Day 1: Art as a Path of Surrender
The workshop opened with a deep and reflective exploration of the concept of surrender as guided by The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. Dr. Shubhashree emphasised that surrender is not passive submission but a conscious offering of all aspects of our being — our thoughts, actions, emotions and aspirations — to the Divine. Through the teachings of Integral Yoga, the connection between the inner consciousness and its outer manifestation was emphasised.
One of the profound insights from Day 1 was how art can become a powerful tool of sadhana (spiritual practice). The Mother’s call is to surrender everything — will, body, life —to the Divine becomes the central aspiration. Dr. Subhashree opens the doorway to this surrender through art as a sacred practice.
The Mother says there are two conditions required for making art a sadhana. One is to silence the mind and the other is total surrender. Mother explains that art is not an end in itself, but a means of communion with the Divine.
The act of drawing becomes a bridge between the inner and outer world. By engaging in artistic expression with the right consciousness, one becomes a channel for something deeper to emerge. In this context, the true artist is not one who seeks praise or perfection, but one who offers each stroke, each movement, in an act of surrender.
To help participants experience this, Dr. Shubhashree encouraged the practice of meditative painting. This involved silencing the mind and allowing colours, shapes and gestures to flow from within, letting the hand move without thought, allowing colours and forms to arise from a place of deep inner stillness. The exercise emphasised three essential disciplines:
- The art of not knowing: Letting go of preconceived ideas and trusting the intuitive process.
- The art of waiting: Cultivating patience without forcing an outcome.
- The art of discerning: Learning to recognise inner movements and inspirations.
These practices help build a bridge between the inner and outer self, allowing one to live more consciously and receptively. The participants were reminded that the origin of inspiration and the depth of one’s consciousness directly shape the quality of one's expression.
Day 2 – Art as surrender and self-awareness.
The practice expands from creative expression to inner refinement. The mind, often compared to a restless child, is not silenced by force but calmed through gentle observation. Art here becomes a tool of self-awareness and surrender. Sri Aurobindo reminds us that art is not a luxury but is essential to human evolution.
It refines our senses, awakens the spirit, and softens the ego. Through painting, poetry or cooking, life itself can become a canvas of consciousness.
Two meditative art practices guide us inward:
- Aspiration-based reflection: What are the qualities or essence that I truly aspire for and that which I can give the world.?
- Aliveness-based reflection: What fulfills me? What am I most connected to?
We are invited to draw from presence and observe how our desires, restlessness, or control habits, dissolve.
Through this practice, we learn to wait. We learn to let actions arise from silence.
One reflection captured it beautifully: “Initially, I thought this was about learning to draw, but I realised it’s about learning to be.”
Day 3: Living with Purposeful Surrender
The final day brought together the themes of surrender and self-awareness, guiding participants to take their insights into daily life. Surrender is explored not only in meditation or art but in daily action—how we speak, touch, cook or serve. Dr. Shubhashree reiterated that surrender, when not grounded in a meaningful direction, can become tamasic —lethargic or escapist. True surrender must be anchored in aspiration and purpose.
The day also focused on distinguishing true surrender from passive surrender:
- True surrender involves active engagement with life, a conscious offering of one’s actions, and rejection of distractions and inertia.
- Passive surrender: Tamasic submission that avoids growth under the guise of spirituality.
Sri Aurobindo writes beautifully on the national value of art. Sri Aurobindo says, ‘Art is a very integral part of human life itself.’
Art helps us refine our senses, allows creativity to flow through and helps us in total surrender.
These session turns our gaze from personal transformation to creative purpose.
Participants were asked to reflect deeply on the question: " What is the purpose for me in this life, and what can I share with the world? This enquiry was not approached mentally but through meditation and intuitive art.
Dr. Shubhashree guided a powerful meditation practice:
- Sit in silence with breath awareness.
- Hold the question gently: "What is my purpose?"
- Let the images or sensations arise spontaneously.
- Express the insights through colour, word or gesture.
The idea was not to find a rigid goal, but to discover a living direction, one that evolves as we grow.
The Mother emphasises about aspiration, rejection and surrender. Without all three, surrender remains incomplete.
Participants were also encouraged to turn everyday activities into sacred acts:
- Eating mindfully with gratitude.
- Speaking with awareness.
- Touching and walking with presence.
Even these simple actions, when done consciously, become expressions of surrender.
Sharings:
Many shared that simple symbols—flowers, flames, trees—brought inner clarity and peace. Others discovered forgotten joys or realized subtle longings that pointed toward their goal.
Final Reflections
Across the three days, the workshop created a space where deep inner work unfolded gently. Participants came face-to-face with both their creative potential and their inner shadows. Through painting, silence, and dialogue, they began to understand the deeper meaning of surrender — not as giving up, but as offering oneself completely to the Divine.
Mother and Sri Aurobindo remind us:
- The ego is a distortion; our true nature is luminous and expansive.
- Consciousness can be cultivated patiently, moment by moment.
- Every act of sincere surrender transforms not only the individual but the collective atmosphere.
Closing Reflection
Across all three sessions, the journey is one of transformation — not through effort or intellect, but through presence, humility and love. Whether we are painting, observing anger, or walking silently, we are invited to surrender — not to weakness, but to a deeper wisdom within us.
We discover that:
- The Divine flows more freely when we are quiet and clear.
- Art is not just for the gifted — it is for the devoted.
- Our shadows and imperfections are not to be judged, but embraced.
- Purpose is not a fixed goal, but a living direction, revealed in silence.
As The Mother says, “Let each step be a prayer, and each breath a surrender.”
This is the art of living as sadhana.
Life is the canvas. Let each breath be a brushstroke. Each act a prayer. Each moment, an offering. This is the Sunlit Path — graceful, creative and aligned with the Divine Will.
Each presenter brings in their own positive vibrations, and James a wonderful host as always, is always punctual, warm and takes care of time, supports the process of the presenters in a very graceful manner.
Feedback
“A novel approach to experiencing the Divine in everyday life.”
“Waiting for the appropriate feeling to emerge is a key takeaway.”
“All the three practical sessions seemed to be designed with a sort of synchronicity, which emerged as one went through them.”
Yes, a novel approach and from day 1, it became clear that this is more about surrender than art itself .”
“It seems that this workshop could mark a perceptible positive change in one’s journey towards the Divine.”
“I could practice Surrender to Mother in this 3 days’ workshop.”
“I could try to implement Surrender more and more.”
“This workshop was very informative and very much interactive. Art means not merely sketching or drawing but harmonizing ourselves in all forms. Also, she was explaining about the anchoring in silence and letting silence guide us. Gratitude to Mother.”
“These sessions helped me in observing myself and letting go. By keeping the mind still and moving inwards, I was able to go deep within and, from that space, was able to write a short poem. (I cannot write poetry though) I was really surprised as the words flowed through my hands. I am applying this art in my daily cooking. Will sincerely practise these techniques to go deeper within and make this my sadhana.”
