Singapore's Prime Minister Mentor Lee Kaun Yew Passes away- Says Fr. Joe- A great learner of meditation.

Lee Kaun Yew, Singapore's First prime minister and architect of the tiny southeast Asian  city- states rapid rise from British tropical outpost to global trade and financial centre, died early on Monday aged 91.
Mr. Lee passed away peacefully at the Singapore General Hospital today at 3.18am.

Fr. Joe H Pereira Founder managing trustee of Kripa Foundation was closely associate with Mr. Lee in teaching him the practice of WCCM Meditation.

Said Fr. Joe " On the passing of Mr Lee said Fr Joe a man of great stature who led Singapore from the third world to the first world. He had the humility to learn meditation the WCCM way. It was a privilege for me to teach him the role of the body for the practice of meditation".

May His Soul Rest In Eternal Peace,

Submitted & Collage
Newsdesk

Article of Fr. Joe in SPEAKING TREE - Dated 22.03.2015

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By: Fr JOE PEREIRA on Mar 21, 2015 | 38 Views | Post Response

Mother Teresa, BKS Iyengar

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Two outstanding personalities, B K S Iyengar and Mother Teresa have done great work to ease the suffering of marginalised sections of humanity. Kripafoundation Iyengar Yoga has benefitted from both of them. This is a treatment module that blends the teachings of the west and the east. In the west, the programme of Alcoholics Anonymous with its emphasis on de-addiction includes spirituality and psycho-social insights for healing the addict. However in India, it was important to add the essential dimension of the soma or the body to the healing programme. Hence, we used Iyengar Yoga to give the self-help model of Alcoholics Anonymous, a holistic dimension.

The starting point of this dimension is the 11th step which states: “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve my conscious contact with God, praying for the knowledge of God’s will and the power to carry it out.” The word meditation is actually linked to Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga. Through the seventh step of the Ashtanga Yoga — dhyana, we learn about the meditation practice which goes beyond the ‘relaxation response’ and the ‘remembered wellness’ and takes the sadhaka to the ‘peak transcendence.’ Guruji taught us to make the practice of yoga not a ‘work out’ but a ‘work in.’ It is a journey from the periphery to the centre of our bodies, from the sympathetic nervous system to the central nervous system, via the autonomous nervous system.

The practice integrates bahiranga sadhana with the essence of antaratman. This is the reason, Iyengar said, “While the body is the temple of God’s Spirit, the asanas have to be a prayer.” In yoga, major ‘conversion’ takes place when there is a shift in the locus of control from the ego to the Self.

The word conversion in Latin is ‘metanoia’ meaning going beyond the discursive brain. When the addict rises above the preoccupations of the world of maya and comes to the pinnacle of consciousness, recognising his true identity — So Aham — it’s indeed a great ‘conversion’ experience. For a recovering addict, Mother Teresa and B K S Iyengar are like the Ida and Pingala nadis of one’s spirituality. The common denominator between them is compassion. Just as Mother taught us to reach out to the poorest of the poor, Guruji showed us how to reach out to the poorest of the poor in health. n

The writer is the Managing Trustee, Kripa Foundation India

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Fr. Joe conducts a WCCM meditation on Contemplative Prayer @ St, Inez church Panjim & 4 days Kripafoundation Iyengar Yoga

Due to a great demand by the locals of Goa, Fr. Joe specially flew in to  conducted a  4 day Yoga workshop at the Kripafoundation Iyengar Yoga Centre at St. Inez, Panjim from 17th March to 20th March 2015.  The yoga session were for beginners, daily practitioners and  for those wanting to learn Meditation.
On day 4, Fr. Joe celebrated Holy Eucharist at St. Inez Church, Panjim, after which he conducted a session on Contemplative prayer. His thunderous voice echoed  so strongly but peaceful that as one could hear for the first time there was utter silence in the pews of the church. The congregation were deeply touched and soaked in the way that Fr. Joe conducted the meditation program. At the end of the program the Parish priest Fr. Antonio Couto mention that till date he had a  reservation on meditation and yoga, but after listening to Fr. Joe he says he would encourage his parishioners to practice and embrace the "PRAYER OF THE HEART".
This outreach to the parishioners of St Inez could not be possible without the support of Fr. Antonio Couto which was arranged through kindness of  Mr & Mrs. Joe and Mariola Mathias.

