“Nationalist passions” of Sri Aurobindo located in “a theory of transcendence”

Se-tenant Stamps of India: Dream of Sri Aurobindo - Auroville ... By Shrikant Parikh
Dream of Sri Aurobindo - Auroville - Foundation Anniversary - 28.02.1968. Invitaion Card on Foundation Day of Auroville - 28.02.1968. Maxim Card. First Day Cover with 2 special cancellations. Special VVIP Folder with 2 special ...

from ASPIRATION - Aspiration is a call to the Divine. — The Mother

A blog post by Barindranath Chaki was featured Auroville

[28th February is the Auroville Foundation Day. On this occasion, some publication about Auroville by the webmaster@auroville.org.in is placed below.] What is Auroville? Auroville is a universal township in the making for a population of up to 5… A blog post by Harriet Mendonca was featured Happy Birthday Auroville

shriramsharma: ENERGY MANIFESTING FROM SUBTLIZING OF PSYCHE AND ... By shriramsharma
When Sri Aurobindo Ghosh returned to India from abroad he tried all means to drive away the British from India but his efforts did not reap success. He gathered many kings, students etc to form a single party to oppose the British ...

The Spirit and Form of an Ethical Polity: a Meditation on Aurobindo’s Thought by Sugata Bose, Modern Intellectual History, 4, 1 (2007), By debbanerji Posthuman Destinies

The Evolutionary Stage Between Mind and Supermind from Sri Aurobindo Studies

In reviewing the gulf between the Supramental Consciousness and the Mind-Consciousness, Sri Aurobindo points out that there is simply too wide a gap, too much difference for them to represent the next succeeding step, in one direction, toward the involution of consciousness; and in the other direction, as part of the evolutionary outflowering of consciousness. There must be an intermediate stage or gradation between the two. 

Fundamentalism and the Integral Yoga – Auroville Today Interview ... February 2010 ... an interview with Debashish Banerji by Alan and Carel. What are the roots of fundamentalism? 

What is Man that the Genome is Mindful of Him? from One Cosmos by Gagdad Bob

Smith says what amounts to the same thing: "The physicist, it turns out, is not simply an observer, but a creator of secondary realities: he observes by creating, one could almost say." 

However, this is not creation ex nihilo; it doesn't mean, as many new agers suggest, that the world is somehow entirely subjective, and that we "create reality" through perception. Rather, it is a much more subtle process, which I believe is most adequately described by Michael Polanyi, in particular, by his theory of tacit knowing and the distinction between subsidiary and focal knowledge. 

Events Calendar Coming Events Aspiration Savitri: the Light of the Supreme Mirror of TomorrowSCIY Recent Comments IYF SAOW Saaba A critique of the book by Peter Heehs Events - University of Human Unity Inputs may be mailed to tusarnmohapatra@gmail.com

Maggi had explained in the News and Notes the origins of these remedies

January 2010

More and more countries are passing legislation to ensure that people with disabilities are allowed to participate fully and equitably in society. In this issue of Auroville Today, we examine how well Auroville is doing on this front – assuming that a community which has human unity as its goal and invites participation from all people of goodwill would be in the forefront of this movement. The issue reports on the first workshop devoted to makingAuroville more accessible (Page 1 and page 2) for everyone, held in October, and carries in interview with Susmita, the initiator of the conference, and Frederick , Pino and Sauro, three of the coordinators of L'Avenir d'Auroville.

In the sector ‘services' we publish an interview with Anandi and Isha of the Auroville Board of Services. “Serving the spirit of service” is their motto: to bring together all the service activities of Auroville, so that they can share their aspirations and difficulties, their projects and their experiences. There are also articles on the work of the Auroville Dental Clinic in the surrounding villages and what it means for Teens to Service the community.

In the section ‘research' we publish two articles. One is the research on the effects of homeopathic remedies prepared from substances originating from the hair of The Mother and the nail-clippings of Sri Aurobindo. The second article deals with researching the effects of food on the body by Auroville's Food Laboratory managed by Lorenzo, the Raw Food Centre run by Anandi and Peas versus Pills, the name of regular seminars, run by Dr. Nandita Shah.

In the section profiles you'll find an article about Afsaneh, who first came to Auroville in 1979.

Lastly we publish a review of the theatre play The Caretaker , a book review of Travels of the Psychic Being , a review of Nele Martens' recent displays of mobiles and paintings at Pitanga, and Jogging Through the Auroville Countryside, One December Afternoon , written in the late 1980s by late Aurovilian Raymond Thépot.

 

The pdf.files of this issue can be downloaded here. We wish you happy reading. Subscribe if you want to read more, or ask for a free copy. Details are elsewhere on this web page. Subscriptions can now also be ordered and paid on line through www.auroville.com/auroville-today .

