Building Bridges Peace by Peace (Jivan, Sept. 2011 by John Rose sj)

'New Frontiers' was one of the take-home concepts for all those who participated

in GC 35. It appeared powerfully, both in the congregation documents and in the

Pope's address. However the spirit of seeking new frontiers is not new for Jesuits.

It is a constant theme of St. Ignatius, poignantly seen when with a heavy heart he

had to send Francis Xavier to India, the edges of the known world. The spirit of

frontiers is the spirit of the magis challenging us to make our apostolates relevant

in times of rapid change.

In a globalizing world with its increasing stress and widespread violence Bombay Jesuit Prashant

Olalekar was in search of new ways to communicate and create peace. In his quest he discovered a

creative spiritual practice called ‘InterPlay’, a word that evokes play and relationship. Used for pastoral

care, spiritual formation, community building, empowerment and liberation, InterPlay brings people and

ideas back together to heal the deep splits between body, mind and spirit, create paths of grace, health and

joy for contemplatives in action, and empowers people to tell their stories in affirming communities.

“InterPlay is rooted in a theology of the body that seeks peace,” says Prashant, the founder of InterPlay

India.

While doing his doctoral studies in peace at Berkeley, California he discerned the mysterious call of God

leading him through the co-founders of InterPlay - Cynthia Winton-Henry and Phil Porter – to launch into

a peace ministry that could even bridge continents.

Conceptualized in 1989 InterPlay is an active and creative way to unlock the

wisdom of our body! It opens the doors, windows and shutters of our bodies to

the wonders within as well as in the rest of humanity and all God’s creation. It

has now developed into a global social movement dedicated to ease, connection,

human sustainability and play.

On his return to India Prashant integrated InterPlay with some compatible eastern

spiritual practices to devise what he calls ‘Movement Meditation’. Since 2007

with a team of dedicated lay collaborators he has introduced InterPlay/Movement

Meditation to about 10,000 people in various parts of India and abroad. The

participants range from social workers to commercial sex workers, from rural tribals to city elites, from

physically differently abled to adults having mental illness, from teachers and students to therapists and

trainers, from budding youth to married couples, from priests and bishops to lay leaders and women

religious.

Prashant finds InterPlay a wonderful medium for holistic peace: intrapersonal, interpersonal, societal,

global and cosmic. As a bridge builder in keeping with the spirit of GC 35, he initiated the global peace

exchange project in 2008. American and Australian InterPlayers come to India to interplay and interact

with rich and poor, rural and urban people of all faiths and ideologies. For the most recent peace

exchange there were a variety of creative workshops mainly facilitated by Trish Watts, the co-founder of

InterPlay Australia. Some titles will give you an idea: InterPlay - a Way of Life, Playing with Life’s

Choices, Compassionate Communication, InterPlay for Health, Listen to the Hum of Life, Explore the

Child Within, Sparkle and Sprinkle, Voice Medicine, Teamwork and Beyond.

GC 35 reminds us of our mission for today: “‘Nations’ beyond

geographical definitions await us, ‘nations’ that today include those

who are poor and displaced…there are new ‘nations’, and we have

been sent to them.” The main highlight of the peace pilgrimage from

Jan. 7-20, 2011 was the exposure to the “new nations” of the poor in S.

Gujarat and Varanasi.

The peace exchange opened up a new form of partnership which can

best be captured by the image of ‘co-pilgrims’ on a journey to the heart

of India. The pilgrims reawakened the tribal couples to the wonders of their innate body wisdom thus

connecting at a deeper level with each other and creation. Like the previous year for the tremendous tribal

dance festival at Bardipada, S. Gujarat, so also this year at Dediapada and Nani Singloti of Bharuch

District, the tribals were thrilled by the readiness of the pilgrims to join in the flow of their dance.

Participating as co-pilgrims in the naach/nu or tribal dance, which involves the whole community with

bodies intertwined singing and dancing in harmony with nature, was a rare experience of cosmic

communion and co-creation.

Pulsing to the Tribal Heart beat…

In Varanasi the visits to Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim shrines left an indelible mark on the pilgrims. The

InterPlay with the students, quite a few of whom were tribals, of the Navsadhana College of music and

dance as well as with the youth representatives of several northern dioceses, was a veritable spiritual treat.

Playing with the deaf and dumb children at the Navvani centre left us dumbfounded at the profound

connection that goes beyond words.

Dumbfounded: Connecting beyond words…

Prashant says “The peace pilgrimage turned out to be a beautiful opportunity to engage in the triple

dialogue, namely the dialogue with cultures, religions, and the poor stressed by the Federation of Asian

Bishops’ Conference.” He adds, “We were constantly confronted by the challenges of globalization in

solidarity, a globalization without marginalization. The collaboration across geographical, economic,

social and religious boundaries brought about a heightened sense of awareness of our interdependence

helping us to deepen our pilgrimage theme 'Nurturing Co-Creation: Playing for Peace.'”

Thanks to the initiative of the lay collaborators on the team he feels it was possible to fulfil the Pope’s

clarion call to the Jesuits at GC35 “to reach the geographical and spiritual places where others do not

reach or find it difficult to reach.”

