A good number of Aurovilians convened at Unity Pavilion on Friday for an open-space discussion on the Entry process. The meeting was a continuation of last month's exploration into how to bridge the gap between the working groups and the RAS. In this second installment, the community reflects on the purpose of the entry process. Residents compare what it was like to join Auroville in the early days to what is required of Newcomers now. Ashatit facilitates as Aurovilians hold a conversation, collectively working out what should be be changed. Read more

Here's the official call for the meeting recorded yesterday at the Unity Pavilion.

"The Auroville Council and the RAS invite you to bring your updated FAMC mandate-related questions to a question and answer Q&A session with members of the FAMC on proposed changes to the FAMC mandate. The draft mandate was published by the AVC in the N&N [491] 23 March 2013, with a request for feedback, and is attached at the end of this week's issue of News&Notes for your consideration again in the lead-up to Wednesday's meeting."

Not many residents attended. Read more

On 8th of May at 4pm at Unity Pavilion the community is invited to a General Meeting regarding Reve situation. Statement : Following the occupation of a house in Reve by a group of aurovilians “to accomplish a healing process", they invite the RA to this GM to share point of views on the diverse issues raised by the situation in Reve and to find together ways to resolve them. It will be moderated by the RAS and will focus on information sharing and listening. La Piscine Team informs us that the work on the pool deck is still in progress! Read more

Longtime Aurovilian Jivatman performed a concert of his songs on voice and guitar, accompanied by Devi and Joy on hand percussion. Jivatman sings about the simple joys of living in a beautiful place in English, Portuguese and French. Hear his intimate concert held in Pitanga last week. From one of Jivatman's songs: "With the wind blowing, you keep always flowing. When the sun arrives, your joy is bright. And when night falls, darkening the skies, follow your guiding star that never dies." Read more

Thiago came to Auroville seven years ago to fulfill his call to 'come out' from the western society. He and his partner Ana settled down in Sadhana Forest helping Yorit and Aviram in the reforestation project. Later they moved to Windarra - Terra Soul community. In the website of www.terrasoul.org the place is defined as " ... a learning community, our holistic approach embraces farming, arts, education and healing." Today Thiago is leaving Auroville. He's going back to his roots in Portugal. Listen to his experience, dreams and projects.

On an idyllic late afternoon outside the Visitors Center a small group convened to share in an appreciation of poetry. Around a round table we sat, serenaded by musicians in the cool shade of trees as the day drew toward dusk. Anandi, Jill, Roger, and Celestine shared their own poems while others recited favorites from Sri Aurobindo, Borges and more. Hear beautifully diverse voices express, in their own words and others', impressions and reflections inspired by Auroville, music, love, aspiration, unity and the soil underfoot. Read more

Maybe it was coincidence but many Aurovilians came together on the Labour Day to discuss about the increasing gap between the working groups and the residents of Auroville. This gap is steadily increasing, and since few months one of the most important of Auroville's working groups (the Working Committee) is not able to function properly. Despite the heat the meeting was well attended and many residents expressed their concerns. Another meeting will follow to begin the 'healing process', and the sense of optimism was present. Read more

Saturday at 8 pm at Cripa SHAKTI DANCE TROUPE Presents a Night of Exotic Indian Dance.On Sunday May 5 at 5.05 pm at SAWCHU, Bharat Nivas we can Celebrate World Laughter Day -One Laugh * One Peace * One World joining thousands of people sending waves of laughter around the world for World Peace, Harmony and Unity. L'Avenir d'Auroville/TDC informs us that the old road between Celebration and Gunalakshmi's house will be closed to access as it has become redundant. This will also open up space options for Aurovilians looking for relocation. Read more

AuroAnnam Farm is among Auroville's oldest parcels of land. Most recently it was a demonstration site for organic cashews. Mawite has been caring for AuroAnnam and putting energy into making it a lively yet peaceful green entryway into Auroville. There is a question whether Auroville will keep the land or exchange it, making future plans for the place somewhat tenuous. Hear Mawite explain the situation at AuroAnnam on Earth Day weekend - first with a walk around the land and chant led by Kaya, then a presentation back at the Farmers' Cafe. Read more

AT SAWCHU on Wednesday at 4pm Important Community meeting on to create a cooperative ways between residents and working groups. Same day, at 5pm at Pavilion of Tibetan Culture talk of Dr. Mathieu Boisvert with "A historical account of the emergence of the Vedas and the great Hindu epics". Saturday May 4th, at 8 pm at CRIPA we are invited to a SHAKTI DANCE TROUPE Presenting Night of Exotic Indian Dance Including Odissi, Bharathanatyam, Contemporary and Bollywood Dance. On Sunday at 5pm SAWCHU Celebration of World Laughter Day . Read more