The yoga workshop were to a house-full with a wait list of many who could not be accommodated due to space, although the Kripafoundation Iyengar centre as a large capacity to practice yoga.

At the end of the workshop, one could hear practitioners saying that " We will really miss you Fr. Joe until you come back to practice with us on the 28th of April 2015"

Photograph & Report
Ebu & Chiraag.
Kripafoundation Iyenagr Centre , St Inez. Panjim.

Collage
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Kripa migrating ..into helping Migrants with help of PHFI-PIPPSE- HIV CARE

Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), a public private initiative to build large scale human resource capacity in public health through its three pronged integrated charter of (a) establishing a network of world class, India-relevant schools of public health & strengthening some of the existing schools (b) establishing standards for public health education through the formation of an accreditation agency and (c) strengthening research and policy in areas related to public health. Project Brief: The HIV/AIDS Partnership: Impact through Prevention, Private Sector and Evidencebased Programming (PIPPSE) Project will be managed by a Consortium, led by PHFI as the Principal Recipient and, Futures Group and Population Services International (PSI), as Sub Recipients. The PIPPSE Project aims to “strengthen the institutional and human capacity in prevention programs and private sector engagement through innovative approaches to contribute to achieving the goal of accelerating the reversal of HIV epidemic at the national and state levels to improve the quality of Targeted Intervention programs for Most At Risk Populations (MARPs) and Bridge Populations (Migrants and Truckers); and to promote private sector engagement in HIV/AIDS programs and services; and  Promotion and sustaining innovations and demonstration models to improve the coverage and access of MARPs and Bridge Populations to a continuum of prevention-to-care services.

Under the dynamic leadership of Founder Managing Trustee of Kripa Foundation Rev. Fr. Joe H Pereira (recipient of Padma Shree 2009 The National Award 2014),VRACS a KRIPAIDS initiative, has extended its horizon through kindness of PHFI-PIPPSE  to work  with migrant workers of Nalasopara- Virar area  on awareness and HIV treatment, linkages and referrals with Municipal facilities.  Led by Project Manager of VRACS- Mr. Amit Patel, Dr. M.S. Menon MD and Mr. Bosco D’Souza National Program Director assigned by Fr. Joe signed the project contract on behalf of kripa at the PHFI office in Thane in the presence of Mr. Anil Mundhada- Finance & Administrative Manager of  PIPPSE. Under the guidance of Ms. Anna Joy- Team leader- PIPPSE.

The project is scheduled to commence with immediate effect.

Submitted and Collage

NEWSDESK

Fr. Joe brings color into their lives...@ Kripa on Holi- The festival of colors.

One of the major festivals of India, Holi is celebrated with enthusiasm and gaiety on the full moon day in the month of Phalgun which is the month of March as per the Gregorian calendar.

Holi festival may be celebrated with various names and people of different states might be following different traditions. But, what makes Holi so unique and special is the spirit of it which remains the same throughout the country and even across the globe, wherever it is celebrated. 

Great excitement can be seen in people on the next day when it is actually the time for the play of colours. Shops and offices remain closed for the day and people get all the time to get crazy and whacky. Bright colours of gulal  fill the air and people take turns in pouring colour water over each other. Children take special delight in spraying colours on one another with their pichkaris and throwing water balloons and passers by. Women and senior citizen form groups called tolis and move in colonies - applying colours and exchanging greetings. Songs, dance on the rhythm of dholak and mouthwatering Holi delicacies are the other highlights of the day.

There is also a tradition of consuming the very intoxicating bhang on this day to further enhance the spirit of Holi. It is so much fun to watch the otherwise sober people making a clown of themselves in full public display. Some, however, take bhang in excess and spoil the spirit. Caution should therefore be taken while consuming bhang delicacies. 

However in Kripa Holi was celebrated with great fun of applying color to each along-with Fr. Joe and the staff of Kripa Bandra led by Vijay.. Kripa Vasai also celebrated Holi led by Fr. Seraphinus and the staff.