December 2009

The question ‘how aware are Aurovilians of environmental issues' features as one of the main articles of Auroville Today's December issue. We spoke to four Aurovilians who are working to increase environmental consciousness within the community.
The issue further contains the recent UNESCO resolution on Auroville passed by its Executive Board, wherein it invites its Member States to actively participate in Auroville's development by contributing a permanent or temporary exhibition in the International Zone. A view on how the International Zone should be seen is shared by Jan Lohman from Auroville International The Netherlands

In the section ‘services' we introduce ACT: Auroville Community Transport, which has introduced a regular and reliable bus service for Aurovilians.

The section ‘research' carries three articles. In ‘The Play of Painting' we write about a research project which uses painting as a means of self-discovery, highlighted in the book Looking at Children's Paintings in a New Light by Claire Le Touzé, published by the Sri Aurobindo Institute for Educational Research (SAIIER).

The research work in wastewater treatment has been in the forefront of research done by Auroville's Centre for Scientific Research, CSR. After having successfully introduced the sustainable DEWATS system (DEcentralized WAstewater Treatment System), CSR is now experimenting with another promising device, the Schauberger vortices.

The third article describes the work of Auroville ecologist Rauf Ali in theNicobars islands. He has developed a press that will produce coconut milk in large quantities, which will substantially increase the income of the local population.

In the section profiles we introduce the outgoing chairman of Auroville International France, Satyakam, (Salim Karim) who speaks about his life, the role of the Auroville International Centres and his forthcoming move to Auroville. And former Ashramite now Aurovilian Ashesh Joshi speaks about his life in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville, where he works for the Matrimandir Access Group and offers workshops on Integral Yoga.

In the section book review we present Alchemies of the Night, a collection of poems by Roger Harris. We also publish the 2009 population statistics.

In conclusion we write about the Ultimate sports experience; and give a view of a Newcomer on life in Auroville called Psychic gibbons. Home > Journals & Media > Journals  > Auroville Today > Current issue

All India Youth Camp for National Integration was organised from 3 to 11 January 2010

