PART III

The Mother and Her Creation

In Yoga also it is the Divine who is the Sadhaka and the Sadhana; it is his Shakti with her light, power, knowledge, consciousness, Ananda, acting upon, the adhara and, when it is opened to her, pouring into with these Divine forces that makes the Sadhana possible.

Sri Aurobindo

The Mother

I INTRODUCTORY

"The Mother", also sung as "Ma Mira", came to India in 1914, met Sri Aurobindo and vividly felt that India was the home of Her soul and that Her work lay here with Sri Aurobindo for the spiritual regeneration of man. Since then She felt a deep identification with the country, her great past, her present basic atmosphere and her unique capability in regard to the future of man. She sought that India should become free, should recover her soul and show to the world the path of future progress.

Her first work here was the organization of "The Arya", a monthly publication for the presentation to the world of Sri Aurobindo's vision of the future. Thus came into being Sri Aurobindo's great writings on the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Gita, Social Progress, Human Unity, Future Poetry, a New Philosophy of life and existence and a new Yogic Path for the realization of the new personality needed for a new world. This literature has recreated Indian culture for the present and the future, as also created for the world its true future possibility.

The deepest perceptions of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother have been that man has reached a high level of mental development, high enough acutely to feel the limitations of it and seek to exceed it. From a superficial, piece-meal, seeking for truths in more or less isolated fields of knowledge, which has created so many acute imbalances in life, we should grow into a capacity of thought, feeling and will, which would enable us to comprehend wholes, unities, totalities. We have already developed at our mental level a seeking for integration and integrality and this seeking is pressing for effectivity, but effectivity

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demands a consciousness of a larger and fuller kind more capable of dealing with the entire fact of existence and of guiding life as a whole, integrally. Such consciousness at its highest has been called by the Mother and Sri Aurobindo Supramental and all the endeavour of their life was devoted to the realization and dissemination of it.

The endeavour entails a profound change in consciousness, a growth in depth, in width and in height. Our ordinary knowing, feeling and willing is extremely limited, fragmented and divided. Anxiety, partiality, conflict, doubt, vacillation and incapacity of will are normal. To change it into a knowing, feeling and willing, which is clear, sure, integral and effective is a high vision of life. The educational work of the Mother arose of this perception and in 1943 a school was started with the intention of taking up children with such possibility and affording to them the right atmosphere, the right care and attention, the right training which would slowly bring about a steady widening and growth of consciousness.

The school thus started grew in, course of time into Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education with proper facilities from the kindergarten to post-graduate research. A new system of education thus came into being, which is called Integral Education.

A stage came when the Mother wanted to attempt a real integration in social and cultural living and the township of Auroville was taken in hand. This evoked a wide response and the project has already yielded some fine results. The partialities of the normal human nature, its limitations and prejudices presented tremendous difficulties. But integration and integrality are high ideals, which must be pursued and therefore the difficulties faced and overcome. The Mother had the vision and the courage and the capacity and She achieved demonstrably in the field of education as also in that of integral life and culture of man.

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But her main field of work was the Ashram, where spiritual seekers lived, devoting all their energy in a conscious manner to the realization of the larger consciousness of the soul, the spirit, the supermind. But here the aim was not a personal peace and bliss, but a recreation of contemporary life as such on a spiritual basis. That meant carrying on all the normal activities of life, even industrial and commercial, out of a larger spiritual attitude. This was among all the undertakings of the Mother, the most painstaking, most detailed and stretched over the longest period of time. This work slowly extended much beyond the Ashram, covering spiritual seekers all over the world who sought to grow under her care.

All these undertakings have shown Mother's varied aspects, those of a spiritual master, an educationist, an organizer and an administrator and a creator of great vision. She is, besides, a literary person, a painter, a musician. But her spiritual personality central to all these aspects is the most astounding. She aimed at ever higher and higher goals and discovered and revealed endless realms of the Spirit. This gives us the most thrilling possibilities of life.

The Mother's own writings are now coming out as collected works in 15 volumes and much has been written on her too. All this shows what the Mother was, what She attempted and achieved and above all the inspiration that She continues to be.