..by William Shakespeare, and brought to us by students of Last School on past Friday and Saturday. Yes, it was a night of Shakespeare, laughter, friends and families under the starlight in the amphitheater of the Last School. Story with its plot is more or less known: two love stories, humor, mischief, conspiracy, and yet ends with two marriages in satisfaction of all parties involved. Despite that director has chosen to stick to the expression of Shakespearian English, all actors proved their ability and maturity in performing. Read more

Surrounding the Youth Centre and north of Town Hall is Bliss Forest, home to porcupines and many birds. Early on Sunday morning we were led by the Bliss steward Dominik on a walk through the forest. The area faces its own share of road controversies as Aurovilians work out how best to continue building the city. Which should take precedent of the galaxy plan, Master Plan, or existing features is a perennial question. As we walked we learned a bit about the biodiversity of the place, and efforts to clear the wood brought down by Cyclone Thane. Read more

Jackie Mouvilllat on the Stick Chapman accompanied by the vocals and reverse writing of Anaka, Manosh Bardhan on the Tabla and Matt Littlewood on Soprano Saxophone came together in a concert at Pitanga last weekend. A memeber of the guitar of the guitar family, the Chapman Stick usually has ten or twelve individually tuned strings. It is a polyphonic chordal instrument that is at once a guitar, a bass, a piano and percussion. Anaka uses a transparent plexiglass with an indigenous technique of reverse writing . Read more

Tonight at SVARAM at 7.30pm is the Last Full moon Concert of Yemadas and Svaram Team. "Much Ado about Nothing" a performance by Last School Students Friday, April 26th and Saturday, April 27th at 7pm at Last School Amphitheater On Saturday at 7pm at Pitanga original songs by Jivatman with guitar accompaniment. On Wednesday 1st of May at SAWCHU important community meeting following the General Meeting of March 20 concerning the WC impasse. All Aurovilians are invited to come together to create and define an open, co-operative space, Read more

Nous avons cherché ce qui nous relie au Tout, à soi et vers soi, dans la joie et l’allégresse. Nous nous sommes laissés vibré par ce son universel, ce langage d’amour qui accorde tout.. We looked at what connects us all, to oneself and to oneself, in joy and gladness. We allowed ourselves vibrating by the universal language of love that gives everything .. Avis aux chercheurs d’étoiles. Pour ma prochaine visite à Auroville, nous continuerons à progresser vers l’'Unité, cette conscience qui nous fait grandir. Merci Read more

Many of the plants growing naturally all around us have healing properties. As part of the Earth Day program of events we were invited to Sapney Farm to learn about using medicinal plants. Listen to Elumalai describe the properties of plants from brahmi to hibiscus. What natural preparations can we use for fever, wounds or insect bites? How can we plan and care for an herbal garden? Then hear Sara, long-term volunteer working on her Permaculture diploma, describe some of the Permaculture principles being practiced at Sapney Farm. Read more

Out of many events in Auroville which community, guests and volunteers can witness, book events are rare. At Pitanga on Monday evening was one of latest, a introduction of debut novel of a young author from Chennai Arja Rajam. Arya herself shortly described the story of the book - Blood, Sweat and Tears which talks about hardship of professional dancers, ballerinas. Jill, Anu and Arya herself have read few passages from the novel. The introduction was followed by questions and answers session, and distribution of the copies to the audience Read more

Despite the rising heat in the town, amphitheater in Kalabhumi on Saturday was packed with all who like to enjoy good music, and company of friends. Beside those who were announced to perform many others have joined them on the spot, and music was entertaining all long in night. Music from jazz to funky, rock and blues, all alive and very vibrant. Anna Taj was on vocals, Rolf, Edo, Pierre and Arthur on guitars, Saga, Piter and Robert on drums, Frederic on harmonica and Inga on bass. Read more

Tonight at 7.30pm at Pitanga a book event, Blood, Sweat and Tears - a debut novel by a young Chennai author Arya Rajam. Saturday . morning 9:30 -12:30 at Unity Pavilion in International Zone University of Human Unity is holding A Seminar on the practical and theoretical interpretation of Art and Music In search of Integral Paradigm of Knowledge - Exploring the artistic approach to Knowledge . Led by Ladislav and Pushkar. Open Houses - TLC 25th April at 3pm at Fertile and on 26.4. Mohanam Kindergarten in Sanjeevi Nagar village 5.30 and 7pm Read more

This morning at Conference Room in Town Hall we had a chance to listen to some interesting short talks with its common thread on ecology awareness. The opening session was with Cesare who shared with us some points of Open Source Hardware in relation to the local community or DIY ( Do It Yourself). Followe by Snehal talking on Kitchen Gardens or why we should grow food everywhere. Deoyani Sarkhot emphasized versatile usage of charcoal and which benefits it can bring to the soil. First part was concluded with Kathy on health and environment. Read more

