Day 3 of Teachers’ Spiritual Retreat 2026: Turning Inward to the Mental Being
April 17, 2026
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After three days of exploring the physical, vital, and mental dimensions of human existence, the theme turned inward towards something far more subtle yet deeply central. The focus shifted to what Sri Aurobindo and The Mother described as the highest dimension within us, one that quietly governs, guides, and transforms all others.
The Day at a Glance
The day centred on the exploration of the psychic being, guiding teachers to connect with the inner self beyond body, mind, and emotions. Sessions by Anjali Ma’am and Sampadananda Mishra highlighted the soul as a guiding force, while Mrs. Vinod Solanki Ma’am’s talk on love, beauty, and joy deepened the experience. The retreat concluded with a meditative Love Bath by Mrs. Promini Chopra Ma’am, leaving participants in a space of quiet reflection.
An Attempt to Understand the Psychic Entity and the Psychic Being
Teachers sat attentively as Mrs. Anjali Jaipuria Ma’am began her session on “An Attempt to Understand the Psychic Entity (atma) and the Psychic Being (chaitya purusha),” in the light of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother.
Setting the context, she introduced the idea of what she called the fourth dimension of human existence, drawing from the teachings of Swami Vivekananda.
“We are generally aware of our physical body, our emotions, and our mind, but beyond these, there exists a fourth dimension within us, the dimension of the soul. Unless we begin to connect with this dimension, our understanding of ourselves remains incomplete.”
Drawing from Sri Aurobindo, Anjali Ma’am described the nature of this inner presence.
“The true soul within us is like a flame, a quiet, steady fire burning behind the heart, hidden behind layers of mind, life, and body. It is this flame that sustains us, guides us, and holds the truth of who we are.”
Bringing everything together, she spoke about the relationship between the individual and the divine.
“In the soul, the individual and the Divine are not separate. To discover the soul is to discover God. To live in the consciousness of the soul is to live in unity with the Divine, not after life, but within life itself.”
As the session moved forward, Anjali Ma’am explained how this inner being evolves over time.
“The psychic being begins as something very small, almost like a spark. As we make the right choices and consciously transform ourselves, it begins to grow larger and stronger. There comes a point where its very presence uplifts the consciousness of others.”
She then broke down the real challenge.
“The difficulty is that the psychic being starts identifying itself with the body, the emotions, and the mind. Because of this identification, its clarity reduces, and the signals it receives from the soul become weaker and distorted.”
A Deeper Understanding of the Psychic Being
In his final address to the teachers, Sampananda Sir brought together philosophy, lived experience, and practical insight, guiding them towards understanding the inner soul not as an abstract idea, but as a living force that shapes consciousness, choices, and ultimately life itself.
He began by grounding the concept in something familiar, explaining the psychic being as the antaratman, the deepest and most refined presence within us.
“The psychic being is the finest and most precious element within us, a divine spark placed at the very core of our existence, present in all and everything, quietly guiding us from within even when we are not aware of it.”
Redefining education, he highlighted its deeper role, linking it directly to the journey of inner transformation.
“The purpose of education is not merely to inform or train, but to remove the layers that block the inner being, allowing the psychic presence to emerge and guide life. Psychic transformation begins when this inner flame is brought to the front, shifting our life from being driven by ego and desire to being guided by a deeper, truer consciousness.”
After three days of exploring the physical, vital, and mental dimensions of human existence, the theme turned inward towards something far more subtle yet deeply central. The focus shifted to what Sri Aurobindo and The Mother described as the highest dimension within us, one that quietly governs, guides, and transforms all others.
The Day at a Glance
The day centred on the exploration of the psychic being, guiding teachers to connect with the inner self beyond body, mind, and emotions. Sessions by Anjali Ma’am and Sampadananda Mishra highlighted the soul as a guiding force, while Mrs. Vinod Solanki Ma’am’s talk on love, beauty, and joy deepened the experience. The retreat concluded with a meditative Love Bath by Mrs. Promini Chopra Ma’am, leaving participants in a space of quiet reflection.
An Attempt to Understand the Psychic Entity and the Psychic Being
Teachers sat attentively as Mrs. Anjali Jaipuria Ma’am began her session on “An Attempt to Understand the Psychic Entity (atma) and the Psychic Being (chaitya purusha),” in the light of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother.
Setting the context, she introduced the idea of what she called the fourth dimension of human existence, drawing from the teachings of Swami Vivekananda.
“We are generally aware of our physical body, our emotions, and our mind, but beyond these, there exists a fourth dimension within us, the dimension of the soul. Unless we begin to connect with this dimension, our understanding of ourselves remains incomplete.”
Drawing from Sri Aurobindo, Anjali Ma’am described the nature of this inner presence.
“The true soul within us is like a flame, a quiet, steady fire burning behind the heart, hidden behind layers of mind, life, and body. It is this flame that sustains us, guides us, and holds the truth of who we are.”
Bringing everything together, she spoke about the relationship between the individual and the divine.
“In the soul, the individual and the Divine are not separate. To discover the soul is to discover God. To live in the consciousness of the soul is to live in unity with the Divine, not after life, but within life itself.”