II A GREAT SPIRITUAL PERSONALITY

The Mother of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry was indeed ta great spiritual personality, very profound, most varied and highly creative. Hailing from the West, She settled in India, her "spiritual home" for all her long life, and sought to build up a new spirituality on the long traditions of India, a pathway of future growth for mankind as a whole. She created a comprehensive new

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Sadhana for the seekers of the East and the West, a large new process of education for children from all over, and a township for a true international living. Her writings— consisting largely of talks—are an inspiration. Her artistic recreation of Sri Aurobindo's epic poem "Savitri" is a visual pursuit of bliss and immortality. Her messages are thrilling directives for life. But the most wonderful of all is an inner contact with her, which we get in a mood of love and adoration. And our appreciation and enjoyment of Her objective creations become much intenser when they evoke or proceed from an inner contact with her.

The Mother had sought persistently to lift us to a higher vision of life—larger, wider, truer, much happier, more effective and truly harmonious. And She did this essentially by imparting to us some inspiration of her own Being through an intimate personal contact.

It is most interesting that this marvellous contact continues to be available. We have to turn towards her inwardly, think of her, concentrate on her, feel joy in doing so, do it again and again and we would soon get into the proper form for the thrilling inner contact. And when it comes, it is most vivifying. It gives us hope, joy, courage, purposive ness, a feeling of worthwhile ness in life.

Evidently, we celebrate the Mother's Birth Centenary best when we thus grow in life—in joy and effectivity through repeated inner contacts with her. And these contacts may presumably be more sulabh (available) during this year of the Centenary. Such approach and such growth will surely please the Mother more than anything else. While organizing meetings, seminars, exhibitions and planning publications we naturally cannot afford to leave out of consideration this essential fact—the fact of the delightful inner contact with her.

Our celebrations can overtly take many forms. A quiet nice meditation, an inner collectedness and concentration

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on the Mother, on any aspect of her life or any word of her is always the most important thing, whether individually practised or collectively done. The Mother's music as an attendant circumstance to meditation, or by itself, for appreciation and enjoyment is also a very fine thing. Readings from the Mother, selected for different occasions, individual or collective, are so inspiring and uplifting. Papers written on the Mother will need to reflect the central spiritual truth of her personality, whatever they may otherwise deal with. A purely academic treatment of her orientations on different matters is perfectly possible, but it has its limitations. Of course, an elaboration of the orientations, indicated sometimes in brief messages, is a legitimate field of work for the intellectual approach. And if that is done, then the orientations, perceptions and visions of the Mother will become available for an intellectual appreciation and utilization. In fact, there is quite a large field for this kind of work.

May we have a rich and an inspiring year of frequent contact with our gracious Mother and a fruitful celebration of the Centenary.

II THE MOTHER'S LIFE—SALIENT FACTS

1.The Mother was born in Paris in 1878 in an influential family. Her father was a Banker and brother a Governor.

2.As a child She was highly introspective, clear-minded and firm in will and conscious of a mission in life.

3.At 13 years of age She had, for almost a whole year, repeated every day, a most wonderful spiritual experience—an experience of a high spiritual status rendering help to men, women and children, bringing to them through spiritual contact hope, joy, health and general well-being.

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4.During the early years of this century She practised occultism—the science and art of the subtle truths of life and existence—under a Polish teacher in Algeria.

5.Around 1912 She led in Paris a group of spiritual seekers and revealed to them profound spiritual insights as to the growth and fulfilment of individual and social living. She had at this time a clear and a conscious perception of the aim of an integral transformation of life and the spiritual processes involved in it.

6.At the same time She had a persistent longing for a visit to India and a further and a higher pursuit of spiritual life.

7.She arrived in India in 1914 at the age of 36 and on meeting Sri Aurobindo spontaneously saw and felt in him a demonstrative assurance that the aim of the integral divine transformation of life was a complete possibility and that Her life's work lay here beside Him. And the same She pursued incessantly (with an interruption during the years of the World War I) in her embodied form up til the age of 96 and built up Sri Aurobindo's spiritual work from the very beginning to an international status in Sadhana, in education and in the construction of an international township. In the literary way, the organization of "The Arya", which brought forth Sri Aurobindo's main works, and Her own writings, which came later are additional. Further additional are Her capacities and creations in painting and music.

