This three-day workshop, facilitated by Dr. Monica Gulati grounded in the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, focused on the transformative journey from self-obsession to self-forgetfulness. The core insight was that the root of human suffering lies in our separation from the Divine and our continuous identification with the egoic self — the "little self’ concerned with personal stories, desires and attachments. Monica emphasised that this self-obsession creates inner restlessness, dissatisfaction, and a heaviness of existence. True fulfilment, she suggested, does not come from gratifying the ego but from a deep and conscious alignment with the divine Presence within (the psychic being) and above (the spiritual being).
The workshop proposed self-forgetfulness as both the path and the outcome of spiritual growth. It is cultivated through conscious self-giving, offering not only our joys and achievements but also our suffering and dissatisfaction to the Divine. This attitude leads to lightness, joy and energy that is independent of circumstances. Monica stressed that transformation is not theoretical but practical and must reflect in our daily interactions, particularly in close relationships where our unresolved patterns often tend to surface. The approach is one of a parallel inner work: refining the lower nature while simultaneously establishing contact with higher states of peace, light, and Ananda.
Participants were introduced to methods for observing thoughts and emotions with the witness consciousness, understanding the nature of the ego and the desire-soul, and invoking a solid peace directly into the body, especially in areas prone to agitation. Instead of merely rejecting negative emotions like jealousy or ambition, Monica encouraged inviting a concrete stillness that dissolves them at the root
A recurring theme was the importance of equality — a balanced inner state where one remains undisturbed amid success or failure, praise or rejection. Monica pointed out that real equality is built not by avoiding difficulty but by learning to remain inwardly unmoved through it. She also cautioned against misusing the concept of ‘acceptance’ to justify passivity or arrogance; rather, one must humbly align with what is, trusting the Divine orchestration. Ultimately, the workshop emphasised that true spiritual progress is visible not in exceptional moments of meditation but in the consistency, goodwill, and conscious self-offering we bring to our daily lives and relationships.
Feedback
“I was very keen on attending this workshop and got the clarification and the way to deal with myself.”
“I got the solution of my pain and suffering. Need to practically apply in my day today life.”
“Not to focus on my problems.”