News from Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry) Upcoming Events 132nd Birth Anniversary of the Mother - 21 February 2010 The Mother On 21 February 2010 we celebrate the Mother's 132nd birth anniversary. The Mother's room will be open for darshan for devotees on that day. There will also be a collective meditation in the Ashram from 6:00 to 6:30 am. The Mother came to the earth with a great spiritual mission. Sri Aurobindo has said that:           "The Mother comes in order to bring the Supramental."           "Her embodiment is a chance for the earth-consciousness to receive the           Supramental into it and undergo the transformation necessary for that to be possible." The Mother first met Sri Aurobindo in the year 1914. After their meeting, Sri Aurobindo said that he had never seen anywhere a self-surrender so absolute and unreserved as that of the Mother. Later, Sri Aurobindo mentioned about the significance of the presence of the Mother on earth in the following words:           "The great work of the Avatar is to manifest the Divine Grace upon earth. To be a disciple of the Avatar           is to become an instrument of the Divine Grace. The Mother is the great dispensatrix - through identity - of the           Divine Grace with a perfect knowledge - through identity - of the absolute mechanism of Universal Justice.                     And through her mediation each movement of sincere and confident aspiration towards the Divine calls           down in response the intervention of the Grace." The Mother herself has emphasised that "I am on earth because it is on earth that the divine work must be done, and for no other reason." Talk in Tamil - 21 Feb. 2010 Shri M S Sundararajan will deliver a talk in Tamil on 'Andrada Vazhkaiyil Annai' at the Beach Office of the Society on 21 February 2010 at 10 a.m. Savitri Study Sessions - February 2010 Dr. Alok Pandey will continue his next series of Talks on Sri Aurobindo's epic 'Savitri' at the Society's Beach Office, Pondicherry, from 22 to 28 February 2010. The sessions will be held at 5:15 pm to 6:00 pm and 6:15 pm to 7:00 pm. All are welcome to attend the talk series! Recent Events Bonne Année - 2010 Lighting of the Lamps at the Beach Office on New Year Day Collective Invocation The New Year dawned in the Ashram with meditation at 6:00 a.m. with recorded music. There was a March Past at 6:55 pm and collective meditation at 7:45 pm on the same day. At the Society's Beach Office hall at 9 am, there was a collective meditation with the lighting of lamps, followed by songs invoking the Presence and Grace of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and a re-dedication to their work. All India Youth Camp for National Integration - 3 to 11 January 2010 Shri Vijaybhai and Shri Kaivalyabhai, interacting with the participants A view of the participants The annual All India Youth Camp for National Integration was organised by the Society at Puducherry from 3 to 11 January 2010. As over the last few years, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), New Delhi, sponsored this Camp as well. 45 youths (21 girls and 24 boys) in the age group of 18-28 yrs. from 11 States of India including A.P., Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, M.P., Maharashtra, U.P. and West Bengal participated in the Camp with enthusiasm and joy. Shri Vijay, Member Executive - Admin. & Finance, Shri Kaivalya Smart, Member - Executive Committee, Shivakumar & a team of youth coordinated the entire Camp. The main objectives of the Camp were to expose the participants to the spiritual atmosphere of the Ashram and also to inspire them to discover their aim in life and help them in realising it. The sessions were designed to make them conscious of the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of India and foster the spirit of national integration. The programme involved talks, discussions and activities on the above theme, as well as regular sessions on physical education, project work, collective singing, beauty of Sanskrit etc. Shri Kaivalyabhai took a series of sessions focussing on the themes of Progress, Perfection and Practice. Richard, introducing the Botanical Gardens In the Botanical Gardens… Cycle trekking to the LakeLand On the Nature Study day, all went to the Botanical Gardens nearby and spent a full morning studying variety of plants & trees, trying to invoke a deeper sense of communion with Nature. There was also a full-day bicycle trekking where all the participants went by bicycle to the Society's Lakeland 12 kms away and spent the entire day in Nature, playing games and learning to be with Nature in the right way. Project Work, in the Municipal Park Art expression by the participants, on the final day The participants were also exposed to the various projects and activities undertaken by the Society, in the fields of education, health, rural development, management, Indian culture etc. The Camp concluded with a collective meditation, expressing gratitude to the Divine for a very fulfilling Camp. Study Tour-cum-Camp for Students of SACAC, Delhi - 22nd Dec. '09 to 2 Jan '10 Vijaybhai, interacting with the Students The Pondicherry Trip is an exercise in searching for answers and widening one's perspective. For the nearly 50 students (of batch 2009-10) and 10 faculty from the Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communication (SACAC), Delhi, who visited Pondicherry and Auroville from December 22nd 2009 to January 2, 2010, It was a journey with a difference. It is only after the students got back to New Delhi that they realized that the trip was not only merely for fun. It opened up a different world in terms of learning, developing new perspectives and asked questions on their own life. The questions were such that they never thought of before but had a lot of relevance towards integrating their career goals and their life. The students were accompanied by the Director, Heads from the Departments of Journalism (English & Hindi), Advertising & PR, Film and TV Production. Several sessions were arranged on a range of topics that are related to the attitude of learning and life in general. The inspiring talk by Vijaybhai on Day One kindled the minds of the students and forced them to think about the deeper meaning of life and their role in it. This set the tone for the rest of the sessions at camp. As the days unfolded, the students were exposed to thought provoking talks by Shri Manoj Das on Creative Writing, on tackling difficult issues in life by Dr. Alok Pandey, on the Sacred Art of India by Shri Sushanto, the wonderful language of Sanskrit by Dr. Sampadananda Mishra and a presentation on village project by Senthil and Chitra. For the first time in the study tour of SACAC, a heritage walk by INTAC was organised to know the more about French architecture and its history. Getting ready to cycle all the way to the Lakeland A day-long trip to Lakeland was an experience for the students. Given an option of either cycling or travelling by bus, the more adventurous ones took to cycling. The Lakeland trip for the students was aimed towards getting an understanding into the kind of work that The Society is undertaking towards sustainable development of villages. Half-day session conducted by Krishna Iyer on Breath, Water & Sound at Lakeland helped to make the students aware of the importance of