From the road it seems that the sea has gone further down. No one can easily approach the sea

Ode to the Sea and Beach of Pondicherry By Aju Mukhopadhyay

How young were you younger when we were
Attracted to your shore and the wavy water!
Enough had you given us to love you daily
To swim and bathe in you merrily;
Brajkishore dived and crawled deep into your body
School children, local boys swam regularly
Flapping their wings Anita, Swapna and Sushan did share
Dolphin’s snouting and seraphin’s song wafting in the air.
On your beach calm and quiet we walked, O Sea!
Collecting varied shells became unforgettable memory
Witness to umpteen maritime stories
The golden beach told us the tale of fisheries.
There was a pier on the bay ancient
Half a mile long with wide space at the end
Sitting on the benches on sides or surrounding the space
Gave them a sense of living in the sea, a wonderful solace;
Peeping out of its watery grave it reminds us
About the great who had been over it, history to focus;
Sri Aurobindo with disciples enjoyed the moonlit sea and beach
Shyam Sundar reminisced that the Mother with Pranab graced each.
Dredging and shifting and littoral drifting
Gradually narrowed the beach, a precious thing
Stormy and raging sea was the result of terrible Tsunami
Destroying many coastal towns it brought in life utter misery.
After the rise of the sea it receded in depth
Baring the animals which soon returned to health.
Saved by Nature’s tricks, legendary French-Wall and Her grace
Pondicherry finally lost the shore, its sandy gold face;
No scope remained for collecting the shells
No more walking or building the sandy castles.
To save the town, beautify it out of fear and greed
To receive the tourist they became the real spendthrift
They built a parallel road alongside the old promenade
A makeshift toy-beach, grandiloquent façade
With broken, pulverized hills lifted and carried
By modern Hanuman, the techno-giant;
Roads are high up, sea has gone deep down
So that the Tsunami can no more touch the town.
Sea is groaning under camouflaged sandy road
‘Do not swim’- warns the board at the first road
‘Unfathomable Sea!’ and ‘Treacherous in calm’
The ‘Ocean of Time’- Shelly found as it had become.
O Pondy Sea, you too have become the killer of men
Who might have been deceived by the Siren.
Pondy is attractive mainly for you, the Sea!
And for you the Beach! - washed by the waves constantly
Few are the things and sites attractive which are man-made
Alas! The slim and golden beach is at last dead.
The only hope remains that the Nature is protean
And the Time to reckon is eternal.
* * * * * *

From In Celebration of Nature by Aju Mukhopadhyay (c), 2007 Email: ajum24@yaho.co.in

+++

The Coastline Aju Mukhopadhyay

Bay of Bengal, the sea, creating a 22 km coastal border has perennial existence on the eastern fringe of Pondicherry. Sea brought the Romans, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, French and the British. Sea invites the tourists and other visitors. Sea is the vast nature, the source of cultural intercourse and commerce.

Union Territory of Pondicherry is not a natural, contiguous territory. It is a historic reality due to French rule. Even far-flung Chandannagar could remain a part of it, had it not merged with West Bengal.

An unusual thickness of the alluvium near Pondicherry indicates, it is said, that it was once an extensive lagoon, silted and uplifted. Beds of peat, at various places below the surface, prove that there has been subsidence. The Pondicherry area is the northern limit of the sediments laid down during the great Cenomanian marine transgression along the east coast of South India as recorded The Gazetteer of India for the Union Territory, referring to an article published in the Geological Society of India in 1965. Several changes took place in the past including changes in the course of the rivers and in the sea shoreline, which has become straight. The coast was flat and sandy.

The old jetty on the sea near the present secretariat, of which the remnants may still be seen peeping through the water like dying masts of a sinking ship, was destroyed by cyclone. This was the port where Sri Aurobindo disembarked from the ship Dupleix on 4 April 1910. After Pondicherry’s merger with India in 1954, a new pier was constructed, which may still be seen standing in-tact. But its structural deterioration was noticed in the course of time. Hence a new sheltered port was taken up for construction on the Ariyankuppam river mouth, which was completed in 1997. It is known as Ariyankuppam Port with more facilities than before, with a new fishing harbour.

But Ariyankuppam remained silted at the mouth. It did not flow into the sea. So an approach channel had to be dug to facilitate movement of burgers and other vessels. It may be partly for this and partly for the whim of the sea that erosion took place for some years denuding the seashore throughout the entire length of the beach beyond the eastern wall of the town. We do not find any perceptible beach even from Light House to the New Port where a beach recreational project like the Maldives Beach was proposed. There is no trace of any project fructifying here like many other projects which do not see the light of the day.

Though not very wide, people enjoyed the beach, bathing in the morning, sitting or walking in the evening, till some15/20 years before. The vastness of the calm sea denoting infinity, glued many on lookers and regular visitors to their seats, dipping them into their philosophic depth. Not that it is no more possible at all; the revival of the beach by nature, but the beach-less-ness, undue crowd and all sorts of hullabaloo on the promenade disturb the calmness of nature, sores the heart of a nature lover. The polluting distillery at the northern end was removed by court order. If it is true that a new entertainment package in the shape of hotel-wine-dance is going to take its place, then not only the surrounding of a natural sea coast but the deeper water below it will be heinously polluted.

A little more commercialism may spoil the game. Seashore may seem to be theatrical hall or market place for which enough spaces are available in other civilized parts of the world. The promenade has been free of vehicular traffic for all the evenings for people to enjoy the seashore. It is good up to that but with many eating options through hawker’s stalls and restaurants lined on both sides of the road and with entertainers on the stage, sweepers with broomsticks around, it is disturbing for those few who know how to drink nature by merging into it, who come simply for walk or to do other things for health, for regaining vigour. It is the duty of the nature lovers to stop the onslaught on nature.

Another disturbing phenomenon is the observation by the Coastal Ocean Monitoring And Prediction System (COMAPS) of the Ministry of Earth Science that the discharge of huge quantities of untreated sewage into the sea in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry has been regularly polluting it. Reduced level of dissolved oxygen, different bacteria, nitrate, nitrite and phosphate are damaging the marine life, fishes in particular.

Nature has its own symphony, rhythm and cycle. For about eight months, from March to September, littoral drifts carry sands toward the north, as the deeper waves and for about four months the process is partly reversed, partly stalled due to the influence of monsoon. Dredging of sands from the mouth of Ariyankuppam river and sending them through pipelines by the port authority continue for their own purpose, as in many other ports. It may give some health to the beach but nothing is assured. It is said that due to dredging for the port activity some years ago the beach to the north of the port area was lost as the sea erosion became prominent. Coastal erosion due to wind and littoral drifting is a normal affair which regularly happens here as well as at Karaikal. And there are other reasons; global warming has induced the rising of the sea. If it comes closer the erosion of the town would set in.

It may be said that the town was completely saved, barring a little bruise towards the northern end of it, during the last devastating Tsunami in 2004. One of the reasons was the existence of the legendary French brick wall bordering the eastern end of the town and the other one was the divine grace. But there were damages to agricultural land and life and property to some extent towards further north. To save the town and to make up for the lost beech, authorities have constructed giant boulder walls with sand spread over them. A parallel road to the existing promenade has come up for people to walk. But it cannot be substitute for any natural beach. From the road it seems that the sea has gone further down. No one can easily approach the sea. Swimming has been prohibited as some have been drowned. We do not know what will be the reaction of nature in due course for this force-pushing the sea which has a tendency to rise. It may with double vigour enter into other unprotected part of the coastal area.