As one patient quipped…Every year we used to drink Bhaang and get intoxicated and really not enjoy the festival of Holi …..But this is the first time that Fr. Joe thought us not to have Bhaang but really Dabhaang….with the spirit of Holi.One of the major festivals of India, Holi is celebrated with enthusiasm and gaiety on the full moon day in the month of Phalgun which is the month of March as per the Gregorian calendar.

Holi festival may be celebrated with various names and people of different states might be following different traditions. But, what makes Holi so unique and special is the spirit of it which remains the same throughout the country and even across the globe, wherever it is celebrated. 

Great excitement can be seen in people on the next day when it is actually the time for the play of colours. Shops and offices remain closed for the day and people get all the time to get crazy and whacky. Bright colours of gulal  fill the air and people take turns in pouring colour water over each other. Children take special delight in spraying colours on one another with their pichkaris and throwing water balloons and passers by. Women and senior citizen form groups called tolis and move in colonies - applying colours and exchanging greetings. Songs, dance on the rhythm of dholak and mouthwatering Holi delicacies are the other highlights of the day.

There is also a tradition of consuming the very intoxicating bhang on this day to further enhance the spirit of Holi. It is so much fun to watch the otherwise sober people making a clown of themselves in full public display. Some, however, take bhang in excess and spoil the spirit. Caution should therefore be taken while consuming bhang delicacies. 

However in Kripa Holi was celebrated with great fun of applying color to each along-with Fr. Joe and the staff of Kripa Bandra led by Vijay.. Kripa Vasai also celebrated Holi led by Fr. Seraphinus and the staff.

As one patient quipped…Every year we used to drink Bhaang and get intoxicated and really did not know what is enjoying  the festival of Holi …..But this is the first time that Fr. Joe thought us not to have Bhaang but really Dabhaang ( strong and Powerful ) to be away from our choice of chemical….with the spirit of Holi. by practicing Kripafoundation Iyengar Yoga and the 12 step program of AA.

Submitted & Collage

Newsdesk

Fr. Joe & VRACS Advisory Board Wish Mayor Shri. Narayan Mankar Shahib on His Birthday

Immediately after the VARCS advisory Board meeting Fr. Joe along with the board members rushed off to greet Mayor Narayan Mankar at his residence. Mr. Mayor was very touched to see Fr. Joe and the Board members come to greet him.
On seeing that a blood donation drive was held to mark the occasion Fr. immediately organised  members of the Kripa Family in Vasai to donate blood. Led by Our National Program Director Bosco D'Souza, fifteen family members donated blood in gratitude for all the help and support Mr. Mankar gives Kripa and VRACS. In a quick response the Mayor's office immediately sent a note of gratitude to Fr. Joe for his noble gesture.

Collage & Report by
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Fr. Joe felicitates Mrs.Manisha Kanekar Advisory Board Member of Vasai Region AIDS Control Society.

At the Advisory Board Meeting held on 1st March 2015, Fr. Joe along with the Advisory Board members of VRACS , Fr Joe felicitated Mrs. Manisha Kanekar a board member of VRACS on being awarded by Bahujan Vikas Sangathana for Social Work in the region of Virar- Vasai. present at the facilitation along with Fr. Joe were Dr. Hemant Patil, Dr. ( Mrs) Subhangi Patil, Mrs. Evette Coutinho ,Dr Vinod Nagale, Mr. Devendra Dhuri, Mr. Ashok Grover, Mr. Amit Patil and Bosco along with staff Mr. Mahendra and Mrs. Beryl.

Submitted By 
Amit Patel- VRACS
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Fr. Joe addresses a joint meeting of Al Anon and AA Members on addiction and How to live One day at a Time.

Even though having a very tight schedule, Fr. Joe took time to be with family and clients at the Kripa Centre of Vasai being family visit day. In a joint address to them Fr. Joe explained the disease aspect and how one could live a spiritual life of being sober; One day at a Time. He further explained to them the journey that they were going through from Brokenness...to Wholeness ..to Holiness.

The family and clients were touched and moved by Fr. Joe's address to them,totally inspired as they went back home assuring themselves to make an attempt live on the lines that Fr. Joe taught them.

Collage & report submitted by
Newsdesk.