by Siegfried Othmer, PhD

Day 7

September 22 (Monday)

On this, the first day of our course, only a few of us were needed for setup and lecture. The program offered all others the opportunity to visit long-term meditators who were living the life of hermits in the nearby mountains for periods of three up to a dozen years. At seven in the morning, the group struck out for the nearby mountain regions, along roads that were even more primitive, to reach paths that then led to the spare huts occupied by the hermits. Bags of goods had been prepared that included warm socks for the winter, food items, and other necessities. Barbara and Kara went along, hiking on paths that would challenge a mountain goat. Particularly for Barbara, the trek took a physical toll. Nevertheless, Barbara said that this was a price gladly paid in order to be in the company of monks whose devotion was to simplicity and self-discipline.

by Siegfried Othmer, PhD

I s it not remarkable that the entire field of education regards the challenges faced in education entirely without reference to the brain? This holds true from Arne Duncan at the Department of Education down to the local school board and even to the teacher in the classroom. It is almost as if the brain were not involved in the process. It is as if the neurosciences do not exist.

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by Siegfried Othmer, PhD

Day 6

September 21 (Sunday)

The day of our trip to Dharamsala had arrived. The hotel limo took us to the airport at 6:30 in the morning, a time remarkable only for the dearth of traffic at that hour and the liberty that provides for the resident monkeys, who were out in force. Entire monkey families were cavorting in the streetscape. Our driver took a number of side streets before hitting the main artery to the airport. That was not mandated by traffic concerns, so what was that all about? I cannot imagine dignitaries being taken along the same route. We did not ask.

by Siegfried Othmer, PhD

Sight-seeing Day 5

September 20 (Saturday)

Barbara and Virginia had made arrangements with a very knowledgeable guide to see Old Delhi. Off they went early in the morning, starting in the narrow alleyways of the spice market, densely packed with merchants hawking spices and teas, bangles and saris, all best observed from the back of a bicycle rickshaw. Virginia’s interest in architecture later took them to Humayun’s Tomb, the first garden-tomb in India and the model for the Taj Mahal. Barbara’s interest in Mahatma Ghandi resulted in their visit to the Ghandi Smiriti, a museum at the sacred place where Ghandi was assassinated in 1948. They came back in the afternoon bearing gifts and stories.

L anier Fly, who’s been using neurofeedback at his Newport News, Virginia practice Fly Family Therapy and Neurotherapy for 15 years, believes that he received a higher calling to use his skills to help the people of the Congo. He prepared a team of five colleagues to travel to the Bukavu in eastern Congo. Lanier and his team worked with a local hospital, teaching medical professionals how to use neurofeedback in addition to other types of therapy to aid sexual assault victims and those experiencing PTSD symptoms in the community.

Lanier’s son David, along with their colleagues, chronicled their incredible journey in the Congo and will be posting their experiences on the Fly Family Therapy and Neurotherapy blog at flytherapy.com.

by Siegfried Othmer, PhD

Sight-seeing Day 4

September 19 (Friday)

Breakfast took place in the richly appointed, cavernous dining area designed “1911” for the year that New Delhi became the capital of India. The occasion was the Delhi Durbar of 1911, which celebrated the wedding of King George V and Queen Mary. The king announced the move of the capital on the day of the Durbar, December 12.