Restricting any permanent construction within 500 metres of the high-tide line, Coastal Zone Regulation notification was issued in 1991 under the Environment Protection Act of 1986 by the Ministry of Environment and Forest. But due to pressure from various vested interest groups, particularly industries, the rule was amended many times, finally to be renamed by the M.S. Swaminathan Committee in February 2005, as Coastal Management Zone. The committee expanded the coastal zone up to 12 nautical miles into the sea, ignoring the rights of the fishing and other coastal communities and the usual norms of conservation of nature. Sea is the greatest of heritage in coastal areas, not so much the two hundred or less years’ old houses. The onslaught of a proposed newer port with direct berthing facility may create more devastating sea erosion to the northern areas of the port, flashing the fishermen and their dwellings, inundating portions of the town. Fisherman communities, their state organization and other conscientious people have been strongly protesting against such a move.

To conclude, we must add that whatever has happened or happens, if one goes to the end of the last pier it will seem as if the open sea is level with him. The vastness is indeed enjoyable. Some sand also is visible in nearby areas. And the opposite side with back water, curved landscape, island and boats has its own beauty. It may be said that it is the best sea front of Pondicherry. From Pondicherry Environment by (c)Aju Mukhopadhyay, 2007

The actuality of Human Unity seems a chimera. The difficulties abound

Contact Home 1968 - The global revolt Brief chronicle Events Asia/Australia > India
Forty Years Ago - A township that began with a dream

Sri Aurobindo* had the dream of an inevitable Human Unity and the Mother* had shared his dream of an ideal city.

“There should be somewhere upon earth a place that no nation could claim as its sole property, a place where all human beings of goodwill, sincere in their aspiration, could live freely as citizens of the world, obeying one single authority, that of the supreme Truth; a place of peace, concord, harmony, where all the fighting instincts of man would be used exclusively to conquer the causes of his suffering and misery, to surmount his weakness and ignorance, to triumph over his limitations and incapacities; a place where the needs of the spirit and the care for progress would get precedence over the satisfaction of desires and passions, the seeking for pleasures and material enjoyments....”

The day was February 28, 1968.At 10.30 in the morning on a barren plateau, close to a lone banyan tree, the youth of the world were invited to come and share in this dream and build a city that would become the cradle of a new Humanity. The Mother’s organ music wafted across the devotees from the Ashram and peoples from around the globe who came to witness the start of a new age.

The Charter of Auroville was read by the Mother in French. Thereafter, the ceremony of laying the symbolic earth in the lotus urn was commenced. The first ones to march forward were Kiran-di and Vijay bhai (Poddar). Kiran-di held the Mother’s flag and Vijay bhai carried the symbolic earth from the Ashram. Vijay bhai deposited the symbolic earth and a scroll being the Charter of Auroville into the Urn.

One by one, youth from the various states of India and the countries of the world marched two by two bearing the flag (with name placard) of the state or the country represented, and the symbolic earth. Many countries and states had sent their representatives for the ceremony. Where such representatives were not sent, youth from the Ashram substituted for the country or the state. After the reading of the Charter in French, the charter was read in other languages, Tamil, Sanskrit, English, Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish.

As the Charter was read in Tamil, Sanskrit and English in the background, symbolic earth was deposited in the Urn by youth representing each state of India in alphabetical order. Thereafter, during the reading of the Charter in Arabic, Chinese etc. (above listed languages) youth representing the various countries of the world (in alphabetical order) deposited symbolic earth in the Urn.

40 years later The city of Auroville is today at the threshold of a new age. Forty years in the making, the symbolic spiritual centre, the Matri Mandir, is now complete. The forests have been planted, water run-off bunded, small communities have taken deeper root, children have been going to school and now their children shout and play in the forests and grounds of Auroville. The first Aurovilians from around the villages have taken on a new role in the building of Auroville. Human challenges are now real and intense.

The actuality of Human Unity seems a chimera. The difficulties abound. Many of the pioneers who came harkening to the first call left due to challenging governance issues. There are new forces, new faces, new energies and new impetus. Peoples are coming, many are returning. (Courtesy: Sri Aurobindo’s Action) by Chandresh Pately

Fikrun wa Fann The cultural magazine aims to contribute to a dialogue between Western and Islamic-influenced cultures. Goethe-Institut India Top Home 1968 - The global revolt Brief chronicle Events Contact © 2008 Goethe-Institut

This is the first of the 100 Questions we will raise for generating awareness about the happenings in Auroville

AUROVILLE’s MATRIMANDIR: AN EYE OPENER
Published on June 12th, 2008 In Uncategorized, Politics Views 9 nandhivarman OPEN LETTER TO HUMAN RESOURCES MINISTER MR. ARJUN SINGH and AUROVILLE FOUNDATION CHAIRMAN DR. KARAN SINGH ON MATRIMANDIR SCAM

The Indian citizen is the Supreme authority in Indian democracy. To empower Indian citizens with powers to act as checks and balances against misuse of power, the greatest achievement, is armoring the Indian citizen with a Right to Information Act. Auroville Foundation is answerable to Indian Parliament; thereby it implies it is bound to answer any Indian citizen. Under Right to Information Act, as per the website of Auroville Foundation, in past three years only one had asked information, but they say that application is disposed of instead of being transparent whether answer is provided or not. All other years only “Nil” is shown against all columns. Hence I had sought information, and awaiting answers, since the stipulated time to reply has not come to an end.

Matrimandir, the temple which is being built from 1971 to 2008, yet to get completed, is one of the main areas, where Indian Human Resources Development Minister Mr. Arjun Singh must focus his attention. We in South India know that one GoldenTemple had come up in Vellore and another in Andhra Pradesh borders, built by Indian God-men. We wonder why the foreign brains which live under the illusion they are superior on Earth had not completed the Matrimandir for nearly 37 years. We suspect corruption. To substantiate our suspicion, we are quoting in verbatim the concerned pages regarding Matrimandir prepared by Institute of Public Auditors of India, as internal audit.

We urge that in Foundation’s website the Reports of Comptroller and Auditor General of India, since Auroville Foundation Act came into existence, should be uploaded, after all this Institution is not for foreigners and by the foreigners. The Chairman must answer, or the Secretary of the Foundation must answer to Indian public, and they cannot shirk responsibility and pass the buck to some foreigner, who is not answerable to Indian Parliament. This is the first of the 100 Questions we will raise for generating awareness about the happenings in Auroville and to ensure Government of India intervenes to effect amendment to Act and initiate corrective measures.
N. Nandhivarman
General Secretary Dravida Peravai
39 Montorsier Street, Puducherry 605001.

3.17 MATRIMANDIR
The Matrimandir, a huge sphere which contains a white chamber in which sun light pours down upon a glass globe, is both the geographical and spiritual centre of Auroville. The Matrimandir is a place of silence and concentration. The Mother approved the model of Matrimandir and the foundation stone there for was laid on the 21st February 1971. The major areas of work on the structure are under completion and attention is being given to the development of surrounding garden and a lake. Completion of main structure alone (sans lake and garden) is scheduled for completion in February 2007. The Matrimandir together with its gardens extends over an area of 28 ha. Mr. Roger Anger a close disciple of Mother has been named by her as Chief Architect of Auroville Town Ship and Matrimandir. It was stated The Mother has explained her vision of Matrimandir to Mr. Roger Anger and Matrimandir is being executed as per her vision.

A perusal of records made available revealed the following:
a) No Master plan based on Mother’s vision detailing implementation and monitoring mechanism, mobilization of resources, time schedule for completion etc. has been prepared for systematic and speedy execution of the project.
b) Before a project is taken up for execution, a project report is to be prepared containing inter alia, i) detailed estimate indicating the nature and volume of work to be done. This should be supported by designs, plans and other related documents. ii) The approximate cost of execution based on the above estimates indicating the cost of the materials to be purchased, labour charges to be incurred and administrative / other incidental expenses. The rates adopted would be supported by schedule of rates prevailing in the locality; and iii) The time schedule for the completion of each activity and the project as a whole.