As the session moved forward, Anjali Ma’am explained how this inner being evolves over time.
“The psychic being begins as something very small, almost like a spark. As we make the right choices and consciously transform ourselves, it begins to grow larger and stronger. There comes a point where its very presence uplifts the consciousness of others.”
She then broke down the real challenge.
“The difficulty is that the psychic being starts identifying itself with the body, the emotions, and the mind. Because of this identification, its clarity reduces, and the signals it receives from the soul become weaker and distorted.”
A Deeper Understanding of the Psychic Being
In his final address to the teachers, Sampananda Sir brought together philosophy, lived experience, and practical insight, guiding them towards understanding the inner soul not as an abstract idea, but as a living force that shapes consciousness, choices, and ultimately life itself.
He began by grounding the concept in something familiar, explaining the psychic being as the antaratman, the deepest and most refined presence within us.
“The psychic being is the finest and most precious element within us, a divine spark placed at the very core of our existence, present in all and everything, quietly guiding us from within even when we are not aware of it.”
Redefining education, he highlighted its deeper role, linking it directly to the journey of inner transformation.
“The purpose of education is not merely to inform or train, but to remove the layers that block the inner being, allowing the psychic presence to emerge and guide life. Psychic transformation begins when this inner flame is brought to the front, shifting our life from being driven by ego and desire to being guided by a deeper, truer consciousness.”
Love, Beauty and Joy as Inner Expressions
Following the deeply reflective sessions by Sampananda Sir, the retreat moved into an equally evocative space with Mrs. Vinod Solanki Ma’am’s address on love, beauty, and joy as psychic expressions. As she began, there was a quiet stillness in the room, almost as if the session itself was inviting everyone to feel rather than analyse.
She began by grounding the session in a quiet assurance, inviting everyone to trust something deeper within.
“At every moment, we must remember that we are guided, protected, and blessed. Even when we feel lost or disheartened, His Grace does not leave us. He continues to quietly support and sustain us from within.”
Taking it forward, Vinod Ma’am asked the audience to reconsider what beauty truly is.
“John Keats wrote in his Ode on a Grecian Urn, ‘Truth is beauty, beauty truth, that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.’ Our own ancient tradition expressed the same idea through Satyam Shivam Sundaram, where there is truth, there is beauty, and where there is beauty, there is Shiva, the auspicious, the kalyankari, the one who exists for the elevation of all.”
Vinod Ma’am later pointed the audience towards something higher.
“What the soul truly seeks is not Sukh but Ananda, because Ananda is unconditional. It does not depend on any object, any person, or any circumstance. Love is Ananda, and love only ever grows. Once the consciousness is even slightly established in this love, its level only rises. It never falls.”
Love Bath: An experience full of Divine Bliss
As the retreat drew to a close, the teachers gathered for the final session, the Love Bath led by Mrs. Promini Chopra Ma’am. A session that had deeply moved students during the Students’ Spiritual Retreat, the Love Bath carried its quiet magic into the teachers’ space as well. In a profound meditation, the teachers turned inward, resting in the words of The Mother Ma’am, letting her music wash over their consciousness, and holding the sacred shlokas of the Bhagavad Gita close to their hearts.
Love, Beauty and Joy as Inner Expressions
Following the deeply reflective sessions by Sampananda Sir, the retreat moved into an equally evocative space with Mrs. Vinod Solanki Ma’am’s address on love, beauty, and joy as psychic expressions. As she began, there was a quiet stillness in the room, almost as if the session itself was inviting everyone to feel rather than analyse.
She began by grounding the session in a quiet assurance, inviting everyone to trust something deeper within.
“At every moment, we must remember that we are guided, protected, and blessed. Even when we feel lost or disheartened, His Grace does not leave us. He continues to quietly support and sustain us from within.”
Taking it forward, Vinod Ma’am asked the audience to reconsider what beauty truly is.
“John Keats wrote in his Ode on a Grecian Urn, ‘Truth is beauty, beauty truth, that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.’ Our own ancient tradition expressed the same idea through Satyam Shivam Sundaram, where there is truth, there is beauty, and where there is beauty, there is Shiva, the auspicious, the kalyankari, the one who exists for the elevation of all.”
Vinod Ma’am later pointed the audience towards something higher.
“What the soul truly seeks is not Sukh but Ananda, because Ananda is unconditional. It does not depend on any object, any person, or any circumstance. Love is Ananda, and love only ever grows. Once the consciousness is even slightly established in this love, its level only rises. It never falls.”
Love Bath: An experience full of Divine Bliss
As the retreat drew to a close, the teachers gathered for the final session, the Love Bath led by Mrs. Promini Chopra Ma’am. A session that had deeply moved students during the Students’ Spiritual Retreat, the Love Bath carried its quiet magic into the teachers’ space as well. In a profound meditation, the teachers turned inward, resting in the words of The Mother Ma’am, letting her music wash over their consciousness, and holding the sacred shlokas of the Bhagavad Gita close to their hearts.
