Meeting of International Zone pavilion groups brought into focus some of the pending subjects, and in this recording you can listen to the minutes of it. Since it is obvious that progress cannot happen if there is no water in the area, pavilion groups spent quite some time talking on the loop proposal of water pipe lines from the well trough International Zone. Sore point in the area is also constant encroachment form the side of the Tamil villagers, and some propositions and ideas on how to tackle the issues were mentioned. Read more

The RAS called (Aug 30) 'Working Meeting of the Residents' in response to Foundation Secretary, Mr Bala Baskar's invitation at last week's meeting (to hear feedback on a draft version of the Entry/Exit policy), to "get together and decide what you want" with regards the content of the document. The meeting aimed to work through the draft towards a clear response but did not achieve this due to complications arising from confusion over the policy's role and discussion of details regarding the community's internal processes of Entry and Exit.e

Between 14th to 21st of September in Dehli at the India International Centre, Auroville will held its festival for the first time with the official title and leading theme - City for Transformation. Anu and Sebastian share with us some of the details on organizing the whole event, which overgrown out of annual seminars, colliding this year with some crossing points in the history. Tremendous energy, enthusiasm with energizing effect emanates from Sebastian and Anu, and should spread to the public through festival which aim is to share.

To conclude summer holidays Lisa wanted to share some of her favorites songs with friends and community, expressing what she pursues in her studies in Holland. Lisa, with exquisite voice, heading in a soul direction, was accompanied by Matt on keyboards and saxophone, Martin and Holger on classical guitar; Jonas and Tina joined in a couple of songs. As music is about emotions, feelings, the songs lulled us into those zones, where the only right thing is to be with friends, family and loved ones. Read more

Featured is number 4 of Luigi and B in their series of dialogues, today to try to focus on the difference between the Master Plan and the Galaxy. This ongoing series offers understanding and insights from two senior Aurovilians, united in their sincerity to see the city grow yet differing in their approaches. Continuation of their dialogue will take place each Tuesday, for the foreseeable future.This discussion in its entirety can be heard as a program, published later today. Read more

How important is it to laugh together, to sometimes to say the truth or point out things about ourselves we're not too proud of, through the use of humor? It is clear again and again at the shows of Genius Incorporated Production.  Always very well attended by audience bursting with anticipation where the team will lead us on that night. Last night, with the help of many - beside Genius Incorporated Production Team of Paul, Wazo, Jesse, Christoph, also Renu, AAG, IPAS - we were exploring how much we know about.....how much we dare, explore, stand together... Read more

 

After visiting Turkey and Central Europe with workshops on Integral Yoga - workshops Vera and Ashesh talked with us about their recent experiences. For past three years at Savitri Bhavan in International Zone Ashesh is giving lectures - workshops on Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo, and The Mother with Vera assistance. As Ashesh says this is a very enjoyable experience to him because people who attend workshops always come with the attention to learn, and they respond from their depths when they hear The Mother, Sri Aurobindo words Read more

When Mishko M'Ba greeted the audience with announcement of repertoire which would pay the tribute to Jaco Pastorious, famous bass player, brought many smiles on the faces. The whole gig was special treat for music lovers. Excellent musicians Mishko M'Ba on Bass, Matt Littlewood on saxophone, Suresh Bascara on drums and Karan Joseph on keyboards played known songs of Jaco Pastorious, Pat Metheny, Miles Davis and Joe Zawinul with technical perfection and with all their love for the. Read more

Although Michael Miovic, a psychiatrist and longtime student of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother has spent hours to explore the subject of Yoga, it took a personal experience: to be struck with the chakras (or jewel earth centres) presence. He had a deep experience of the Earth consciousness and the quality of American land which is described as Muladhara chakra. Since then he is amazed by the topic, the revelations of spiritual anatomy of the world. But also aware that for human unity to come we must appreciate and accept the differences. Read more

For many participants the proposed agenda for the Values and Priorities meeting no. 4, was not really acceptable; on Restriction to Entry, when we should have examined the proposal for outlying lands be converted into resources to buy land within the Master Plan Area (in order to develop affordable houses) the meeting concluded after more than two hours of lively discussion. It was clear that we need to explore further the costs of present construction, which seems to be blown up; let's come up with concrete plans for alternative housing. Read more