Once this is prepared, this should be scrutinized by a competent technical authority who would examine its technical viability and its cost effectiveness. After the technical sanction, financial sanction of the nominated authority is to be obtained before the work is taken up.
c) It is observed that no such procedural formalities indicated in (b) above were adhered in the case of Matirmandir.
It is observed that the Matirmandir project cost would work out to several crores of rupees. A sum of Rs. 26.60 crores has been spent on the project to end of March 2005.
d) In spite of the huge volume of work and cost involved no detailed procedure has been laid down for preparation of estimates, getting technical and financial sanctions, fixing norms for calling for tenders/quotations and placing of purchase orders for procurement of materials, etc. The system of maintaining Measurement Books to record, measure and check measure the work done, which is a requisite in the execution of civil works is also not in vogue.

On 26th August 2003 the Matrimandir core group appointed a Consultant Engineer for Matrimandir Project and decided that henceforth all work proposals should be presented to the core group after they are approved by the Consultant Engineer. The Consultant Engineer desired that all work proposals sent to him for approval should be accompanied by:i) sketches/drawings approved by Shri Roger Anger, Chief Architect or site architects.ii) detailed estimated quantities of various items of workiii) detailed financial estimates supported by enquiries, quotations etc.The Consultant Engineer also named three site engineers for the project.
In July 2004 a cost estimate for completing the remaining works of Matrimandir building structure at cost of Rs.506 lakhs was prepared. It could not be ensured whether the approval of Consultant Engineer was obtained after following the above procedure laid down by him as the relevant records were not made available for verification.
It is observed that there was no provision in the estimate to incur expenditure on “Water proofing of hemisphere”. However, an expenditure of Rs.32.03 lakhs has been incurred to the end of October, 2005 on this item of work. Further, there was an excess expenditure over the provisions made in the estimate to an extent of Rs.62.30 lakhs to the end of October 2005 in respect of other items.
It is observed that monetary resources were not a constraint in the execution of the project as seen below:-
Year Fixed Donations received Expenditure Deposits (Foreign " Indian)
2000-01 75.16 lakhs 3.31 crores 2.99 crores2001-02 88.17 “ 1.84 “ 1.71 “2002-03 89.02 “ 1.36 “ 1.20 “2003-04 95.39 “ 1.99 “ 1.33 “2004-05 68.57 “ 2.41 “ 3.23 “
The work started in February 1971 involving an investment of Rs.26.60 Crores up to the end of March 2005 still remains incomplete and the Mother’s wish that “the Matrimandir will be the soul of Auroville” is yet to fructify even after 34 years.

Other observations: a) Refund of customs duty not obtained - loss of Rs.27.68 lakhs.
Matrimandir is eligible to import goods without the payment of customs duty on the production of essentiality certificate. It is observed that the goods were cleared by paying customs duty due to delay in the receipt of essentiality certificates from DSIR of Science and Technology Ministry, as non-clearance of goods would result in payment of demurrage charges. Under Section 27 of Customs Act, one year time is allowed in such cases for filing applications for the refund of customs duty already paid. In the case of materials listed out in annexure, it is observed that the Matrimandir lost a sum of Rs.27.68 lakhs on account of (i) belated receipt of essentiality certificates and belated filing of return for refund Rs. 1,94,124(ii) essentiality certificate recd. in time but filed belatedly Rs. 8,50,954(iii) essentiality certificate applied for in 1999-2000but not received so far Rs. 17,22,459 Total Rs. 27,67,537
There is no mechanism for effective follow up of receipt of essentiality certificates and refund claims.
b) Non-Maintenance of FC 6 Register. As per FERA, organizations receiving foreign donations in kind should maintain a separate stock register of such donations in FC 6 format. It is however, observed that Matrimandir receiving foreign contributions in kind directly is not maintaining FC 6 register. Further there is no system of intimating the receipt of foreign contributions in kind to Auroville Fund (Foreign Contribution Acccount) which complies FC 3 return of foreign contributions received in Auroville for submission to Government of India. As a result foreign contributions of Rs.12.09 lakhs received in kind during 2003-04 to 2005-06 did not figure in the FC 3 returns of respective years.
c) Non-releasing of funds.Foreign and Indian contributions received for Matrimandir during 2004-05 were not released to Matrimandir in full. Received Released Rs. Rs.
Foreign contributions 98,62,282 65,91,770Indian contributions 96,74,503 49,73,661 *
*including Rs.60,660 relating to 2003-04 The reasons for short release of funds are not on record. Matrimandir is also not being informed about the total contributions received so that is could plan the execution of works in time.
d) Gliding Equipment returned not reflected in the accounts.On the recommendation of FAMC a gliding equipment with accessories worth of Rs.8,00,806 received was returned in 2003-04 to the donor as they are not required at Matrimandir. However, this Transaction was not reflected in the accounts for the year 2003-04.
e) Materials lying outside Auroville not reflected in the accounts.A perusal of the Balance Sheet as at 31.03.2005 revealed that an amount of Rs.3,50,000 advanced to M/s Hindustan Safety Glass Ltd. paid on 24.04.1998 was shown as outstanding advance and the value of materials amounting to Rs.9,30,909 unloaded on 20.09.1997 at the premises of the company has not been disclosed in the accounts.
f) Depreciation of assetsMatrimandir has been under construction from 1971 and the work is still in progress as it involved different kinds of works viz. Inner Chamber, Inner skin, construction of petals, completion peace trees, etc. The cumulative cost of this project from 1971 amounted to Rs.26.60 crores as on 31.03.2005 and no depreciation has been provided on this asset. Though the project has not been completed as a whole and in principle no depreciation is chargeable, the assets created during the last 34 years would be subject to wear and tear due to efflux of time. Hence, non-provision of depreciation is not in accordance with the generally accounting principles.
g) Banking transations
i) As per Auroville Foundation Rules, 1997 all monies are to be kept in a bank account with State Bank ofIndia. It is however, observed that Matrimandir is having bank account with Karur Vysya Bank, Vysya Bank, and State Bank of India which is against the Rules of the Foundation.
ii) It is observed that Matrimandir requested the Foundation Office on 11.08.2004, to release a sum of Rs.25,00,000/-. As there was no sufficient funds in the account of Foundation, over draft facility was availed and Rs.25 lakhs was released to Matrimandir. For availing the overdraft the Foundation incurred an interest of Rs.47,470. It is however, seen that on 14.08.2004 Matrimandir deposited this sum of Rs.25 lakhs in one of its bank account for 3 months. Obtaining an over draft and depositing the same in term deposit account is not justified.
iii) It is also observed that moneys were transferred from one account to another in the last week of a month vide instances given below:-
Date of Transfer Amount Transferred Balance available From Karur Vysa Bank Date with S.B.I. To S.B.I (Rs.)
27.05.2004 1,50,000 31.05.2004 2,25,63430.07.2004 1,50,000 31.07.2004 1,75,70027.08.2004 2,50,000 31.08.2004 2,72,655
Note: There were no transactions in between these dates.
As transfer of funds after 10th of every month results in foregoing interest such transfers are to be avoided except in case of actual need.
For Institute of Public Auditors ofIndia Dated: March 22, 2006 (John Varghese) Secretary, Chennai Chapter

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 12th, 2008 at 6:20 am and is filed under Uncategorized, Politics. nandhivarman.indiainteracts.com

A camp at Van Niwas, the Himalayan centre of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Nainital

In the hills
LAKSHMI BHAVANI The Hindu Young World Tuesday, Jun 10, 2008
A mom on a school trip? Check out her experience. Picture perfect: Lake Nainital

It was interesting to know that the regular school trip for our child this year was a camp to be conducted at Van Niwas, the Himalayan centre of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Nainital.
I pictured falls from boulders, a slip down the rock with a fractured arm or two as a result. If not fractures, it would certainly be scraped knees, bleeding elbows and blistered feet and so on. This was one picture of anxiety which had given me the o dd idea to accompany my son to the camp in the first place. In addition to this, the memories of the study camp attended a few years ago at the ashram beckoned me to be there once again. Going up into the Kumaon Hills into the green wilderness, for a week from the pressures of city life, was also a pulling force. Hence when the call to the Ashram enquiring for the possibility of stay was graciously accepted, my joy knew no bounds.
Then the next manoeuvre was talk to my son about the idea of his mom being in the school trip.
May be he has the concern of eternal motherly instructions in regard to food and other such similar daily interventions as looked upon by a 12 year old. I made a deal that I would not bother him with motherly love. Actually there was no need for that, the teachers knew how to handle the children with flair. The children too are very good at doing things independently.