At home with the tribals of Dediapada (S. Gujarat)

This author got Prashant to speak exclusively for Jivan.

Q.1 How did you get involved with InterPlay?

On my sabbatical in the US I was scouting around for some relevant body-based spiritualities. After the

opening retreat which awakened me to the God of surprises I mysteriously found myself a curious

participant for what I initially thought would be the first and last class of a spirituality course. Cynthia

Winton-Henry, the teacher, in the process of introducing herself placed her shawl like a wreath around the

photo of an Afro-American InterPlayer, who had died a few months earlier. On recalling their close

relationship Cynthia, who was doing an InterPlay form called ‘the full body story’, started weeping

bitterly and rolling on the floor. Finally with head raised high and outstretched hands she thanked God for

this gift of an ancestor in heaven to intercede on her behalf. The spontaneous resurrection dance that

followed was truly out of this world.

The rest of the class was truly amazing and soon I found myself not only a part of the full course but also

taking every opportunity to learn InterPlay, thanks to the graciousness and generosity of Cynthia.

Q. 2 How were you inspired to initiate a movement for global peace?

During an InterPlay retreat Phil Porter, the other cofounder of Interplay, was guiding me through a

discernment process to seek for the next step on my life’s journey. He asked me to lie down and let one

hand dance in the air. The Jesuit in me began to doubt how anything could be discerned in this crazy

fashion but at the end I was unexpectedly filled with a deep sense of consolation. I sensed a call to a

radically new mission but wanted some signs of confirmation to be certain. When Phil indicated the

possibility of God calling me to be a peace bridge between USA and India it immediately hit me that this

was the first sign. In prophetic fashion I felt totally unworthy, only to be gradually reassured that if God

had chosen me He would see it through.

Q. 3 How is InterPlay different from other forms of play?

InterPlay is basically about childlike play. It is totally different from play that is competitive and

commercial. For adults it is fun to play like little children once again. They regain and rediscover their

lost childhood. They experience the bliss of God’s kingdom promised to those who truly become like

little children.

Anthony de Mello’s beautiful wisdom story on play is very pertinent:

“The Master once referred to the Hindu notion that all creation is "leela" — God's play — and the

universe is his playground. The aim of spirituality, he claimed, is to make all life play.

This seemed too frivolous for a puritanical visitor. "Is there no room then for work?"

"Of course there is. But work becomes spiritual only when it is transformed into play."

InterPlay is not only a skill to be learnt at workshops but an invitation to a spirituality, a way of life that

teaches us to look at life less as a work to be accomplished and more like play to be enjoyed.

Q. 4 Is InterPlay one more therapy?

InterPlay is not designed as a therapy but very therapeutic. Participants report remarkable healings

because tapping into our body wisdom often brings wholeness and healing. If we respect the dignity of

our bodies then we will not abuse our bodies and those of others. InterPlay reminds us that we are created

in the image and likeness of God – the Word made flesh.

Q. 5 This means it is about the incarnation.

Yes, it definitely is. InterPlay takes the whole body into consideration because it takes the incarnation

seriously. Jesus is enfleshed, embodied God. In Jesus Christ the human and divine are inseparably

interconnected. In his person we see the harmonious interplay of the human and divine. At the Last

Supper Jesus offered himself to his disciples, “This is my body. Take and eat …” Not only were Jesus’

birth and death full body experiences but even his resurrection was a resurrection of the body. The advent

of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is intimately connected with bodily manifestations like the gift of tongues.

The body is sacred and to be valued as a temple of the Spirit.

Q. 6 How does InterPlay value the body?

InterPlay trusts the wisdom of the body. Body wisdom integrates body, mind, heart and spirit into one

harmonious whole. We have been trained to trust the mind and distrust the body due to our dualistic

mentality. The socialization process, whether religious or secular, has conditioned us to look at our bodies

with suspicion. We tend to consider the mind as separate from the body and superior to it. The ongoing

conflict between our bodies and minds creates stress and health problems. InterPlay demonstrates how

life can be more relaxing and less stressful when we trust the body.

Q. 7 If InterPlay releases stress it should have been very popular by now.

Very true but there is much resistance which is quite understandable. From her experience of teaching

InterPlay for 25 years Cynthia testifies that it can be quite scary. “Death is a scary word” she says but so

are “play, body, dance, feel, touch”. These words scare us to death because like the reality of death they

challenge us to be vulnerable, to let go and let God. Those who dare to dance are labeled as crazy. This

comment by a famous philosopher rings so true:

“.... and those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane

by those who could not hear the music.”

Q. 8 How do you see it as an aid to build up the Church?

While InterPlay is not affiliated to any particular religion it can be used to build up any community.

InterPlay has been effectively used to build up Christian communities worldwide. Our usual approach -

not only to our own bodies but also to other human bodies and the body of the universe - is one of

dominance and violence. InterPlay helps build joyful communities because it bonds people together in

simple yet amazing ways. It breaks through individualistic tendencies and hierarchies fostering

collaboration and equality. It is a creative tool to promote active participation and interdependence among

all members of the Church, the Body of Christ,.