Inspired after very positive responses form the community, and especially children, after Liter Free Auroville in 2010, which had engage practically the whole community to all day long event aiming toward raising awareness on waste treatment in Auroville, new activity WasteLess launched on Saturday Garbology 101. New curriculum as a result of several months long interactive work of WasteLess team - Chandrah, Mari, Ribhu and Vimal with students and teachers of three schools comes as an educational box with guide book and many interactive tools Read more

General Meeting called by Residents' Assembly Service on behalf of the Working Committee and Auroville Council on Tuesday 14th of August was about feedback of the residents on the Proposed Regulations for Admission and Termination Regulations of Persons in the Register of Residents. The Auroville Foundation's proposal on regulations of admission and termination of persons in the register of residents supposed to be put up for consideration to the Governing Board in the meeting to be held in September

In the upcoming series of events for the Russian Pavilion in International Zone Victor offered Music of the Soul - mantras and sacred songs devoted to the Mother and Sri Aurobindo to Auroville. The musical event was hosted by Pavilion of Tibetan Culture, where its hall offered and intimate, yet very acoustic space for Victor's vibrant and powerful voice, educated in classical opera singing. Mantras and sacred songs sung in that manner gained a new dimension, slightly resembling on church coral singing ... made souls resonate Read more

Third talk sponsored by ICITI, which tries to create opportunities for interaction with experts to explore potential linkages and deployment of new tolls in Auroville, was a talk on Collaboration in Research and Education by Stefan Listrom. At NRENs (National Research and Education Networks), they are dedicated to provide services in research and educational networks, they try to disseminate information and results in better ways, in order to help students and researches all around the world. Questions followed the presentation. Read more

B explains the significance of the recent publication ‘But It Is Done' in today's interview. 'But It Is Done' is a small but mighty book, composed by Dr. Kireet Joshi, a small volume revealing the reason for the Mother's Agenda as well as the reason for creating Auroville. This volume contains direct quotes of the Mother from the Agenda. It also speaks of the fact that although the Mother's work is done, our collaboration is definitely and obviously very much needed. Read more

At yesterday's 3rd Collective Priorities and Values Meeting organized by the RAS, Pashi and Luigi from Land Resource Development team presented a proposal on outlying lands, which was a request from the previous meeting. After a few years of intensive research, mapping, and collecting data on the spot (along with many consultations from outside experts) Luigi and Pashi presented quite a concrete plan, business-oriented with applied Auroville values. A debate went on afterwards that expressed feelings and views of various residents. Read more

What is NREN - National Research and Educational Networks, what does it do and how is that connected to Auroville? were questions asked Stefan Listrom. As he told us NREN have been founded about 30 years ago but in last decade became more active.Stefan will present his work on Tuesday 7th of August at 3.45pm at Conference Room in Town Hall with the talk on Collaboration in Research and Education. Team of NREN is driven by making a better future, better world where information and education are available to all via network with its conectivity

After almost two years of intensive research and study David Stein yesterday presented a Green Belt Plan - Draft . That plan should help us to deal with issues relating to land use, encroachment and the role of the green belt to water in Auroville and the bio region. In his presentation David Stein indeed emphasized awareness of interconnectedness, and vital role of water. Water sources should be preserved and kept in the area by proper measurements to supply Auroville and its bio region. Numerous questions followed the presentation. Read more

This year Mahalakshmi Park proposal, again done by students of ENSP from France - Alexnadre, Camille, Hortense and Lucie with the assistance of Alain from Road Service and Marie from Matrimandir was warmly welcomed by the residents. This presentation - proposal differ from the one from last year by slight shift of the cycle and walking path away from private land. The new proposal also reflects the ground reality of Auroville after last december passing cyclone Thane. Read more

At Center of Indian Studies, Bharat Nivas, Pavilion of Indian Culture in International Zone last Saturday poetry lovers had an unique chance to peep into a rich soul of contemporary Indian woman. Monica Mody is a poet, writer and queer feminist. She has coordinated film festivals,revised a domestic violence toolkit, translated, written for an HIV campaign. At present Monica Mody is a postgraduate writer in residence, University of Notre Dame, currently pursuing a Ph.D. in East-West Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies Read more