Thus I went with the children to Nainital. The sprawling ashram is situated at about 1000 metres above away from the busy Mall road and the Naini Lake. The steep slope to the Ashram which is 600 metres away from the main road looked daunting, yet the children sprinted all the way up. The wilderness around the ashram had an air of tranquillity. Rocking activity
Though I went just to be there to feel the quietude of the hills, I got involved in participating in the five-day rock climbing course and trekking along with the children. The camp had various activities in a well organized manner. The morning bell rang at 5.30 a.m and the campers are ready for the Keep–fit exercises by 6.30 a.m. The exercises in the open air set the tone for the active rock climbing in the forenoon and lead to the long trek to scenic view points in the afternoon.
After breakfast the children relaxed and played after which Shramdaan - where children cleaned and helped in the kitchen – took place. Rock climbing and a walk to the nearby jungle followed.
In the evening they had meditation class which was followed by dinner. They enjoyed the organised, disciplined way of life.
I found the rock climbing course an exhilarating experience, though the initial day was tiresome. The second day was a little frightful but I slowly became confident. Each day, I started with a little trepidation accompanied with hesitation whether I would be able to climb the rocks or not.
Of course some of the children did the climbing swiftly, and to be able to do the activities along with them gave a boost to the confidence. The entire five- day course taught me perseverance and encouraged me to stretch my limits.

Many times when a task looked difficult, I gave up as quitting was easier. Now I have learnt an invaluable lesson - once you are half way up the rock, there is no point turning back. It is difficult to go down too, so why not go up and finish the task? It’s the fear that makes one stop.
Rappelling was an amazing experience even though it looked frightening. But when one understands the technique, conquers the initial fear and takes the first step with trust, then the entire climb down is fun.
The long treks, which started from 4 km and stretched to 11 km, were exhilarating. There were the trips to the town too where knickknacks were bought at the Tibetan market.
All of us had a wholesome experience which indeed enriched our lives.

The Pondicherry which we visited this time is nothing like the Pondicherry we had lived in only a couple of years ago

sunayana.com Sunayana Panda’s blog Back from Pondicherry

We are just back from India and are still a bit jet-lagged, sleeping through the day and up all night. Although we are trying to get back to our normal London rhythm the impressions of Pondicherry are still very fresh in our minds, because the Pondicherry which we visited this time is nothing like the Pondicherry we had lived in only a couple of years ago. The pace of change is clearly visible and for once there are so many positive changes that we are still talking about them.

For a start, the beach road is unrecognisable. There is now a parallel road built over the rocks and there are more people walking on it than on the road itself. New Hotels, restaurants and cafes have come up at the far end, near the Park Guest House and there is even a stretch where palm trees have been planted on either side of the pavement. There are toilets at various places and garbage bins where people are likely to buy street food. “Le Cafe” near the Gandhi statue is all spruced up, attracting the wealthier tourists who can sip a coffee or a masala tea on the extended sit-out as they watch the locals strolling around with their families. Gone are the crumbling walls and moss-covered rocks on which the waves broke, sending up the salt spray as you had your tasteless coffee in a chipped cup.

Passing by the park at night we had to stop, so much we were struck by its beauty. The French-styled grilles now make it possible to lock up the gates at night. No, this was not that dark and shabby park which we used to see on our way back from our evening walk by the beach. This was a clean, neat, green cluster of gardens, lit up by a row of elegant lamps and an island of silence in the night.

The next remarkable feature of Pondy is the transformed Nehru Street. The pavements, at last, have been levelled up very neat paving tiles. The metal barriers have been taken out and there are far fewer hawkers sitting outside the shops, clogging up the pedestrian’s space. The new air-conditioned supermarkets are a pleasure to be in. On several occasions when we went to stock up on fruits and vegetables, as I went to the exit with my basket of melons and pomegranates I thought it was no different from shopping at Kingsbury in London.

And the railway station, that stinking platform and that dust-covered hall where you stood for hours to book a ticket? Well, all that’s gone. Now you have a shiny new structure with a cash machine outside, a clean and wide platform with electronic display boards showing you exactly where the coaches will be placed when you catch your direct superfast express to Bhubaneshwar.

Back in London, as we try to keep our eyes open after five pm, we hope that one day our we will be able to see our ultimate dream fulfilled when we will be able to walk on wide and even pavements in Pondicherry. Surely one day even that will happen when we will able to leave the scooter at home and walk down to the beach road, unhampered and unafraid of the traffic. This entry was posted on Thursday, February 7th, 2008 at 8:36 am and is filed under India.

Abiding by one persons vision (The Mothers) is a form of religion

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Auroville Dreams From The Seventies

My thoughts on AurovilleI had very mixed views of Auroville, for the vision of the town and the way that it is being developed (the infrastructure and the community ethos) is a typical view of how someone in the 1970’s saw the future. As I wondered around the complex I felt as though I was in a 1970’s sci-fiction film. For those that have seen 1984 version of Frank Herbert’s Dune directed by David Lynch, I kept expecting to see Aurovillians walking around with bright blues eyes, rebels against modern living, preserving the ways (spice) of the 1970’s.

Yes Aurovillians have done some great work particularly in advancing architectural planning, environmental technologies and educational thinking and many students flock to Auroville to carry out research and learn from them, but there is still alot that unnerves me about the way Auroville operates and I am not sure that they will ever achieve their vision.

The biggest threat to the contiued growth of the town comes from their sturggle for funding and thier inability to purchase the surrounding land needed to expand their community. The ever expanding nearby town of Pondicherry is pushing up land prices in and around Auroville. Since Auroville relys heavily on grants and donations they always seem to be one step behind, struggling to match the affluent businessmen buying up the land. Without land it will be impossible for them to reach the 50,000 settlers that they are striving for.

Alongside this there seems to be a disaparity between many Aurovillians in terms of opportunities and wealth. The Mother states that individuals will not be limited by their financial and social positions yet many Aurovillians feel trapped in the society unable to move out. This is partly due to the little captial that they have, as previously mentioned they do not own their houses and much of the pay that they get given can only be spent in Auroville, making it almost impossible for people to save money. It is easier for some international Aurovillains who have families that can support them and who often have houses in their native countries to fall back on.

Though Auroville claims that it is not religious for me following this spiritual way of living, strictly abiding by one persons vision (The Mothers) is a form of religion, this collective belief is no different from christanity, Hinduism, Islam, Buddahism etc.

Many of the projects run by Auroville are not practising what they preach. They carry out a lot of community work in the local villages particulary around education, health, womens empowerment, the enivonment etc. Since many of the projects are grant funded and short term, they seem to be forever chasing funding (this is not uncommon in the UK as well) and often come up with projects just to get funds. The problem with this is that they don’t always involve the communities when devising these projects and many of the communities in and around Auroville are being done “to” not done “with”.

As well as this many Aurovillian projects lack the appropriate management skills to run them and manage staff and there is a lot of waste and inefficiency (again not uncommon in the Uk). If they are running a project about women’s empowerment in a local village you will often find that women employed in the project are not empowered and many do not have the same opportunities as their male counterparts.

