Bucket Bejeweled #2: Auroville

Photo Credit: Sonika Agarwal | Unsplash

In this installment #2 of Bucket Bejeweled, we discuss the transformative power of Auroville.  See the introduction to this series here which includes links to other installments in the series.

Some of the places meant to change your life are hard to access. Auroville is one of them. But don’t let that discourage you.  

For years – about 12 to be exact – I had been moving from country to country always sure to pack a particular book on the eco-village movement as a constant nagging reminder of a longing – an almost inexplicable gravitational pull towards the concept of intentional community living. This is not to be confused with “communal living” (or perhaps now more popularly known as “Big Brother” living) i.e., a group of people living in one dwelling. 

Instead, an “intentional community” is defined by Wikipedia as “an intentional community with the goal of becoming more socially, culturally, economically, and/or ecologically sustainable” or “small voluntary social units” often set apart from the rest of society, especially in economic terms but also centered around a common theme. Themes range from spirituality, permaculture, child rearing, intergenerational living, etc.

                              

Whenever I had a spare moment, I would pour over the book (still available on Amazon at this link) which devoted 3 or 4 pages to profiling a particular eco-village somewhere in the world. The one that kept jumping out at me was Auroville, a thriving community based in the south of India not too far from the exotic and delightfully multicultural Pondicherry, a French colonial settlement until 1954. 

No surprise, then, that it was an intriguing French personality, affectionately known as “the Mother,” who founded Auroville. The Mother, whose birth name was Blanche Rachel Mirra Alfassa, was lured to India by the powerful teachings of Sri Aurobindo, an Indian anti-colonial activist turned yogi guru and philosopher, influential at the beginning of the 20th century. 

The two became spiritual collaborators, developing an ashram in Pondicherry.  Founded by the Mother 18 years after Aurobindo’s death in 1950, Auroville emerged as the visionary byproduct of this deeply intense partnership.

The sprawling complex that is home to over 3300 residents representing 60 different nationalities, is centered around Matrimandir, the imposing, larger-than-life architectural marvel that stands as a monument to the Mother’s ultimate aspiration – world unity!  My daughter, who was four at the time I finally made the trip there in 2015, likened it to a giant “golf ball.”

But there is so much more to it than meets a child’s eye. Despite a week of trying, we never got inside, but from what I understand, it is hard to find another space so centered in tranquility.  I will definitely get inside on my next trip.

But despite not getting into Matrimandir, the week spent in Auroville was nothing short of magical. Even the rainy days and muddy paths of monsoon season could not put a damper on our adventure of wonder and discovery.  

The 12 enchanting gardens of flowers of Auroville will especially nourish your soul. Each garden carries with it a spiritual principle assigned by the Mother like wealth, bliss, life, power, progress, harmony and perfection. The association of flowers with spirituality is brought to life in a children’s book I bought for my daughter during the visit called Yaroslava’s Flowers – a delightful rendering of the transformative power of flowers.  It remains one of her favorite books.

The human interactions were equally life-changing. Whenever you encounter anyone who has committed to defying societal norms, it is inspiring. But when you come across 3000 such souls all in one place, it is mesmerizing! These are people who have left their mainstream lives behind to live their daily lives in this cashless enclave devoid of consumerism and filled with humility. 

One couple with whom we spent an evening – a Haitian man married to a French woman – were raising two children in a modest TV-less home. The oldest child, a boy about 10, went to an Auroville-based networked school featuring classes that were custom-made for each child. The boy had wanted to learn Japanese and so someone in the community who spoke Japanese was enlisted to become his one-on-one teacher.  I was awestruck by the notion that the power of choice could be managed so responsibly by one so young. 

The night we celebrated Diwali was a study in the richness, beyond measure, of multicultural, intercultural living. This uniquely Indian celebration already dense with color and textures was further enriched by the multiplicity of world citizens taking part. My daughter joined Auroville children giddily encircling Diwali rangoli (sand art) and diya (candle) arrangements while adults were entertained by live music, group chanting and each other’s company.

We had hard conversations with some residents about whether or not they would stay, admitting that even this “utopian” society was not without its politics and egos. But this seemed an attitude rooted in a hard fall from excessively high expectations. Those who had a more balanced perspective were committed to staying and keeping in remembrance why they had come in the first place – to see how close they could come to attaining the Mother’s vision of human unity and cooperation.

While I was ready to move to Auroville in a heartbeat, alas, I was forced to face the hard truth – I am too old. Auroville is not a place to go for retirement. You have to have paid your dues – quite literally. You have to work to earn your stay there since work hours translate into the town’s barter currency. 

There are retirement homes in Auroville but those are reserved for those who have been in the community for most of their adult lives. An American woman we met had done just that and was now reaping the benefits as an Auroville retiree.  So, Auroville stands as my dream denied but, at least, I will visit from time to time and of course, forever carry the spirit of the Mother’s inspiring vision in my heart.