S. In Sadhana, the work consisted of giving continual individual attention and help to seekers to grow in consecration, selflessness, harmony, peace and the realization of soul and God. Objectively it was to recreate the entire contemporary cultural life on the spiritual basis. Sri Aurobindo Ashram with its large

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community of about 2,000 persons and a vast set-up of varied departments with wide international contacts is the present shape of things.

9. In education, the work consisted of organizing a proper environment, creating a new atmosphere and providing for each child the individual attention necessary for promoting in him the inmost spiritual fact of his personality rather than stuffing him externally with information and stifling the inner fact which brings unity, harmony and creativity to life. Sri Aurobindo's International Centre of Education with its facilities from the kindergarten to post-graduate research is the ostensible result.

10.The International township of 'Auroville' was the last thing to be undertaken. The aim was to concretise human unity beyond ordinary barriers of nationality, race, language, religion etc. on a true spiritual basis. And in this too a promising good start has been made.

11.The Ashram life and its promotion has been the basic work all along and there are thousands today who rejoice over the inspiring contact they have had from the Mother. The educational work was taken in hand in 1943 and Auroville was inaugurated in 1968.

12.All the three undertakings being basically spiritual, are essentially most uphill tasks, which have had constantly to fight against the down-hill movements of normal human nature.

13.Sri Aurobindo and the Mother were most realistic in their approach and entirely aware of a continuing and a mounting action needed to overcome the hard resistances of life and circumstances, even when they pressed for an early decisive result. Sri Aurobindo worked long for the overmental siddhi, which came about in 1926. Much longer and more strenuous

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was the next phase of work that was crowned with Supramental Descent in 1956 and created the necessary condition for the transformation of the physical, which engaged the Mother for a long time and continues to be the further quest of the spiritual work here.

14. Sri Aurobindo's continued spiritual action in the pursuit of the aim of integral transformation of life was vouchsafed by the Mother repeatedly after his passing in 1950. The same must be presumed of the Mother after She left her body in 1973. And there is testimony enough, inner and outer, that they both continue to look after their work and the sadhakas have thus every reason to be happy in their pursuit. An energetic and a persistent pursuit of the high ideal under the inspiration of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother carries its own immediate satisfaction and the assurance of a full ultimate result.

IV A FEW WORDS OF THE MOTHER

Let all circumstances, allhappenings in life be occasions constantly renewed,for learning more and ever more.

Let the aspiration and love for the Divine conquer in you all desires and all difficulties.

Never grumble, all sorts of forces enter you when you grumble and they pull you down.

Suffering is not at all obligatory, nor is it even desirable, but when it comes to us, how helpful it can be.

Let your life be a constant search for the Truth and it will be worth living.

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Anxiety is a lack of confidence in the Divine's Grace.

The fatigue comes from resistance and worry; do not worry, let yourself go, and the fatigue will go also.

When one does not progress, one feels bored.

Work done in the true spirit is meditation.

Try to take pleasure in all you do, but never do anything for the sake of pleasure.

When we have to work collectively, it is always better to insist, in our thoughts, feelings and actions, on the points of agreement rather than on the, points of divergence.

All work must be play, but a divine play, played for the Divine, with the Divine.

Indeed, all life is love if we know how to live it.

The Grace and the help are always there for all who aspire for them and their power is limit less when received with faith and confidence.

India must rise to the height of her mission and proclaim the right to the world.

The number one problem for India now is to find back and manifest her soul.

Dr. Indra Sen

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Pondicherry

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2

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

The Ashram has been an organic development, a natural and growing expression of the ideals of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. At first only a few of Sri Aurobindo's associates lived with him like members of a household. As years passed, others joined. But it was in 1920, after the Mother's final arrival, that the number began to increase and a collective life took shape. The Ashram as it is now and its ever expanding activities, here and around the world, are inspired and guided by the Mother.