The way that Aurovillains live their lives alongside the local commnunities and the tourists that they attract is often questionable. I think that there is a love hate relationship between these groups. Though Auroville has increased employment for the local communities and investment in the local economies many local villagers do not like having Aurovillains around. Not least because many Aurovillians do not keep to local customs particulary clothing, they still don’t pay the locals good salaries, it is difficult for locals to access their services etc. Tourists are not made to feel hugely welcome yet they generate much needed income for Auroville.

In short there is always more than one side of every story and many people vehemently believe in the good work that Auroville are doing. I did experience this with a re-forestation project who are working across the Tamil Nadu state reintroducing native trees and plants, restoring mangroves and bringing back Indian Bioculture, including the beautiful greenbelt around Auroville.

I can not help thinking though that this is just another ex-pat community, who when it gets hot head home for the cooler climates living 6months in Auroville and 6months somewhere else. The challenge that Auroville faces is how they maintain their core values and vision as they aim to expand and how they work with modern society and not against it. I heard someone describe Auroville as a Hippie Zoo this for sums it up for me, a place that looks out to the world, and world who stares with interest at this little part of the 1970’s.

Kathleen Wall and Olga Louchakova use the theory of emergent evolution of Sri Aurobindo

ITP Faculty Members Co-author Article on 9/11 Attack and Cultural Consciousness

ITP Core Faculty members Kathleen Wall and Olga Louchakova co-authored an article devoted to the 9/11 terrorist attack, cultural consciousness, and the evolution of consciousness. In this paper, published in the most recent issue of the Humanistic Psychologist journal (the journal of the Humanistic Psychology Division [Division 32] of the APA), the authors--through analyses of responses to the Sept. 11th attacks--interpret trauma as a catalyst of transformation of cultural consciousness and the American self, and articulate the foundations for a transpersonal theory of cultural evolution.

Accounts feature positive values, humanistic and spiritual aspirations, direct intuition of the evolution of consciousness, and instances of new type of integral consciousness identified with both oneness and multiplicity. The authors use the theory of emergent evolution of Sri Aurobindo and Jean Gebser, and the spiritual psychology of M. Ibn Arabi, as opposed to positivist and critical theory evolutionary perspectives. Imaginative responses to complexity and trauma, refocusing attention on spiritual values, and transpersonal dialog are indicated as components of the new cultural strategies.

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Curriculum vitæ kwall@itp.edu Hours: Tue 3-5:00 and by appointment
Kathleen Wall
Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, University of Miami, 1977
M.A., Counseling and School Psychology, Central Washington University, 1968
B.A./B.Ed., Psychology, Western Washington University, 1962

Kathleen is an Associate Professor at the Institute. She is a licensed psychologist and a certified Mental Health Administrator. She was the founding Executive Director of the Mental Health Resource Center, Jacksonville, Florida, and she was the Director of Counseling Services at San Jose State University.

A student of Integral Yoga (Sri Aurobindo and the Mother), her expertise is in spiritual integration in psychotherapy. She is Co-founder, with Carl Peters M.D., M.A.(Art), of the Group for Integral Consciousness which provides trainings and consultations on Psychospiritual Integration and Transformation. Her research interests are in spirituality and health, spirituality and psychotherapy, and spirituality and peace in organizations and the world. She is a member of the board of directors of the American Psychological Association Division32 (Humanistic Psychology). Her writings include Lights of Passage: Rites and Rituals for the Problems and Pleasures of Modern Life and Rites of Passage: Celebrating Life's Changes (recently translated into French), and “Evolution of consciousness in response to terrorist attacks: Towards a transpersonal theory of cultural transformation,” in The Humanistic Psychologist.

Institute of Transpersonal Psychology • 1069 East Meadow Circle Palo Alto, CA 94303
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Auroville is essentially a practising community rather than a tourist destination

Home > Journals & Media > Journals > Auroville Today > Current issue > A guest’s perspective Current issue Archive copies Auroville Experience April 2008 A guest’s perspective
- from Elle Rasink (who has been here 3 months)

“Auroville belongs to nobody in particular. Auroville belongs to humanity as a whole. But to live in Auroville, one must be the willing servitor of the Divine Consciousness.” Auroville's Charter.

Aurovilians are the natural guardians of Auroville, but this does not give them sole proprietary rights. If Auroville is serious about belonging to humanity as a whole, then it should aim to be inclusive rather than exclusive. What does this mean in practice? It surely includes helping guests to experience the underlying concepts as they operate on a day-to-day basis. But then, how can Aurovilians reconcile the desire to share the experience of Auroville with the desire to simply get on with life without being constantly disrupted by those following a different lifestyle?
One answer is to try to more closely match the type of guest who comes to Auroville with the type of guest that Auroville wants. But this can't be imposed by Auroville.
Potential guests may not know the right questions to ask or the right people to approach in relation to them. They will also have different reasons for coming and a range of interests they would like to explore. Interactive on-line and on-site information services could be more fully utilised. These don't require a huge expense or high ongoing personal involvement by overstretched Aurovilians.
It needs to be immediately obvious to potential guests that Auroville is essentially a practising community rather than a tourist destination, that they are invited to experience its life but not to disrupt it. It should be clear that if they want to visit Auroville it is they who will have to fit into the community rather than the other way around, while still being made welcome and honoured as guests who bring to, as well as take from Auroville.

Guests almost invariably have difficulty in finding their way around. Appropriate information spots would be extremely useful for getting one's bearings, identifying communities, and finding buildings in which events or courses are offered. There could be maps showing all or part of Auroville, with a ‘You are here' indicator.
Events and courses are a different issue. Increasing numbers of people are perceived as coming to Auroville simply for a cheap holiday and to attend workshops and seminars. They may have little interest in the underlying beliefs, aims, aspirations and issues that are an integral part of Auroville. Are these people the problem? Are the courses the problem? Once guests arrive with expectations that differ from those of the residents one or both groups are headed for disappointment.
Auroville needs to clearly differentiate itself, and what it offers guests, from the usual sort of activity-based holiday. This probably means that the laissez-faire model, imposing no effective control over what courses are offered and by whom, will no longer suffice. Auroville needs to ensure that the myriads of workshops and courses, which are part of the attraction to guests, are in line with its overarching principles, and function as a practical demonstration of its philosophy. This won't be easy. Yet the tensions that grow with each year of increased visitor numbers, increased levels of activities and lack of consensus on what is and is not appropriate should not be left to fester.
If all courses are required to reflect Auroville in some way, then guests who attend them will receive, besides the tangible course content, the intangible dimension that demonstrates the Auroville philosophy and thought, and the Aurovilian approach to life. How that is done, and what that might be, must be for the presenters and the community to decide. It may involve a restriction on non-Aurovilians giving courses, it may impose some requirements on course content, it could affect the use of the Auroville name or its symbols in identifying and promoting courses.

The question of whether and how much to charge is another issue fraught with difficulty. Are there ‘core' activities for which no fees should ever be levied? Matrimandir visits come to mind. At the other end of the spectrum, are there community services and courses which should always be priced to provide a decent return? There is currently no way of telling at first instance whether, for example, an advertised class is free, expensive, or suggests a donation. Of course, one can ring and ask. But it's hard to get at a logical reason for the differences in response, from ‘donate what you can for materials' to ‘it'll be five thousand rupees'. Guests who understand the aspirations of Auroville will not be looking for a free ride, but greater transparency in why certain courses are priced the way they are would be helpful.
Differential pricing for goods and services is another regular irritant for some guests. They see opportunism in differential charging which does not sit well with their other experiences of the Aurovilian generosity of spirit. It may be opportune to look at new ways of providing equitable access to desired goods and services without sending a message to non-Aurovilians that their money is the most desirable thing about them.
Guests often feel while they are here that they, too, are Aurovilians, and when they return home it is this feeling that they'll communicate to their friends, family and workmates. They are Auroville's ambassadors around the world and their influence is potent. Auroville can help to be an inspiring influence.

