Dhampathya Dharma

This editorial is prepared with all insights and experiences by conducting the conference on Spirituality in Mental Health and Wellness among SAARC Countries and insights drawn from the discussion among the participants of SAARC countries. The conference on “Spirituality in Mental Health and Wellness among SAARC countries” was conducted on January 2, 2022 (Sunday) at Hotel Taj Deccan, Hyderabad, Telangana State, India. This conference was conducted online with physical inaugural and valedictory function with the active involvement of World Psychiatric Association (WPA), various SAARC countries and the SAARC affairs subcommittee of Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) with coordination of spirituality task force of IPS guided by IPS National EC under the presidentship of Dr. Gautam Saha. The organizing committee under the chairmanship of Dr. P. Raghurami Reddy, Dr. B. N. Gangadhar as Chief Patron, Dr. P. Kishan as organizing secretary, Dr. Rajashree Ray as convener and Dr. G. Prasad Rao as chief advisor guided and supervised well to conduct the conference smoothly. Dr. Gautam Saha, President, IPS physically attended the inaugural function of conference. Prof. Afzal Javed - President of WPA graced the function as a Chief Guest. Dr. B. N. Gangadhar and Dr. G. Prasad Rao attended the inaugural function as Guest of Honor. In this SAARC conference, 6 internationally reputed speakers gave their talks on the following topics – Shrimad Bhagavad Gita: A form of Psychotherapy by Dr. Ajay Risal from Nepal, The intersection of Spirituality, Religion and Mental health: Some Considerations and Potential Implications for SAARC Countries by Prof. Alan Fung from Canada, Buddhist Perspective of Mental Health by Prof. Harishchandra Gambheera from Sri lanka, Spirituality and Mental Health: Scenario from Nepal by Prof. Nirmal Lamichhane from Nepal, WPA Position Statement on Religion/Spirituality and its implications for clinical practice by Dr. Alexander Moreira-Almeida from Brazil, Mental Health through a Spiritual Lens by Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Afridi from Pakistan and an interactive panel discussion moderated by Dr. M. S. Reddy from Hyderabad on the topic Spirituality in Mental health and Wellness with Dr. Sayuri Perera from Sri Lanka, Dr. S. C Tiwari, Dr. Philip John and Dr. Shubhangi Parkar from India as panelists. For this program, the Telangana State Medical Council has granted two credit points. The conference became a grand success graced by the participation of eminent senior academicians from Nepal, Srilanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Brazil, and India. In addition to SAARC countries, the western perspective was also covered by two eminent speakers from Canada and Brazil who are the leaders in the field of spirituality in WPA as well as American Psychiatric Association. Most of the chairpersons and speakers are from high positions in psychiatric associations of their respective countries and leaders of SAARC psychiatric federations (SPFs) who mostly dedicated their work in religion and spirituality in mental health and wellness. The valedictory function was presided by Dr.(Brig) M. S. V. K. Raju as the chief guest who was the past president of SPF. As guest of honor, Dr. I. R. S. Reddy-Past SPF President and Dr. Sheehan Williams-Secretary General of SPF participated in this function. The organizing committee has felicitated four of the senior most psychiatrists in the country - Dr. E. Mohandas from Kerala, Dr. Shiv Gautam from Rajasthan, Dr. Raghurami Reddy from Hyderabad and Dr. V. D. Krishnaram from Madurai in recognition of their services in the field of mental health and spirituality. A total of more than 600 delegates registered for this conference, and about 590 delegates attended the conference virtually. The organizing committee has taken up a resolution from the conference’s discussion and deliberations under the heading of the Hyderabad Declaration on Spirituality in the conference on “Spirituality in Mental Health and Wellness among SAARC countries, 2022.” “Dhampathya Dharma” is the pivot of spiritual practices among the families belonging to SAARC countries which share common spiritual living styles ingrained in the blood of people of this Indian Subcontinent. This is very significant as due to this “Dhampathya Dharma,” polygamy and divorce rates are less in this Indian subcontinent irrespective of religion – Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist and even other religious, nonreligious, nongod believing families of this area when compared to the belief systems of same religions in the different parts of the remaining world. In the recent past, the United States of America, Europe, and various other parts of the world have recognized the greatness of the family system existing in this Indian subcontinent. “Dhampathya Dharma” is sharing of life and living together irrespective of turbulence, bio-psycho-socio-spiritual challenges, and gender challenges to sustain continuity of possible harmonious life with mutual tolerance and respect toward each other till the end of life. The people in this subcontinent have a peculiar form of spiritual thinking and have adopted a spiritual lifestyle by knowing and tolerating realities (truths) of their opposite genders including their good bad dichotomy (Sathyam Shivam Sundaram). Performing their duties (Dharma) by living together and for the sake of their children’s, parent’s well-being. By the wisdom they gain in their family life, it is being used in generating (“G”) new ideas and ways of tolerance. They explored new dimensions to have a creative and meaningful life by operating (“O”) to deliver their duties of Dampathya (living together). This will help by continuation of prosperity, richness, and wellness with a good quality of life. This will help their family in destroying (“D”), the thought of attachment to emotions even after knowing the truths of the opposite partner and delivering their duties is called “Satya Dharma Samanvaya. This is by balancing the Satya (truth) and Dharma (duties). By this nature of multifacetedness of the individuals residing in this subcontinent, families are leading a prosperous life till the end. Hence, every family in this subcontinent has “GOD” experience in their life span (Godliness) which is protecting their bondage of living together with children and forefathers giving a richness and good quality of life to their families.[1] This “Dhampathya Dharma” protecting the Indian subcontinent rather than ritualistic religions is the strong belief of scholars of this land. The spirit of family system of the Indian subcontinent should expand to the Vasudhaika family, which means global family, i.e., whole world should become one family with mutual tolerance and coexistence. The spirit of “Dhampathya Dharma” is the message of spirituality to the world from this Hyderabad Declaration in conference on “Spirituality in Mental Health and Wellness among SAARC countries” held at Hyderabad, India on January 2, 2022.[2]

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