Second in series Collective Priorities Meetings as part of the Collective Priorities Project started with anticipation, light spirit and some laughter. The need and spirit of change is present in the community, and as we saw meetings do slowly chisel out from the vague cloud what we value, what we need to do, and how to approach it. Although meeting itself was swinging from concrete reality to spirituality, participants came to the conclusion to invite working groups in order to find out what the reality of their work is, and what we can do. Read more

Last Sunday Mohanam Cultural Centre at Sanjeevi Nagar, on the outskirt of Auroville celebrated 11th anniversary of its existence. Happy children, parents, guests gathered to celebrate the occasion with joy. Children prepared cultural program in a dance way, but we could see pieces of their work and activities exhibited throughout the Centre. No doubt that Mohanam grown over the past years, and keeps striving for better. As such it is a bridge between local villages and Auroville trough cultural exchanges, fosters development and understanding. Read more

Aswapati and Sri Aurobindo in Savitri : The book of the Traveller of the Worlds, in which the levels of the World Stair are described, contains one of the great revelations of Savitri. It is of prime importance to realize that the Traveller, named Aswapati, is Sri Aurobindo himself writing from his experience. Savitri is given to us to participate and grow in its reality. If thought of as the poetic experiences of a mythical or legendary figure, the experience of sharing in Sri Aurobindo’s mantric evocations might become removed from us.

The walls of reality: shedding our evolutionary impediments : Seeing the world from inside out, normally we humans are not aware that our perceptions of Reality are not direct, and therefore not really real, because we are enclosed within the deforming walls of the evolutionary species to which we belong. This existential way of being became critically important in the experiments of quantum physics, where Reality remains indefinable and only the interaction of the scientific instruments with Reality can be interpreted.

‘Philosophy had become too much a thing of abstractions, a seeking for abstract truths in a world of ideas and words rather than what it should be, a discovery of the real reality of things.’ (Sri Aurobindo) True philosophy in the East, but originally also in the West, was indeed a search for mental truth but at the same time for ways to apply such truth to life. Essentially the true philosopher is a yogi and the yogi a philosopher.

In April/May of this year, a Danish radio reporter, Cornelius, - a self-made journalist, writer, musician and community activist based in Copenhagen’s Freetown of Christiania - visited Auroville and covered many of our activities in collaboration with OutreachMedia. Here is his interview with Mr BalaBaskar, Secretary of the Auroville Foundation, which he graciously consented to be shared with Auroville Radio.

Yeserday's General Meeting to discuss collective values and priorities has showed that need to communicate and find common solutions is more than obvious. Although we might have different opinions and ideas how to proceed, is also clear that collective spirit of community is there, at least amongst those who participated. And as we may differ on some points, to most members of community the leading thread - idea, set forth by the Mother and Sri Aurobindo is clear, along with the higher inner state of consciousness in progress Read more

I just went to Transition School to make a short interview of Joan. He is the ATB class teacher ( Awareness Through the Body ). He talks about his time in this school as a teacher. and also a bit about his life unrelated to school work. He began working in Transition School in 1992 in the month of July, which means it has been exactly twenty years now! He is considered the an important teacher in Transition by the students and it would be terrible if he was to leave Transition School.

Last night at SAWCHU in Bharat Nivas, the Pavilion of Indian Culture in the International Zone gave Kabir lovers a chance of a satsang by Prahladji Tipanya, one of the most compelling folk singers of the poetry of Kabir. Since it is the tradition that the holder of satsang addresses the audience on the topic they would like to talk/sing about, Prahladji's question to the audience met with an almost unanimous voice from the audience - LOVE, which was accompanied by simultaneous translations from Anita, of Prahladji explanations of Kabir verses. Read more

A cultural event for sure is a sign that summer holidays are over, and last Saturday we had a chance to enjoy in a Night of Culture, organized by Tejas and Jod. They wanted to share with us their talents, passion - one for Odissi classical Indian dance, the other for the music. Tejas gracefully expressed herself , and concluded with choreography on semi Bollywood style with two of her students, while Jod, although with cold feet, put his feelings on the display trough music. And Jesse skillfuly, with humor maneuvered trough the night Read more