Home > Journals & Media > Journals > Auroville Today > A guest’s perspective
Current issue Archive copies The Auroville Experience Auroville Universal Township

Statement on the inaccuracies contained in the BBC video on Auroville 9:16 AM

Integral Yoga All-USA Meeting (AUM) 2008 at Estes Park, Colorado

AUM 2008 at Estes Park, Colorado from The Stumbling Mystic by ned

I’m now staying at the beautiful YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado, where this year’s integral yoga All-USA Meeting (AUM) is being held. I met online friends like David Hutchinson and Lynda Lester for the first time here, and I am deeply moved and touched by the hard work put into organizing Camp AUM.

I am extremely grateful to Rick Thomas for sponsoring my visit to the AUM. When I thanked him today and said I was here because of him, he smiled at me wryly and reminded me gently that actually I was here because of the Mother and my own inner self — humbling me and making me even more thankful to the Divine Grace for allowing me to make this incredible trip!

Hopefully I will post photographs soon. I’m also maintaining the AUM blog on my own server — check it out to find out what people are experiencing here these days!

The AUMers are wonderful, with representatives from all over the USA, Auroville, and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram

AUM 2008 Blog Latest Updates RSS

prapanna 03:49:34 am on June 2, 2008 0 #
Greetings to All,
It’s the end of the day and about time to get some rest. I am in my room upstairs at Barclay with the sound of the AUM Choir enchanting the air from the hall below. The conference center is absolutely majestic and beautiful, with high, snow covered mountain peaks in view. The AUMers are wonderful, with representatives from all over the USA, Auroville, and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. There are lots of new faces and many of the familiar ones. Thanks to Dave, Lynda, and Paula for putting together what looks like will be a wonderful Sangha for all of us.

Ned 08:17:51 am on June 1, 2008 0 # Tags: "blog administration", "tech support"
Hi folks,
After an insanely hectic journey from Pakistan (where I was visiting my family), I’ve finally made it to Boulder and am staying with Cindy, a friend of Lynda’s who has graciously agreed to host me for tonight. We’ll be driving up to the YMCA tomorrow. It’s very dark right now so I can’t really see what Boulder is like, but I suspect it will look quite beautiful in the morning.
For those who don’t know yet, I’m the person maintaining the blog and will handle all queries/problems related to it. Please don’t hesitate to drop me an e-mail at ned (at) naqsh (dot) org if you’re having problems with blogging here and I’ll try to respond as quickly as possible.
I’m looking forward to meeting everyone in person soon. Dave, Lynda and all the others seem to have done a remarkable job. I especially resonated with Dave’s e-mail on the mailing list about how one of the purposes of this gathering is for us to experience each other’s presence — to let the mind still and the soul taste. May this year’s AUM be a spiritually uplifting and inspiring experience for all of us!

Ned 8:26 am on June 1, 2008 #
yogic hug, n. 1. a hug imbued with the aspiration for a deeper union with another.

2. an intimate embrace that is not dependent on physical touch, and yet is experienced as having a far more palpable and immediate intensity than a purely physical hug.

3. the realization that both self and other are constantly in the loving arms of the Divine.
I’m sure you can add a gazillion more interpretations!

+++

Recent Comments Tusar N. Mohapatra on Julie and I are on the road and we’re e …

Original meaning of the word religion is to re-relate — to put back together again, to heal the wounds of separation

Robert A Johnson: Owning your own Shadow - Jung psyche
Understanding the dark side of your psyche http://cgi.ebay.com.au/

Robert A. Johnson explores our need to "own" our own shadow—the term Jung used to describe the dark, hidden aspect of the ego or persona. The popular Jungian author guides us through an exploration of the shadow: what it is, how it originates, how it is formed through the process of acculturation, and the havoc that it can wreak if not absorbed.
"Some of the pure gold of our personality is relegated to the shadow because it can find no place in that great leveling process that is culture," writes Johnson. "Curiously, people resist the noble aspects of their shadow more strenuously than they hide the dark sides."
Johnson sees the "owning of one's shadow" as a religious process, a means by which wholeness is restored to the personality. Noting that the original meaning of the word religion is to re-relate—to put back together again, to heal the wounds of separation—he emphasizes the absolute necessity of putting our fractured world back together again. This is accomplished by first coming to terms with the shadow, incorporating it, and finally balancing it within the conscious self.

ROBERT A. JOHNSON, a noted lecturer and Jungian analyst in private practice, studied at the Jung Institute in Switzerland and at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in India. He is the author of He, She, We, Inner Work, Ecstasy, Femininity Lost and Regained, and Transformation.

The original trigger being to meet Larry Seidlitz, who teaches an online Integral Psychology course from Pondy

AUM 2008 Blog Latest Updates RSS

guest1 12:32:39 am on June 1, 2008 0 # Tags: Dave Hutchinson
The Rockies continue to be wonderfully welcoming… it’s still in the 70’s during the day, then chilling down to the 40’s after the sun goes down. The day started today clear and blue, then by midday, lenticular clouds began to form over the mountains, and by late afternoon there were fluffy white clouds playing hide and seek with the white-capped peaks.
We had a mild fender-bender with our van, requiring a trip to Fort Collins, but nothing serious, nobody hurt. It gave us the opportunity to see the Thompson River gorge (route 34), which is spectacular, with rushing whitewater, intrepid kayakers, and stupendous cliffs.
The YMCA is fairly quiet right now; not a lot of visitors.
Paula, Jim, Blake and Emmy arrived yesterday, and have been up to the National Park, enjoying the wildlife. We spent the morning gathering materials that had been shipped to AUM (books, name badges, and the like), all of which arrived safe and sound!
So, tomorrow AUM begins! In a sense it will begin around 3 pm, when the main bunch of people arrive by shuttle (24 at last count), when we will gather you all in our vehicles and whisk you to Barclay for some tea, a few yogic hugs (what is a yogic hug?), registration packets, some late afternoon views of the snowy peaks, and perhaps an aphorism or two.

julia 04:38:31 pm on May 31, 2008 0 #
Hooray! I, too, am full of gratitude and appreciation for all the prep work done by our organizers, Dave, Lynda and Paula. Thank you, Ned, for emailing me about the all-lower-case for the login… I look forward to tomorrow and to whatever levels of unity we can accomplish personally and collectively. New to blogging, I will simply sign off and await the IRL meetings (In Real Life)…

sartaj 03:22:46 pm on May 31, 2008 0 #
As I start packing my bags for my trip to Aum, what blows me away is the unbelievable job that the organizers have done. The attention to detail, the amazing newsletters, all the activities, the extremely low expense to attend, …. all I can say is that I feel grateful and at another level I am optimistic about the future of the planet. Another big Thanks to Dave, Paula, Lynda and other organizers.
It has been amazing to read the bios and the depth of stories people come with. And this is probably one of the few events I am off to with minimal to no expectations - the original trigger being to meet Larry Seidlitz, who teaches an online Integral Psychology course from Pondy.
So here’s to surrender and being in all your presence!

rus 05:15:24 am on May 31, 2008 1 #
Julie and I are on the road and we’re enjoying all the pre-Aum talk… Julie couldn’t log on as Julie, Julia, juliepostel or juliapostel. Oh well - we can share my login. Thank you to all the organizers for the excellent materials for preparation. See you soon.

