Sriponya Collective

SRIPONYA SCHOOL OF RECOVERY (SOR) PROGRAMS: SOR IS A 9-WEEK TRANSFORMATIONAL PROGRAM THAT GUIDES A SMALL GROUP OF STUDENTS INTO LOOKING AT THE UNDERLYING CAUSES AND CONDITIONS OF THEIR ADDICTIONS AND PROVIDES THEM WITH PRACTICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL, EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL TOOLS REQUIRED FOR LONG TERM RECOVERY. STUDENTS OFTEN FIND THEY ARE STUCK IN A LOOP OF SELF-DEFEATING PATTERNS (ALCOHOL OR OPIOID ADDICTION). AT THE SOR, STUDENTS COME TOGETHER AND BUILD THEIR CHARACTER AS WELL AS A RECOVERY COMMUNITY. AS RADHANATH SWAMI HAS WRITTEN, "GOOD CHARACTER IS A NECESSARY FOUNDATION FOR MEANINGFUL, SUSTAINABLE RELATIONSHIPS AND FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY." THE PRINCIPLES OF THE SOR PROGRAM INCLUDE, WITHOUT LIMITATION, EMPOWERING THE INDIVIDUAL, BUILDING CHARACTER OVER COMFORT, AN HONEST PERSONAL INVENTORY, DEVELOPING GRATITUDE, AND COMPASSIONATE SERVICE. GENUINE HUMILITY, VULNERABILITY, AUTHENTIC EXPRESSION, HARMONY WITH THE LAND AND WORLD AROUND YOU. BUILDING COMMUNITY, AND RIGOROUS HONESTY ARE ALSO ESSENTIAL IN THE STUDENT'S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN THEIR RESOLVE. THERE ARE TWO MAIN QUESTIONS THAT ARE CONTEMPLATED AND DEEPENED BY THE STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COURSE; WHO AM I? AND HOW SHALL I SERVE?. THESE QUESTIONS ARE CONTEMPLATED AS WE JOURNEY THROUGH THE 9 WEEKS EXPLORING A DIFFERENT PRINCIPLE EACH WEEK. THE CURRICULUM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED USING PROVEN PRACTICES FROM SEVERAL WISDOM TRADITIONS AND CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH. ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE STILL CONNECTED WITH US AND 66% HAVE REMAINED ALCOHOL AND DRUG FREE; 100% HAVE ALTERED BEHAVIORS AND EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT HARM REDUCTION. SRIPONYA MONTHLY FILM NIGHTS & PANELS: SRIPONYA DESIRES TO DESTIGMATIZE ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND INCREASE AWARENESS AND HELP PEOPLE BECOME TRAUMA-INFORMED THROUGH THE USE OF FILM. IT IS SRIPONYA'S DESIRE TO LOWER THE BARRIERS FOR DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS AND INTEGRATE THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY INTO RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH MOVIE NIGHT AND PANEL DISCUSSION. SRIPONYA BRINGS TOGETHER PEOPLE IN RECOVERY WITH GROUPS THAT EXPERIENCE HEALTH DISPARITIES, SUCH AS THE HOMELESS, LGBTQ, AND BIPOC COMMUNITIES. AFTER EACH MONTHLY SCREENING, SRIPONYA FACILITATES A PANEL SO THAT ATTENDEES CAN WITNESS AND SEE OTHERS IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES AWAKENING TO RECOVERY AND SOBRIETY. THERE WERE SIX MONTHLY FILMS ON MENTAL HEALTH TOPICS THAT IMPACTED OVER 555 PEOPLE IN CENTRAL OREGON. SRIPONYA VIRTUAL RECOVERY COMMUNITY & PODCAST: SRIPONYA IS BUILDING OUT A VIRTUAL RECOVERY COMMUNITY USING FILM, VIDEO STORYTELLING AND PODCAST. SRIPONYA ESTIMATES THAT ITS PROGRAMS IMPACTED AT LEAST 444 PEOPLE THROUGH THE SCHOOLS, FILMS AND ON-LINE COMMUNITY.