Start Date: July 9, 2025
End Date: July 11, 2025
Venue: Online
BhāratShakti department conducted a three-webinar series for selected teachers of Sri Aurobindo Center of New Education, Jodhpur on the theme: Conscious Connections: Exploring Aspects of Individual and Collective Life.
Using an interactive format, the following three topics were explored during three hour-long sessions:
- Self and Others: Harmony in Relationships
- Beyond Collegiality: Growing Together as Teachers
- Connecting with Culture: Facilitating Indian-ness in Classrooms
Dr. Beloo Mehra was the facilitator for these sessions. Mrs. Meera Singh, principal of Sri Aurobindo Center of New Age coordinated the sessions at Jodhpur. Each session opened with a silent concentration followed by a short sharing by Dr. Mehra of some key insights from Sri Aurobindo and the Mother on the day’s topic. Following which, through a series of engaging questions, Dr. Mehra invited the participants to share their observations, experiential understanding and/or reflections on some aspect of the topic.
Day 1 focused on the topic of Harmony in Relationships. Dr. Mehra highlighted the idea of relationships as a mirror through which we can recognise our weaknesses and gradually work on transforming our nature. Using the examples of possible causes of disharmony that were shared by the participants, she led the discussion on the topic of egoism bringing out what it means and how it creates conflict and disharmony. During this sessions, a few students also joined the group of participants, so considering the mixed group, Dr. Mehra brought in relevant examples and observations.
On Day 2, the focus was on growing together as teachers. The key points brought up in the discussion included the meaning of inner progress, work as a means for progress and the true spirit of collaboration at workplace. Dr. Mehra shared a few insights from the Mother and Sri Aurobindo in this regard, and then engaged the participants in a reflective interaction on the topics. Teachers brought in several important observations and shared their experiences candidly. This led to a meaningful co-learning experience for all.
The third day’s session focused on creating conscious connection with culture. Dr. Mehra began the session through a simple interaction with the teachers on what is meant by culture and what is the significance of connecting with culture. This opened up the way to bring in Sri Aurobindo’s definition of culture and particularly the spiritual basis of Indian culture. Dr. Mehra then gave a few examples to explain what is meant by the soul, mind and body aspects of culture.
Taking a few case studies of selected artworks, some of which are connected with the local history of Jodhpur and/or Rajasthan, Dr. Mehra demonstrated how the delicate thread binding the individual to cosmos can be brought to light for the students. She said that it is possible only when we can meaningfully integrate arts with rest of the curriculum.
Such a cultivation of conscious connection with history, culture, art, spiritual truth, legends, folklore, socio-economic context and more, can make learning a more holistic and meaningful experience, Dr. Mehra highlighted. She stressed that for this to become a classroom reality, the first need is for the teachers to develop such a sensibility and sensitivity to their local cultural history and gradually, building on the principle of near to far, to the greater Indian history and culture.