Yoga, Pranayama, concentration and meditation. In the Lakeland, Workshop on 'Breath, Water & Sound' by Krishna Iyer Work offering by the students at Lakeland By the end of the Pondicherry trip, the students were encouraged to think on the inner meaning of life. Feedback session with Vijaybhai at the end of the camp, where some of the students shared that the sessions at the camp had thrown a lot of questions about the purpose of life and how to lead it. Some of them agreed that it may take a lifetime to answer some of the questions. On 30th Dec. 2009 camp moved to Auroville. The introduction to this international township was given by Dharmesh. Students raised lots of questions on the purpose and life in this unique town. Students explored the town on their own on cycles and mobikes. Journalism students made a short video story by interviewing a few Auroville residents. A session by Srinivas Mulugu on "Free Will or Destiny" raised many questions which they would face in their professional life. Students were spell-bound after attending a collective meditation on the 31st evening at the Tibet Pavilion. On 1st January 2010, all started their day with Matrimandir Meditation and they had the experience of first ray of the sun of the new year in a beautiful ambience. Hopefully the first step towards a journey of self has been initiated through the camp and it will stand the youngsters in good stead in times of need. Talk on 'Integral Management' - 23 January 2010 Talk by Prof. Saiket Sen Prof. Saikat Sen, Senior Associate, Sri Aurobindo Foundation for Integral Management (SAFIM), Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry delivered a talk on 'Integral Management' at Chamber De Commerce, Puducherry on 23 January 2010. He explained the concept and framework of Integral Management through audio-visual presentation. The members of Chambers, Madras Management Association, Students of Engineering Colleges attended and took active part in the interactive session. The programme was organised by Madras Management Association, Puducherry Chapter. Exposure Camp for Delegates of Rashtrotthana Parishat, Bangalore - 24 to 27 Jan. 2010 A group of 9 delegates from the Education Wing of Rashtrotthana Parishat, Bangalore, headed by Shri Rangaraja Iyengar, Dakshina Kshetra Yoga Pramukh (Kerala, Karnataka & Tamil Nadu) of Vidya Bharathi, visited the Ashram for three days, fom 24 to 27 of January 2010. The programme was arranged and co-ordinated by Sri Aurobindo Society. On their arrival on 24 Jan., Shri Vijaybhai explained to them about the Ashram and the vision of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother on Education. Next day morning, Shivakumar interacted with them on the topic of "Spiritual education - what do we mean by it?" This was followed by a visit by the team to the Ashram's Centre of Education where Gayatri-di gave them an introduction to the vision and the way in which the Centre functions. In the afternoon Dr Sampadananda Mishra showed them glimpses of the multi-media CDs "The Wonder That is Sanskrit" and "Srimad Bhagavad Gita". In the evening, a visit to the Sportsground was arranged and Shivakumar explained to them the aim, purpose and the attitude behind the Physical Education activities of the Centre of Education and the Ashram. On 26 Jan., in the morning, they visited the Society's Lakeland 'Matrikunj' and understood the organic farming activities going on there. Baburambhai explained the process of organic farming, as it was practised there. In the afternoon, they visited the Dairy of the Ashram and saw the tending of the cows. In the evening, the visit came to an end with a detailed introduction to the various activities of Sri Aurobindo Society in the fields of education, health, rural development, green buildings, Indian culture, management etc, and how the team can collaborate in the work of upliftment of the Nation. It was a fruitful stay for the entire team in learning and sharing a higher way of living and being. One-Day Workshop on "Value-Based Management" - 30 January 2010 Mr. Jordi Griera, conducting the Workshop Sri Aurobindo Foundation for Integral Management (SAFIM), a Centre of Excellence in Management of Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry, have organized a one-day Workshop on Value-based Management at Society Beach Office, Puducherry, in association with Madras Management Association (MMA), Puducherry chapter. MMA Chairman Sri D. Brem Nathan has delivered the welcome speech. Prof. Saikat Sen given an introduction to SAFIM and its various activities with audio-visual presentation and introduced the facilitator of the Workshop Mr. Jordi Griera, Chairman, INEVAL Foundation, Barcelona, Spain. Mr. Jordi Griera conducted the Workshop and highlighted on the importance of Human Values in Management and how to implement values in the present business context. Members of MMA, Rotary Club and Students of Management College took part in the Workshop. The Workshop was highly interactive in nature and participants enjoyed every session very well. Mr. Muthuraman Ayyappan, Co-Chairman of MMA concluded with the vote of thanks. News from Branches and Centres News from India Misrod, Raisen district (Madhya Pradesh) An exhibition and lecture programme on Sri Aurobindo was held at the Govt. Higher Secondary School, Misrod, on 19 September 2009. Shri Manoj Sharma and Shri D N Sharma spoke on Sri Aurobindo's Nationalism and Integral Yoga. The principal of the school expressed her aspiration to have a youth camp in their school with the Society's assistance. School Principal addressing the students A view of the students Noida (Uttar Pradesh) Special programmes: 1 January 2009: New Year Special Collective Meditation was held on Friday 1 January 2010 from 10 am to 10.30 am. About 40 devotees and their families took part in the above. After the meditation, sweets and calendars of the Mother were distributed to all. Flag Hosting at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. Present on the occasion are Shri V.P. Goyal, Shri O.P. Dani, Ls. Shobha Dani, Sh. H.D. Agrawal, Sh.S.C. Gupta, Dr. Puneesh Taneja & Other distinguished Members of the Society Students of Bal-Wadi rendering a patriotic song Students of the Bal-Wadi taking part in the Flag Hoisting Ceremony 26 January 2010, Republic Day: Sri Aurobindo Society - Noida Branch celebrated the Republic Day with members and their familes and the students of Bal-Wadi and trainees of Tailoring & Sewing Course on 26 January, 2010 at the Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Noida. At 10 am National Flag was unfurled at the Bhavan in the presence of Shri V.P. Goyal, Shri O.P. Dani, Ls. Shoba Dhand, Ls. Indu Maheshwari and other distinguished guests. The students of Bal-Wadi sung patriotic songs including songs on Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. On this occasion, Tailoring & Sewing Certificates were also distributed to the 18 trainees who have completed the four month's course. 