ISABS

In a lab. An ISABS experience !

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The ‘Lab (as in laboratory) in Human Processes’ lasts for a week. That was were i was, as described in my earlier pos. ‘What is a lab ? ’ is a all too familiar question for me, by now. And my struggle to answer that question precisely, confounds me. This is one more attempt !

The term ‘ISABS’ was thrown at me, about a year and a half back in a job interview, where I was asked if I had done a process lab at ISABs. My reply “What was ISABs?” After paying the obeisance to Google search, I landed at ISABs in Hyderabad in the early part of this year and fell in love with the process and its potential !

This time around I was there at the advanced lab at the ECC, Bangalore. I trudged into ECC, and one of the 1st sign boards that caught my attention was this !

The ISABs lab was for the journey into a beautiful forest called life of the human mind. My mind! And i had to do some packing / unpacking !

Well, what do we do in a lab ? Here are extracts from various conversations with various people about the labs. These are questions that would run in your mind too, if you are hearing about it for the first time!

Someone: So what do you do in a lab ?

Me: We talk.

Someone: Talk ? About ? With whom ?

Me: Me & 5-6 others in the lab.

Someone: You mean, you guys go there, sit down and yap about each other all time? For how long ?

Me: Well, its more than that. But over a five day period so much of it is discovered

Someone: WHAT? Five days ? For five full days ? You just sit and talk ? And how much did you shell out for going there? We do it all the time man !

Me: I am frustrated that I am unable to connect to you. I am trying to experience you in the moment.

Someone: What ? Experience me ? Now what was that? What the hell was that? You sure do talk differently now. Huh ! Tell me what did you learn.

Me: I have been able to connect to myself on a more fundamental plane. Am aware of myself. My feelings, thoughts, actions.

Someone: Aware of yourself ? What crap is that ? Who did you think you were before you went in ? Some confused junkie ? Nicholas Cage in Face Off ?

Me: Huh ! Listen, This time around, the lab was so very intense for me. And I have come out as a changed man.

Someone: I can see that. Atleast I can hear that !

Me: I need my own space for sometime to internalize those light bulb moments

Someone: As far as I can see, what went in as a well lit bulb, has come back as a tube light. So.

Me: So?

Someone: What do you mean so?

Me: Listen, just go attend a lab !

Someone: That sounded so much like “go to hell” man !

Me: Huh ! Huh ! You’ll never realise. On second thoughts, i’d never be able to let you know all about it, unless you attend it.

To me, the Human Process Labs bring out so much of you into the open, in a very democratic way, giving back to you as much as you want to put into it. Perhaps more. The effect is long lasting, and the discussions come back to stare at you at traffic signals. In bed. At breakfast. At work. In the bathrooms. Practically everywhere. At all times. The impact is so very profound and deep.


The labs focus on giving a participant a beautiful insight into self, and a better understanding of achieving effectiveness in a group. To me, the five days brought back all emotions that run through in life. Happiness. Joy. Sadness. Frustration. Elation. Anxiety. Fear. Concern. And a whole lot more. The simplicity of the process and the marvelous methods to peep into minds of others were deep and insightful ! The beauty of the human mind and the mystique of its many ways, touched me deeply.

In short, The ALHP ( Advanced Lab in Human Processes) reposed my faith in myself, in a rather pristine way.

Well, there is one more element : The friends that I have earned in this journey, are folks with whom I could connect, and WANT to remain connected to. These are people who I saw for the first time about 7 days back. But seem to know them for 7 or more years. Wonderful individuals, with wonderful hearts and beautiful minds ! I just love them for who they are, and all what that they did !

My transformation, in a way, makes my wife, brother and many others in the close circle want to go through a lab. They are able to see a difference in me ! Well, need I say more ? That was the greatest vindication of sorts !!!

As I struggle to transform the multitude of thoughts to words, I probably could say, “Listen, just go attend a lab” !

There are many images that stick in my mind, when i think of this lab. One of them is this pathway to where the lab took place.

Each time i trudged down this road to reach the lab, a strange chord tugged me along! And i just went by the tug. Glad i did !