the positive.

F. Close with Serenity Prayer (altogether)

Day 6: Steps 2 and 3 (2 hour class)

A. Begin with Homa

B. Read Chapters 2 and 3 (Suggestion: Read Chapter 2, then discuss, then go back and read Chapter 3 and discuss.)

C. Discussion of Higher Power concept

You could introduce the idea of prayer (Pg. 63, third step prayer, second paragraph of AA Big Book) or “turning it over” doing our part, making honest effort and turning the results of our actions over to a power greater than ourselves. (Everyone’s concept of a Higher Power differs. We do not take any particular religion or example.)

Some of the following guidelines would be helpful to read out loud:

1) Make no request in prayer for yourself only for His will.

2) Never pray for your own selfish ends

D. Assignment: If you wish, begin a dialogue or prayer to your Higher Power or write how you feel about a Higher Power.

Read: “Freedom From Bondage”, Chapter 12 in AA Big Book (Pg. 552 especially)

E. Close with Serenity Prayer

Day 7: Dealing with Resentments/Healing Resentments

A. Begin with Homa

B. Read (going around the room) Chapter 4 in “Twelve Steps/Twelve Traditions” book.

C. Discussion on Step 4. Remind them that AA is based on H.O.W. (Honesty, Open Mindedness and Willingness). The actual writing out of Step 4 (fearless moral inventory) is often done with the aid of the Hazelden Step 4 booklet. It is a longer project, one which can take several weeks or months. It’s best to be thorough. Have the fourth step booklets available, but be aware that step 4 is usually embarked upon a little later on. These people have enough to concentrate on admitting their powerlessness and beginning to look at themselves honestly.

The Step 4 Hazelden book emphasizes the positives as well as the negatives. It is very important to help the addict achieve and maintain a balance in his/her self-appraisal.

D. Using chart on Pg.65 (grudge list) of the AA Big Book, illustrate how to work through a resentment. Ask for examples and actually write it out on an easel or black board. (Leader should have examples in mind in case the group is not responsive or examples given are not usable.

E. Suggest Resentment Prayer from their last reading assignment, “Freedom From Bondage” (Pg. 552, idea of praying for the person you resent)

Fourth Step Prayer:

When I am disturbed by the conduct (symptoms) of others: “God help me show this person the same tolerance, pity and patience I would cheerfully grant a sick friend. This is a sick person. How can I be helpful to him? God, save me from being angry. Thy Will Be Done. Amen.”

F. Assignment

1) Continue daily gratitude list and sharing it.

2) Begin to work through a resentment using chart as we did in the meeting. 3) Read Step 5 in “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions”

G. Close with Serenity Prayer

Day 8: Into Action

A. Begin with Homa

B. Read Pg. 72-88, Chapter 6 “Into Action” in AA Big Book

C. Discussion (can share what we wrote on resentments: voluntarily)

D. Assignment: Continue work on resentments writing. Continue daily gratitude list.

E. Close with Serenity Prayer

Day 9: Step 5 and 7

A. Begin with Homa

B. Read Step 6 in “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions”

C. Discussion

D. Read part (or all) of Step 7

E. Discuss Humility (Chapter 7’s focus is humility)

F. Assignment:

1) Choose one of your character defects and write about it. Though you are not actually taking the 6th and 7th Steps you can begin to have an understanding of your own character and where you might make improvements.

2) Gratitude list

G. Close with Serenity Prayer

Day 10:

Topic Meeting: Managing the Unmanageable

A. Begin with Homa

B. Take a few minutes to have each person write a brief unmanageability list. What areas of life seem unmanageable right now–finances, relationships, job, etc. Share these in the meeting.

C. Discuss Solutions: Change in attitude, tools, how to learn to solve dilemmas. The discussion should not be how to fix the person, but how to rationally face life without drink or drugs and take responsibility for our actions. How to deal with “FIRST THINGS FIRST”, “ONE DAY AT A TIME”.

D. Assignment: Writing

1) Gratitude list

2) Examine a significant relationship you have had trouble with. What can you do to work on your part of it?

E. Close with Serenity Prayer

Day 11: Steps 8 and 9

A. Begin with Homa

B. Read Steps 8 and 9 in “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions”

C. Discussion on making amends

*Here it is very important to stress that they are probably not ready to do such a thorough amends making as these chapters recommend. The addicts should be further along in their recovery process to attempt this. First they need to focus on their part and get stronger. Discuss the idea of beginning with making amends to themselves.

D. Assignment:

1) Continue with gratitude list 2

E. Close with Serenity Prayer

Day 12: Step 10

A. Begin with Homa

B. Read Step 10 in “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions”

C. Discuss the different inventories (Pg. 89), open discussion

D. Assignment: Using the sheet, “My Daily Moral Inventory”, take a daily inventory tonight. Assess your feelings and conduct and see where you have been weak and strong. Also continue with gratitude list.

E. Close with Serenity Prayer

Day 13: Living Sober

A. Begin with Homa

B. Read Preamble

C. Discussion: Sobriety alone cannot guarantee serenity. We have a lot of debris to clear through. When we don’t drink or drug, the feelings that caused us to seek escape through alcohol and drugs are still there.

Discuss how to live sober, how to face the feelings of anger, sadness, loneliness, etc., without drink/drugs. Focus on the AA Tools:

1) telephone (keep in touch)

2) anonymity (helps trust develop) 3) literature 4) service 5) meetings 6) writing

Additional Tools: prayer and meditation D. Developing an action plan (Mind Training) E. Assignment: Write an action plan

D. Close with Serenity Prayer

Day 14: Step 11

A. Begin with Homa

B. Read Step 11 (going around room)

C. Discussion and group meditation (5 minutes) at close

D. Serenity Prayer

Day 15: Step 12

A. Begin with Homa

B. Read Step 12 or part of Step 12 in “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions” and/or “Working With Others” (Chapter 7 in AA Big Book)

C. Share action plans

D. Assignment:

1) continue Agnihotra

2) gratitude lists

3) inventories

4) prayer and meditations

Footnotes

1-6 Homa Therapy Our Last Chance, by Vasant Paranjpe, published by Fivefold Path, Inc.
7 Satsang Volume I, by Vasant Paranjpe, published by Fivefold Path, Inc.
8-10 Homa Therapy Our Last Chance, by Vasant Paranjpe, published by Fivefold Path, Inc.
11-17 Light Towards Divine Path, by Vasant Paranjpe, published by Agnihotra Press, Inc.
18 Homa Therapy Our Last Chance, by Vasant Paranjpe, published by Fivefold Path, Inc.