26 Jan. 2009, Republic Day Celebrations: Sri Aurobindo Society - Noida Branch celebrated the Republic Day with members, their families and the students of Sri Aurobindo Shiksha Niketan on Tuesday 26 January 2010 at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Noida. At 10:00 am national flag was unfurled at the Bhavan by Shri V.P. Goyal, Vice Chairman, Sri Aurobindo Society U.P. State Committee, Shri O.P. Dani, Ls.Shoba Dhand, Ls.Indu Maheshwari and other distinguished guests The students of Bal-Wadi sung patriotic songs including songs on Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. On this occasion, Tailoring & Sewing Certificates were also distributed to the 18 trainees who have completed the four month's course. Discussion on Gita: Lead by Shri Viswa Mohan Tiwari, Air Vice Marshal (Retd.), this programme was held on every Sunday of December 2009 and January 2010, from 11 am to 1 pm, at the Bhavan. There were about 15 regular participants who attended the programme. Health:  Activities of Treatment by Acupressure Therapy, Homeopathy Dispensary, and Free Eye Check-up/Consultation at the Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, are going on well. Development of Women:  Sewing & Tailoring Classes: These Classes are being conducted daily from Monday to Friday at the Bhavan and about fifteen ladies are learning the same. Other Activities: Besides the above, regular activities of reading from the writings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, meditation with the Mother's music daily in the morning and evening, Library, playing of spiritual audio/video CDs etc. are being held. Madhya Pradesh State Committee Programme Shri D N Sharma, speaking to the students A view of the exhibition The Madhya Pradesh State Committee of the Society organised the following programmes in Madhya Pradesh:          1.    An exhibition and lecture programme under the title 'Sri Aurobindo: Confluence of Nationalism and Spirituality'                 was organised on 12 January 2010 at Kotra Sultanabad School, Bhopal. The Principal of the school Shri Braj Kishore Singh                 presided over the programme. Shri D N Sharma and Shri Manoj Sharma spoke on the subject. About 200 students and staff attended the programme.          2.   Another programme on the same subject was organised at Sharda Vihar School, Rativarh, Bhopal Dist. on 24 January 2010. Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) Flower decoration at the Centre Veda Sruthi, performing Bharathanatyam dance A view of the audience Year 2010 - The Centenary year of The Master's arrival at Pondicherry & the Golden Jubilee year of Sri Aurobindo Society dawned with Meditation at 6:00 am at our Coimbatore Centre. The following programme was rendered by our members at 10:00 am at the Centre's premises:         1. Bharathanatyam - by Veda Sruthi, introduced by Asha & Radhakrishnan.         2. Miming - by Nithya & Akalya to the song 'Thaaye vazhgavea' composed by Nalini Shanmugam, on the Divine Mother.         3. Dandiya dance performed to Meera bhajan by six of the members led by Shyamala.         4. Audio rendering of Vijaybhai's talk at the Pondicherry Head Office on 19th September 2009. Shri Thiruvenkatam, Chairman, explained the importance of physical culture in the light of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. The whole programme was a soul offering by Her children. About 100 members attended the programme and about 300 people visited the Centre on the New Year day. Mahoba (Uttar Pradesh) The Mahoba Branch organised a Teacher's Workshop on 19 & 20 December 2009, in Central Library Mahoba. Shri K. Pawan from Patiala conducted the workshop. 45 teachers from Nowgong, Chhatrapur, Banda and local teachers participated in the workshop. Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh) To celebrate the Centenary year, Allahabad Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society organised a seminar on 28 November 2009 on 'Knowledge and Faith'. The function was chaired by Acharya Adyaprasad Mishra, former Vice Chancellor of Allahabad University. Mathura (Uttar Pradesh) Mathura Centre organised a seminar on 26 & 27 December 2009, on 'Religion and Spirituality' under the aegis of regional committee of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand of Sri Aurobindo Society. First day the Chief Guest, Dr. Aditya Kumar Vajpayee, Principal, Amar Nath Vidya Ashram, spoke on the subject. Shri J.P. Singh, Chairman, State Committee, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand of Sri Aurobindo Society and other speakers delivered talks on both the days. The function was attended by about 250 people. Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh) At an International Conference on 'Frontiers of Interface between Statistics and Sciences' held at Hyderabad from 30 December 2009 to 2 January 2010, the Society's Hyderabad Branch presented a folder containing information about the research work being done at Sri Aurobindo Foundation for Integral Management (SAFIM), a unit of Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry and other areas of common interest. About 500 folders were distributed to the delegates. The Mother's calendars and New Year message cards were distributed after the morning meditation between 10 and 10:30 am on 1 January 2010. About 800 people visited the Bhavan on that day. Bargawan (Uttar Pradesh) The Siddhi Day was observed by the Bargawan Centre on 24 November 2009, at the D.S.V. Jr. High School, Bargawan. Dr. S.P. Shukla, Prof. of Commerce, K.K.C. Degree College, Lucknow, presided over the programme. Dr. Akhilesh delivered a talk on the importance of Siddhi Day. Poems written on Sri Aurobindo and the Mother were sung by a group of poets. Akot (Maharashtra) The Akot Branch organized an Essay Writing Competition in three different schools in the month of December 2009. The topic of the essay was 'My Role in Building a New India'. Name of the Schools: Shri Arvind Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Adgaon, on 5 December 2009 - 102 students participated. Lal Bahadur Shastri Dhyanpeeth, Akot, on 9 December 2009 - 104 students participated. Saint Paul's Academy, Akot, on 23 December 2009 - 20 students participated. Hesal, Ranchi (Jharkhand) From 5 October to 13 November 2009 the Hesal Branch of the Society organized a six week Yogasana Basic Course. There was a lecture on 'How to Overcome Mental Tension through Yogasana'. Jaipur (Rajasthan) Outline of the work being done at Jaipur, Rajasthan: Weekly Programmes:           •Next Future: Preparing of text on different subjects on every 2 & 4 Wednesday          •Nature Quest: Study of spiritual significance of flowers on every 2 & 4 Sunday          •Synthesis of Yoga: Interactive study every 1 & 3 Sunday          •Savitri Study every 1 & 3 Wednesday Projects:           •New Creation: Underprivileged children's classes - 4 classes in a week.                                   Rural children classes: every Sunday.          •Essays on the Gita: Interactive session, three sessions in a month.          •New Light: Distribution of booklets in hospitals and other public places once a month on any one Sunday.           Sale of diaries & calendars by Navavihan: at least 1000 diaries containing the words of Sri Aurobindo & the Mother, and 1000 Calendars. Talks by outside speakers:          •Regular workshops are conducted for the last seven years, and every workshop contains five sessions. Gulbarga (Karnataka) On 5 December 2009, after prayers at the Shrine in the Dhyan Mandir, Shri A.S. Patil gave a discourse on Sri Aurobindo's Mahaprayana. On 6 December 2009, Smt. Vijayalaxmi Kulkarni gave a discourse on Sri Aurobindo's philosophy of divine powers. Shri Trembakrao Ghantoji presided.