guest1 04:40:15 am on May 31, 2008 0 # Tags: Dave Hutchinson
First entry from the YMCA. Lynda arrived on Thursday, then Anara and I drove up today (Friday). The weather is beautiful: 70 degrees during the day, dropping to a nippy 45 by 10:30 pm. The upper ranges are full of snow, but we can’t quite tell the snow level yet — however, I’m sure hiking will be good, and we should be able to get to many places.
Wireless works great in Twin Sisters, where we are staying. In fact I think the YMCA now has wireless throughout the facility, judging from the multiple access points that show up. The rooms are spacious in Sisters, the heat works well (no freezing here!), and each room has a queen and two bunks — which is good, because there’s only a single rack for clothes. The AUM group will have most of the top floor of Twin Sisters.
As we explored the YMCA tonight, a herd of about 12 elk wandered over to the dining hall. We sat on the grass and let them approach us, to about six feet away, when one of the security people cautioned us to move back. The male closest to us had a magnificent set of antlers, easily four feet across, still with the downy covering of spring. Birds are all around, and ground squirrels as well.
We picked up a number of things for AUM on our way up, including a TV/DVD to use in one of the breakouts, a large screen for projection, lots of poster supplies for the projects in Barclay, and even a little water fountain to put somewhere. Everything is ready for AUM!
As usual the YMCA is full of young people, but the facility is so big that once you step outside, the grandeur of nature takes over. Of course after all my admonitions I left a few things at home (sun hat, sunscreen), and have discovered that the general store here on site is very reasonable.
At last count we will have 12 vehicles, including the large van (12 passengers) and a minivan that we rented today (7 passengers), so transportation around AUM shouldn’t be a problem. For those staying in Twin Sisters, the dining hall is only a couple of minutes away by foot, and the craft room is even closer! The volleyball court and basketball court at Barclay look ready for our games…

larryseidlitz 04:24:18 pm on May 29, 2008 0 #
Hi everyone! I’m just checking out the blog. I’m getting geared up for a great time, seeing many old friends, meeting new ones, and enjoying the mountain wilderness. Happy travels! AUM…

Welcome!
Welcome to the official blog for the AUM 2008 conference! Here, attendees at the conference can share their expectations, thoughts and experiences.

Certain environmental or political catastrophes are waiting to happen, and around that time Auroville will become very interesting to people

Utopian community celebrates 40 years
Radio Australia Updated Fri May 23, 2008 10:15am AEST

For forty years on one utopian community in South India has attracted people from around the world looking for an alternative to the consumer society but now modernity is creeping up on the community and threatening to overwhelmit. Presenter: Alana Rosenbaum Speakers: Hemant Lamba of the Aureville Working Committee ending; Penny Fowler-Smith, ex Sydney filmmaker and Auroville resident; Johnny Allen, Auroville resident; Gillian Chvat, Auroville resident (sitar music)

ROSENBAUM: A recital at Auroville, an experimental township in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The musician fuses eastern and western conventions, playing a contemporary tune on the sitar, a stringed instrument traditionally used in classical Indian music.Auroville itself is a fusion of east and west. It's a settlement based on the teachings of the Indian guru Sri Aurobindo and his French disciple Mirra Alfassa, knownto devotees as the Mother. More than half of Auroville's 1,700 residents hail from abroad. The community's goal is nothing less than to expedite human evolution. Hemant Lamba is a member of the working committee.

LAMBA: Auroville symbolises the creation of an environment which is conducive for that growth; Mother named it the cradle of the superman, the superman being the next stage of the human being.

ROSENBAUM: Sydney filmmaker Penny Fowler-Smith settled in Auroville a year ago with her Dutch partner and their young daughter.

FOWLER-SMITH: I never planned on having kids actually, but when I was pregnant I thought, 'If I'm going to have a child I want to be around people, to raise her around people who are more interested in leading with the heart than with the head'.

ROSENBAUM: Auroville is a small township built around a temple known as the Matrimandir, a giant structure resembling a gilded golf ball. This year the community marks its 40th anniversary. Johnny Allen, who studied architecture at the University of New South Wales,played a key role in building up the town in the early 70s, after following his wife to India.

ALLEN: I was married young at 22 and we had a small child, Jan and I sort of lived as artists in Sydney; she had a small printing press and I used to drive a taxi and it was a pretty rough life for a while, and I think it got to a point where it was so rough and so hand-to-mouth that she packed up her baby and came to India.

ROSENBAUM: But many pioneering Aurevillians travelled to India on a spiritual quest. Gillian Chvat left Australia as a teenager in the mid-70s. At Auroville, she helps provide sanitation to the surrounding villages.

CHVAT: I have no idea what my life would have been in Australia or some other place as an uneducated, unqualified person what I would have done or how I would have found that sort of self-expression.

ROSENBAUM: The region surrounding Auroville is undergoing rapid change. Wealthy Indians are buying up land near the township for holiday houses. Tourists are also converging in greater number. The Indian government plans to build a train station and airport near Auroville, but residents discourage visitors and oppose the move. Auroville itself is also rapidly evolving. In the early days, the township was a series of huts. Today, although no one actually owns real estate, many residents pay tobuild big houses staffed by servants. Allen, who still sleeps in a mud-brick house on the fringes of Auroville,, envisaged a simpler township.

ALLEN: I would have liked to have seen Auroville develop with self-sustainability as its highest priority and it was, in the beginning. The initial community that lived here was a small group of people who were fired up by the 60s ethic of build your own house, grow your own food, educate your own children, we can do it, we don't need any restraints from tradition, and so along those lines it would have been great if Auroville had become a little organic village full of mud village.

ROSENBAUM: But for many, the real disappointment of Auroville is the size of its population. The township intended for 50,000 people has only 1,700 residents.But Lamba says the social experiment is still in its early days.

LAMBA: The first 40 years have been establishment of a base, now onwards the next stage has already begun, it's to build a city and we will wait, there are certain environmental or political catastrophes that are waiting to happen, and around that time Auroville will become very interesting to people.

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AntiMatters & The Immanent Frame

Ulrich Mohrhoff ujm@auromail.net, date 28 April 2008 18:22 subject AntiMatters new issue alert
Greetings from Pondicherry!
With the publication of its fourth issue (Volume 2 Number 2), AntiMatters (http://anti-matters.org) completes its first year.
AntiMatters is an open-access e-journal addressing issues in science and the humanities from non-materialistic perspectives. It is published quarterly by the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education in Pondicherry, India.
The web-link to the current issue is http://anti-matters.org/0/current.htm
With best regards (and apologies in case you receive this information more than once),
Ulrich Mohrhoff Managing Editor - AntiMatters Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education Pondicherry 605002 India

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Articles
Materialism Sri Aurobindo 1-8
Beyond Natural Selection and Intelligent Design: Sri Aurobindo’s Theory of Evolution Ulrich J Mohrhoff 9-31
Sri Aurobindo and Hinduism Peter Heehs 33-45
Indian Spiritual Knowledge and the Psychology Curriculum Matthijs Cornelissen 47-57
Should We Expect To Feel As If We Understand Consciousness? Mark C Price 59-70
Diseases of Meaning, Manifestations of Health, and Metaphor Kim Jobst, Daniel Shostak, Peter J Whitehouse 71-80
Awakening the Genius Within Yasuhiko Genku Kimura 81-85
Can the New Science of Evo–Devo Explain the Form of Organisms? Steve Talbott 87-102
Book Reviews
Moalem and Prince: Survival of the Sickest 103-110
Vaughan-Lee: Alchemy of Light 111-117
Martin: Does it Matter? 119-126
Northcote: The Paranormal and the Politics of Truth 127-133
Book Excerpts
Reinventing the Sacred Stuart A Kauffman 135-144
The Ascent of Humanity Charles Eisenstein 145-165

from Jonathan VanAntwerpen vanantwerpen@ssrc.org reply-toreligion@ssrc.org,
to Tusar Mohapatra tusarnmohapatra@gmail.com, date 29 April 2008 01:08 subject John Bowen on "Islam and authority"
"In his new book," writes John Bowen today at The Immanent Frame, "Abdullahi an-Na`im argues that Muslims need a secular state to live their religious lives. Alongside his immensely informative account of modern developments, he makes a sustained argument against state enforcement of Islam along two major lines. First, it makes no religious sense for a state to force Muslims to follow God’s will, because Muslims should act from conviction and choice. An-Na`im makes a second argument that is parallel to the first: not only is it futile and religiously counter-productive to enforce Islamic piety, but doing so also distorts and impoverishes religion."
Read Bowen's full post.
Also new at The Immanent Frame:
Scott Appleby on "An indifferent pope?"
Charles Taylor on "Secularism and critique"