Q. 9 Why do you foster Movement Meditation?

I find Indian audiences much more receptive to Movement Meditation as there is an opportunity to plunge

deeper. Movement Meditation integrates Interplay and eastern techniques like Walking Meditation,

Creative Visualization and Deep Relaxation. The focus is on awareness in movement and stillness.

Simple techniques involving improvisation bring us to the present moment. Awareness of breath, sound

and bodily sensations leads to greater centering. The appropriate combination with other static forms of

meditation can make the whole experience more fruitful. It can deepen our prayer experience so that we

learn to walk on mother earth, smell flowers, breathe fresh air, sip water and taste food with greater

awareness. We can thus cultivate the art of finding God in all things.

Q. 10 What has been the response for your programs with Jesuits and Jesuit institutions?

Most of the programs have been held at Jivanvikas Sadan, the Bandra Retreat House at which I am the

Director. It has been an excellent stimulus to seek for ways to bridge Ignatian Spirituality and Body

Wisdom, the theme of my ongoing action-reflection and research. There are doubts and fears and

apprehensions but this is inevitable for any ‘new frontier’ ministry which is in its infancy. It is a

fascinating adventure and frustrating too at times, but the joy of kindling fires is irresistible.

The peace exchange programs with the tribals were organized in close collaboration with the Gujarat

Jesuits, diocesans and sisters.

The feedback from the annual retreat on ‘Prophetic Play and Mystical Movement’ for the Kerala

scholastics in 2010 was extremely encouraging. Brief sessions for various groups of scholastics as well as

for the national coordinators of JIGSA and JEPASA were quite well received. The experience at a Jesuit

school for tribals in Diyungbra, Assam was memorable.

Just two examples from Bombay Province Jesuit institutions are worth mentioning: one of the tribal area

in Talasari mission and the other in Mumbai city.

The village leaders of Talasari mission had a taste of a unique ‘Lenten Recollection’ at Gnanmata Sadan,

Talasari. Simple InterPlay forms of movement, story, sound and silence led the tribals to discover the

amazing power of their inner voice which is longing to break free from a culture of silence.

The lay collaborators of InterPlay India facilitated several Movement Meditation workshops for the

seventh standard students of St. Stanislaus High School, Mumbai as part of the spirituality component of

the Jesuit Certificate program. The students’ testimonies reveal that besides experiences like ‘my soul

was searching for my body’ and ‘feeling in a place more relaxing than paradise’, they also became aware

of ‘the melody singing within’, ‘learnt to coordinate with others’, and ‘how to control anger and

impatience.’ It was amazing to realize that ‘movement meditation could be not only enlightening but also

so much fun’.

Q. 10 How does it promote global peace and understanding?

At the domestic, national, and international levels we are

witnessing an unprecedented upsurge of violence. Never before

are we more desperately seeking for peace in the domestic as

well as global family. In 2008, as part of the peace exchange

when Cynthia and her team visited a BJP-dominated area of

Dahisar slums in Mumbai, we were a bit apprehensive and

cautious. After a session with the poor women, they

spontaneously remarked, “We were amazed to see how peaceful

and peace-loving Americans can be.”

Like many others Tony Hole, an Australian whose drum and heart beat with the poor, is deeply impressed

and inspired by the way we play with marginalized groups.

Playing together for peace with people of different cultures and building bridges across narrow

boundaries of caste, creed, and country are among the precious gifts of the global peace project. A sense

of universal solidarity through networking for peace is slowly but surely growing. The thrust towards the

marginalized has made us more aware that poverty is at the root of violence urging us to continue with

our humble attempts to sow seeds of peace.

Q. 11 Could you share any one experience of reaching out to the marginalised?

At Cheshire Home for poor paraplegics when using the InterPlay form called “Lead and Follow” there

was a man who was totally stiff due to a stroke, but I noticed his eyes dancing. Without using any words

I started moving my hand and he followed. Then I

began following his movements and soon we did not

know who was leading and who was following. This is a

frequent occurrence, called ‘ecstatic following’, in

InterPlay. It was really amazing to see that at one stage

he started moving much faster and even tricking me

while I was trying to match his energy. I could see the change taking place in his eyes, in his face... and

in his whole body. Experiencing the mysterious flow of energy between the two of us had a mystical

quality. He also loved the experience of tenderly touching his own face. This memory is stored in the

body. I won’t be surprised when I go there next time to find that he will be using that hand much more.

It was a very touching experience for him and for me too.

Harriet Platts from USA, one of the InterPlay pilgrims, referring to this experience sent a striking email

“Watching the recently released you tube (Through Dance Jesuit Connects with the Poor in India

http://www.nationaljesuitnews.com ) of the InterPlay work in India,

I found myself with tears pooling in my eyes.

Tears of wishing I could be along there...

Tears of gratitude for those whom you're having an opportunity to serve...

Tears for new modes and ways to be 'play/grace-missionaries'...

Tears of joy and hope for what is springing forth because you're willing to step forward and say YES...

Please know my heart is with you as you continue to play in grace and freedom in India!!”

Lend a helping hand for global peace…