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Aurovilians have no right of ownership, only the right to occupy a residence they have constructed

What is AV? - AV is an international-universal township in the making, for a population of up to 50,000 people from around the world. It is the world's first and only internationally recognised experiment in human unity, also concerned with - and practically researching into - the future cultural, environmental, social and spiritual needs of mankind. It has been endorsed by UNESCO, and receives the full support and encouragement of the Govt of India, its host nation.

Auroville in a nutshell

Ashram - AV is not to be confused with the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry, which is an entirely separate entity. The relationship between AV and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, however, is close, and there is good regular interaction between the residents of both organisations. See also "What is AV?"

Assets management - all matters relating to AV's land, buildings and other assets are handled by a 'Funds & Assets Management Committee'.

AV Foundation - the Govt-appointed holding body for the land and other assets of AV, which is headed by a Governing Board (GB; with Secretary living and working in AV) and has responsibility for the development of the township in collaboration with AV's residents, as per an Act of Parliament passed in 1988. In addition to the GB there are 2 other bodies which come under the Foundation, the International Advisory Council and Residents Assembly.

AV International - in a number of countries around the world, groups of people interested in AV have come together to form AV International Centres or Liaison Groups. These Centres/Groups actively support the development of the township by way of donations and other help.

Aurovilian status - people only become 'Aurovilian' after going through a Newcomer process, usually lasting 2 years. The process is overseen by the AV Entry Group.
 
Buildings/building construction - nowadays virtually all AV buildings are constructed using fired bricks (bought outside AV) or compressed earth blocks (made in AV). Roofing is usually done with tiles or rows of arched ferrocement channels. There is no building 'Code of Practice', nor is there any "Aurovilian" style of building. As there are a number of good architects living and working in AV, there are many different design approaches. Permission to build has to be obtained via L'Avenir d'Auroville. Building construction is mostly done by AV-run units.
 