So-called "selfishness" and "selflessness" can actually be compatible

Scott Site Admin Joined: 20 Jan 2007 Posts: 321 Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:14 pm Post subject: Is Selfishness Compatible with Kindness? by Scott Hughes

Many cultures and moral philosophies have promoted so-called selflessness, such as the ethical doctrine of altruism by Auguste Comte (who coined the term altruism). Perhaps as a result, some other philosophies have promoted so-called selfishness, such as the ethical doctrine of Egoism and Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism. Putting prescriptive morality aside, I contend that the self-interestedness supported by pro-selfishness philosophers does not necessarily conflict with the kindness supported by pro-selflessness philosophers.

The two philosophical viewpoints appear to directly oppose each other, but that appearance stems from the use of divisively confusing terminology.

Firstly, let's look at the use of term selfish. Generally speaking, what most pro-selfishness philosophers call "selfishness," I would just call self-interestedness. To most people, 'selfishness' generally refers to acting upon especially greedy, uncompassionate or narcissistic motivations. In contrast, 'self-interestedness' can simply refer to acting out of one's own interests, including indirect interests. Many people, including myself, argue that all people are inherently self-interested because, by definition, a person desires and values what he or she desires and values. Those desires and values also develop into goals, and the person makes their decisions in an attempt to most fulfill those desires, values, and goals. While everyone is self-interested, the label 'selfish' is usually reserved only for people whose interests are more greedy, uncompassionate or narcissistic than other people's interests.

Now let's look at the use of the term selfless. Generally speaking, what most pro-selflessness philosophers call "selflessness," I would just call kindness or compassion. Using the term 'selflessness' seems to absurdly suggest that an allegedly "selfless" person does not have any desires, values or goals or at least that the person does not try to act out of his or her desires, values or goals at all. But that is probably not what most pro-selflessness philosophers mean. When they call a person "selfless," they probably just mean that the person has compassionate desires, values and goals, in that the person likes to help other people and other people's happiness makes the person happy. In contrast to the misnomer 'selfless,' referring to such people as kind and compassionate more accurately portrays that the people each have kind and compassionate interests which they each act out as opposed to not having interests or not acting out of their interests.

In conclusion, so-called "selfishness" and "selflessness" can actually be compatible because the former can mean 'self-interestedness' and the latter can mean 'kindness.' And self-interestedness is compatible with kindness. In fact, I believe it is in most people's self-interest to help others, not only because others may return the favor, but also because we naturally love each other. We empathize and sympathize with each other. We feel good when we observe others feeling good. We feel bad when we observe others feeling bad. We feel enjoyment and satisfaction by helping other people and by making other people feel happy. What do you think?

Two very different ways of thinking about things

Shh! Don't give away our secret! Posted by Tusar N Mohapatra at April 27, 2008 4:47 AM Articulating Positions photo of the moments of a work process in motion In the throes of writing over the weekend, but I wanted to put up a quick pointer to a post from Carl at Dead ... Musepaper - http://papermuse.blogspot.com/

Stylistic virtuosity of the sort we find in Hegel’s Logic or ... By Tusar N Mohapatra Here I think N.Pepperell’s observations about Marx’s textual strategies are apropos. In short, the question is whether or not Marx’s claims could have been presented in a different way. I suspect they can. We see N. ... rainbOwther - http://rainbowther.blogspot.com/

A text like A Thousand Plateaus is designed to actualize itself in ... By Tusar N Mohapatra I’m inclined to agree with N, and I’m not sure there’s really anything more to add, save that bad writing isn’t necessarily obscurantist, or ‘difficult’ (in the sense of ‘intellectually arduous’). It’s just a nuisance, which has prompted ... Evergreen Essays - http://evergreenessays.blogspot.com/

Freud seemed working out exceedingly complex material in beautiful ... By Tusar N Mohapatra The conversation between N. Pepperell and Daniel strikes me as a classic sort of contrast between two very different ways of thinking about things, which I’ve tried to capture in my title for this post by hijacking Heisenberg’s ... Feel Philosophy - http://feelphilosophy.blogspot.com/

The Mother's Service Society has begun a project on The Secret, the book and DVD taking the world by storm

The Mother's Service Society's work since 1969 has focused on identifying the fundamental principles governing the process of social development. These principles form the basis of a comprehensive Theory of Social Development. One basic assumption of this theory is that the same or very similar laws govern the evolution of society, organizations and individuals and the process of political, social, economic, commercial, intellectual, scientific, technological and artistic creation. The theory is based on the conviction that any problem, individual or organizational, in any field of life, lends itself to solution. [The complete description of MSS social science research activities and a complete set of research reports is available at the following sister site: www.mssresearch.org]
A new project on Human Science was recently launched by the Society @ wikia.com. Human Science explores the application of universal spiritual principles to a wider range of fields, including personal accomplishment, social development, education, environment, governance, internet, management, money, peace, personality, science and spirituality. Please visit and contribute.

The Society has begun a project on The Secret, the book and DVD taking the world by storm. This study attempts to present the truths the book and movie do not reveal about the process of human accomplishment. The book and DVD explain the method but not the theory of why and how the method works. A full understanding of the theory behind The Secret will enhance its power. When applied with knowledge, conviction and intense aspiration, the method of The Secret is infallible. It cannot fail. (http://humanscience.wikia.com/wiki/Secret_behind_The_Secret_Project)

Recently the famous novel Pride and Prejudice was voted the most popular work of fiction of all time in a UK survey. Our Society has done an extensive and in-depth study of this novel to show how it reveals life's laws. The study includes a detailed character analysis of the main characters as well as a line by line analysis of the plot.
The Society has also applied its theoretical knowledge of the development process to the growth of business organizations. These findings are presented in four management books published in the USA over the past ten years.
A Study of American History was undertaken recently in order to understand that country's role on the global stage. To read the book online, click here.
Seeing an opportunity to promote international peace in the late 1980s, the Society helped found the International Commission on Peace and Food (ICPF) whose final report, Uncommon Opportunities was presented to the United Nations in 1994. (click here to see the Preface to the 2nd Edition dated Nov. 2004)
International Symposium on Uncommon Opportunities: Roadmap for Employment, Food and Global Security -- was conducted in New Delhi on November 19-22, 2004. For details, click here.
The Society has undertaken two specific studies -- applying the theoretical principles of development theory to trace the evolution of two crucial institutions in society—money and the Internet. For essay, click here.
A new website for ideas on Entrepreneurship Opportunities in India and abroad, has just come up: click here.
Experimental School In Pondicherry:
Inspired by the methods for early childhood education developed by Dr. Glenn Doman at the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential in the USA, the Society is operating an experimental school in alternative education at Pondicherry These methods have previously been applied successfully in Shikshayatan School in Tamil Nadu.
The Society has conducted extensive research on the writings of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother in order to interpret their philosophic and yogic concepts in a language that can be understood by the common man. For essays on spirituality and yoga, click here.
Created December 27, 1998 Last updated on Feb. 12, 2008 by The Mother's Service Society Webmaster
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