Nicole Christine is from Munich, Germany. She organizes and leads silent meditation retreats in India and abroad. In this interview Nicole delves into the source of silence within our own selves. She introspects on the transformative and pathfinding personal experiences that led her to look for truth and meaning beyond mind and matter. For her it is important to look at silence as a living "presence" as opposed to perceiving silence as an "absence". Therefore, the need to integrate the practice of being restfully and quietly aware here-now. Read more

La veille de mon départ pour la France, nous nous sommes retrouvés avec pleins d’ami(e)s musiciens, pour expérimenter un espace sonore. Nous avons ouvert le micro, sans rien attendre, mais prêts à tout entendre... On the eve of my departure to France, we met with a lots of friends musicians to experiment a sound space. We opened the microphone without expecting anything, but willing to hear everything... Read more

On Sunday afternoon at CRIPA in Kalabhumi the atmosphere was filled with joyful noises of excited children, parents and friends. The Youth Choir led by Nuria and accompanied on piano by Matthew has shared with the community some popular songs chosen from some well known movies for children. The young audience was captivated and spellbound by the sound-track Cirlce of Life from the movie Lion King performed by the twenty-one members of the choir. Read more

In today's news we are featuring Mawite from Auroannam Farm inviting us on Sunday at 4.30pm their participation to Earth Day's celebration. Free market will be going on at Solar Kitchen on Saturday morning, TEDx talks on ecology at Conference Room in Town Hall, pot luck dinner with Earth Healing Ceremony at sunset with live music and dancing at Terra Soul at Windarra Farm from 5pm onward. .....At 7.30pm at Ptianga A Musico - Pictoral Concert with Chapman sticks, reverse painting, tables and saxophone by Jacky, Anaka, Manosh and Matt. Read more

J’ai voyagé à travers le monde et j’ai entendu des chants religieux et de louanges, en Europe, en Afrique, en Asie, au proche orient, en Amerique .. Mais pourquoi à Auroville, j’entends une vibration mélodique ? Qui peut me le dire ?. J ai envis de m'approcher de toi, t 'endendre ton silence et sentir ton energie qui me remplis et qui caresse mon ame. Viens chanter avec moi, ton parfum m enivre... I traveled around the world and I heard hymns and praise .. But why in Auroville, I hear a melodic vibration? Who can tell me? Read more

Kabir lovers were excited to hear that Shabnam Virmani was in Pondicherry past weekend and wanted to meet all her Auroville friends in Kabir. She was here with her friend Vipul and also Bela, who are part of the Bangalore Kabir mandali/toli. For that reason they've organized impromptu satsang on Sunday at the New Creation Music Room. Shabnam was singing and explaining the deeper spiritual meaning of the songs, in her inimitable style. The event was kindly hosted in Devasmita & Satyakam's beautiful house. Read more

In today's news we're featuring Avigal updating and inviting us to an Earth Day Celebrations which will start with tomorrow's films at Cinema Paradiso in Town Hall, and escalate over the weekend all the way to Earth Day itself on 22nd of April. Tomorrow at Pavilion of Tibetan Culture in International Zone from 4.30pm a group of visitors from Taiwan will share with the community some glimpses of their culture, tradition and food. At 6pm they will give a dance performance of Taiwanese tribal dance, Indian and Belly dance. Read more

Cesare Montresor held an open discussion about Opensource Hardware & Community FabLab, a follow-up to its presentation of Opensource Hardware in order to explore (together) with the Auroville community the requirements and opportunities for the creation of a Community FabLab. Creating a community oriented FabLab would enable the Auroville community to dispose of a communal space where to learn, experiment and eventually build their own goods with sustainable materials, thus reducing the costs of production and their impact on the environment.

A computer virus? A PC worm?? Not, this time real Trojan walked the soil of Auroville! The 6th grade students of Transition School performed one of the most famous events of the Greek mythology, the Trojan war. Gods, swords, kings, princess and a horse-unicorn is the recipe of the well attended play. The classic Greek tragedy is turned in an modern novel with mobile phones and rock songs. This choice made accessible the roots of the western culture to kids and teenagers. May be not a very classical interpretation but for sure we all had fun. Read more

Je devais rester une demi-journée à Auroville et j'y suis resté un mois. Un apres-midi, je me suis retrouvé au Matrimandir, seul dans un pétale. Je m'y suis installe et moi qui d’habitude ne ressens rien dans les lieux vibratoires, j’y ai entendu un son... l'aventure commencait. I had to stay half a day in Auroville and I stayed there for a month. An after-noon, I found myself Matrimandir alone in a petal. I've installed and I who usually do not feel anything in places vibration, I heard there's a ...adventure was beginning. Read more