Classes - there are many possibilities to participate in classes - on aerobics, dance, hatha yoga, martial arts, healing, languages (Tamil, Sanskrit and English), etc. Details are posted on notice boards at class venues and around AV, or published in the weekly AV News.

Contributions - guests and Newcomers are required to pay a contribution towards the ongoing development and maintenance of the township. Aurovilians also pay a monthly contribution via AV's Central Fund.

Cooking - most people cook by bottled gas, though a few settlements have biogas units installed. A number of people also use small solar cookers. The collective Solar Kitchen has a massive 15-metre diameter solar collector on its roof to generate the steam needed to cook up to 1,000 meals a day.

Cultural Pavilions - AV's International Zone will be the site of Cultural Pavilions representing all the major nations and cultures of the world. India's 'Bharat Nivas' is already in existence, though yet to be finished. The only finished one is the Pavilion of Tibetan culture, inaugurated by Dalai Lama in 2009. Other pavilions coming up or under study are the American, French, German, Italian and Russian.

Decision making - in all AV meetings, whether involving only a small group or the whole Residents Assembly, after everyone has been given a chance to speak, and the subject under discussion has been thoroughly examined from all angles, the normal mode of decision making is by consensus.
 
Dress/clothing - noting that Indian women generally dress very modestly, Western women are specially advised to dress in a similar modest fashion, in order not to send out the wrong message and attract unwanted attention. This also applies at the beach, where one-piece swimming costumes are advised. Cotton fabrics are generally cooler and more comfortable than synthetics. During the rainy season, a good raincoat/cape/poncho, or at least an umbrella, is essential. See also "Footwear...".

Entertainment - there are regular in-house film shows, plus occasional theatre, music, dance and choir performances, exhibitions, slide shows, lectures, video showings, etc.

Environmental protection - AV is strongly oriented towards environmental protection and sustainable development.

European Union involvement - the EU has provided, and continues to provide, financial support for a number of projects in AV; also for projects being coordinated by AV for the surrounding bio-region.

Farms - there are a number of AV farms providing rice, vegetables, fruit and dairy products for the community, though not yet in sufficient quantity to make AV self-sufficient in its food requirements. Most food is still purchased in Pondy market.

Festivals & Celebrations - festivals/celebrations recognised in AV, often involving a holiday, fall into 4 categories: strictly AV-related (e.g. Sri Aurobindo's, Mother's and AV's birthdays); Indian/Tamil cultural (e.g. Diwali, Pongal); Indian Government (National Holidays); and international (Christmas, May Day, etc).

Finance - contributions to the development of AV have come, and continue to come, from a number of sources, including Govt of India, Govt of Pondicherry, Indian and foreign NGOs, AV International Centres abroad, private donors in India and abroad, and the personal funds of Aurovilians.
 
Free for all! - as a general policy, AV tries to provide as much as possible free of charge to its residents. This includes entertainment, health care, sports facilities, education, classes in yoga, dance, etc. Even food is provided free for those who can't afford to contribute. Aurovilians without any remaining financial resources of their own are taken care of fully by the township. A "Free Store" and one other unit, Nandini, provide free secondhand (and new) clothing for anyone in need.

Fundraising - there is no ongoing professional programme of fundraising in support of AV, though various ad hoc efforts have been and continue to be made in support of land purchase and other requirements.

Guesthouses - there are many guest houses in AV. Prices vary according to the facilities and degree of comfort provided. Booking in advance is advised, specially during the peak visitor season of December-March.

Labour relations - AV consciously maintains good working relations with its employees. Most units make an effort to provide a decent working environment, good salaries, bonuses, health insurance, and other benefits such as pension schemes, etc. The occasional dispute or problem arising is handled by an Aurovilian Village Liaison Group.

Land ownership/management - presently AV owns (through the AV Foundation) only approx half the total land needed to make up the township and surrounding Green Belt. A Land & Estate Management group looks after all land-related issues affecting the township.
 
Mother & Sri Aurobindo - the inspiration for Auroville, plus the spiritual guidance given for its realisation, comes from Sri Aurobindo (Indian) and his spiritual co-worker The Mother (French, born as Mira Alfassa in Paris, but who joined Sri Aurobindo in Pondicherry in 1920).

Organic agriculture - AV tries to grow all its food organically. It also encourages the same practices among local farmers, and strongly discourages the use of pesticides, specially on cashew crops.

