Ashwini Mokashi

From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Practice: Talks on Philosophical Counseling

by Dr. Ashwini Mokashi

I am delighted to share about my recent talks on my long journey in Philosophical Counseling, where I have tried to apply ancient Indian and Stoic principles of ethics to create value and happiness in the lives of counselees facing crises. Much of my engagement in this area began as an experiment, but as I started seeing consistent positive results, it grew into a practice. Now, I am invited to give talks on my work, and I find it very satisfying to spread these meaningful ideas!

I was invited to give an online talk on Friday, July 18, to students pursuing Philosophical Counseling (PC) at SP Pune University. The topic was Philosophical Counseling Through the Indian Systems of Knowledge. About 60 students and faculty members from the Pune Philosophy Department attended. The talk sparked many interesting questions and later even some conversations on social media. It looks like people are beginning to take notice! My thanks to the organizers, Dr. Harish Navale and Ms. Yukti Sharma.

On Monday, July 21, I gave another online talk to students of Philosophical Counseling at Ramnarain Ruia College in Mumbai. The topic was Philosophical Counseling Through the Bhagavad-Gita. Around 55 students and teachers attended. Afterward, they shared the event on LinkedIn too. I was impressed by their level of interest. My thanks to the organizers, Dr. Himani Chaukar, Ms. Charuta Kulkarni, and Ms. Tejashwini Havannavar. I was deeply touched by the meticulous organization of the program by Charuta, and the feedback I received from the undergraduate students was truly heartwarming.

Here are some of the thoughtful comments they shared with me:

• Perfect blend of philosophy throughout the session. It inspired me to read more along these lines. Thanks for this opportunity.

• It was a really insightful session. I personally learned many things outside the syllabus. Looking forward to more such sessions in the coming year.

• This session made me realize how deep and thoughtful our scriptures are. I had no idea how philosophical the Bhagavad-Gita actually was, and today’s lecture proved me wrong. Ashwini ma’am gave great insights into its application in modern life. I especially liked when she said, “Attachment is necessary for forming a relationship and detachment is necessary for maintaining the relationship.” I also discovered a new career option: Philosophical Counseling. This session was truly eye-opening for me.

• The speaker was so nice. The way she put all the points together really helped me understand clearly. I already knew the Bhagavad-Gita is valuable for therapy, but I had never looked at it from this perspective.

• Overall, I enjoyed being part of it and gained so much knowledge, both from an exam point of view and in general.

Thank you, dear students! I am so glad my message reached you well.

And thank you, Dr. Chaukar, for your kind words below. All of you truly made my day!

Your unique integration of classical Indian philosophy with contemporary approaches to counseling was both illuminating and deeply impactful. The clarity with which you conveyed the relevance of the Gita’s teachings to present-day psychological and ethical challenges resonated strongly with our students and faculty alike.

Here’s to the hope that Philosophical Counseling creates a bright future for many!