Organisation - there is no fixed hierarchical structure in the internal organisation of AV. Day to day running of the community is mostly handled by a number of working groups covering areas like afforestation, finance, farms, health, education, entry into AV, and general community coordination, who operate with considerable autonomy. Major community decisions are usually taken at or endorsed by meetings open to all residents, wherein the preferred mode of decision is by consensus. The Residents Assembly (see separate note) selects a body - the Working Committee - from its members to liaise and work with the Governing Board of the AV Foundation, and a second body - the Executive Council - to deal with internal matters.

Ownership - all immovable assets of AV such as land and buildings are owned by the Auroville Foundation. Aurovilians have no right of ownership, only the right to occupy a residence they have constructed in AV - so long as they continue to be 'Aurovilian'. Newcomers are required to wait to the end of their probationary Newcomer period before constructing a residence in AV.

Payment - although the AV Boutique and most guest houses, restaurants and other facilities accept cash, there are an increasing number of places such as the Solar Kitchen, Coffee Shop, Pour Tous stall and Snack Bar where it is only possible to pay via a Pour Tous account. Guests are therefore advised to open an account on arrival, and at the same time get a Guest Card.

Pensions - there are no pension schemes for Aurovilians. The community simply takes responsibility for all its residents, and looks after them as best it can according to their needs and the means available. Pensions for employed workers are handled by individual units and/or a body called SEWA.
 
Police - there are no police in AV. Security on the roads, and as required in other occasional circumstances, is provided by an 'AV Guard', formed of physically capable young Aurovilians and paid villagers. Matters occasionally requiring the involvement of the Indian Police are handled by an Aurovilian appointed to do the necessary liaison work.
 
Residents Assembly - one of the 3 bodies comprising the AV Foundation (see separate note), made up of all residents of AV over the age of 18.

Salaries - Aurovilians are not permitted to earn a salary by Indian Govt regulations. Instead most receive a "maintenance" from the unit or service they work for, sufficient to meet their most basic needs. Many Aurovilians take no remuneration at all from the community, maintaining themselves entirely out of their own funds as a contribution towards the township, though they still contribute monthly to the Central Fund.

Security - although Auroville is generally a peaceful and safe place, but theft is not uncommon specially in settlements close to the nearby villages, and there have been occasional incidents on the roads over the years. Women are specially advised not to walk or cycle alone anywhere after dark.

Self sufficiency - this is AV's aim, but the township is still far from achieving it.
 
Sound pollution - there are occasional parties in AV involving loud music. More frequent sources of amplified sound are temple festivals, weddings and various other social functions in the villages, which usually involve loud music from as early as 4-to-5 am.

Spiritual life - all Aurovilians are expected to live a spiritually based and motivated life, though this does not mean that they put it into practice in any overt and obvious way e.g. collective meditations, etc. It is an inner discipline, pursued by each individual according to his/her personal understanding and commitment.
 
Support for AV - in addition to being endorsed by UNESCO and supported and encouraged by the Govt of India, AV receives support from many other sources in India and abroad, including government and non-government organisations, specialist agencies, Auroville International groups and private individuals.
Sustainable development - this is the overall physical aim of AV, which is reflected in much of the research, forestry and agricultural work done in and around the township.

Swimming/beach - there is an AV-administered beach facility with security guards and snack bar at Repos, open daily 9am-6pm (cool drinks & snacks 9.30am-5pm). This is accessible to guests and visitors on production of a Guest Card. Women are advised to wear modest one-piece swimming costumes, not bikinis.
 
Tamil culture - AV, which is located in the State of Tamil Nadu, is supportive of Tamil culture and is in process of establishing a 'Centre for Tamil Heritage & Culture' in the Indian Cultural Pavilion compound of Bharat Nivas. Tamil is taught in all AV schools, and classes are given to adults interested to learn this ancient language. Most long-time Aurovilians can communicate in Tamil.

Taxes - although AV is required to pay House Tax and other publically imposed taxes, there is no system of internal taxation. Tax exemption for Indian donors is possible for certain types of donation to the AV Foundation.

Town Hall - It is currently constituted of 3 buildings, the main one housing among others, the Financial Service, L'Avenir d'Auroville, the Housing service, the Land Service, Security, and various Groups, like the Working Group, AV Council, AFMC, etc, plus the Auroville Radio. A second building, named Multimedia centre, houses the Media offices (Outreach, News & Notes, Web office, AV traductions, plus the Residents Service, the Enthry Service, Video and Music libraries, and the 150-seats "Paradiso" movie theatre. The third building houses the offices of the Secretary and the Foundation. A French-style cafeteria, "Le Norman" is also hosted among the buildings. 
 
Trusts - there are some 16 business trusts operating under the AV Foundation.

Yoga - all Aurovilians are expected to be interested in the Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo, and most are attempting to put it into practice according to their individual level of development. From time to time classes are given on the subject. There are also ongoing scheduled classes in Hatha Yoga.