By the term 'Ashram' is often understood something like a monastery, a cloister for recluses and ascetics, but this was not what it meant in the ages of the Vedas, the Upanishads or the Epics. An Ashram was the house of the Master where the disciples gathered to acquire knowledge and to perfect their lives. Sannyasa or asceticism as popularly understood was never accepted by Sri Aurobindo as part of his Yoga and the Ashram at Pondicherry, obviously different from the popular idea of an Ashram. Its members are not sannyasis, they do not wear ochre robes or practise rigorous asceticism, but are sadhakas, seekers and aspirants of a life based on spiritual realization, the ideal being the attainment of the life divine here on earth and in physical existence. This was the character of the Ashram when it had 8 members and it is so today when it has 2000 with a floating population of more than 200 visitors and temporary residents.

Only those are accepted who have an inner call for the Divine. All other considerations are secondary. While it is expected that all those who are thus accepted, will offer their material possession to the Ashram, it takes charge of them materially and spiritually and provides them with all facilities for a healthy and reasonably comfortable

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living. The visitors, who are allowed to participate in the Ashram life, though they may be staying on a temporary basis, meet their own expenses. The expenses of the Ashram are largely met from offerings and contributions. To the inmates of the Ashram the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother are lights on the way. The stress is on a change of consciousness and nature with a view to preparing man and society for the next higher stage of evolution. All activities in the Ashram are centred round this faith or truth.

In the Integral Yoga work is an indispensable means of self-perfection. Each member takes up the work that is allotted or suited to him. As the Mother puts it: "To work for the Divine is to pray with the body." No gradation, of higher and lower, is attached to any kind of work. There is no hierarchy of officials and subordinates. What is important is not so much the capacity or the efficiency of the individual as the consciousness or the spirit in which the work is done.

All activities are represented in the Ashram. They include agricultural farms (meeting a part of the Ashram requirements of rice, fruits and vegetables), dairies, workshops (including automobiles and machinery repairs), factories (hollow-bricks, mosaic-tiles, ceramics, smithy, foundry, woodworking, sheet-metal, handmade paper), printing presses (letter press and offset with printing done in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese and nine Indian languages), oil mill, cottage industries, perfumery, art gallery, embroidery, hand-marbling (a process of textile printing), weaving and handloom and other services like common kitchen and dining room, laundry, bakery, allopathic and homeopathic dispensaries, ayurvedic section, house-maintenance, sanitary, furniture, tailoring, Prosperity (Ashram stores for supplies to inmates), transport, secretariat, cashier's office, postal service, granary, SAACSO (Sri Aurobindo Ashram Central Sales

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Organisation), Reception Service (helping to show visitors around the Ashram), Visitors' Service (receiving visitors and arranging for their stay), liaison office (dealing with labour and inter-departmental affairs), SABDA (Sri Aurobindo Books Distribution Agency), garden, flower and fruit service, cinema (usually on Saturday), guest houses and an educational centre ranging from nursery to post-graduate levels. The Ashram has grown up and developed like a tree and each branch was created not by any artificial planning but in a spontaneous way.

Each one chooses the work most congenial to his nature and must do it in a spirit of service and unselfishness keeping always in view the aim of integral transformation.

The external rules are very few so that each one can have the freedom needed for his development. But once a person has been accepted he has to observe the following: (a) no smoking, (b) no alcoholic drinks, (c) no sex, (d) no politics.

In all spheres of Ashram life there is perfect equality between men and women. Great care is taken for the maintenance of good health and the growth and perfection of the body for all, young and old. In the words of the Mother, "The Ashram has been founded and is meant to be the cradle of the new world. . . . The door is open and will always remain open to all those who decide to dedicate their life for that purpose".

The Sri Aurobindo Society with its members, centres and branches all over India and in many parts of the world and its project of Auroville, the city of Human Unity supported by UNESCO, the World Union Movement and Sri Aurobindo's Action are other international organizations helping to spread the message of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother all over the world.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Darshan Days:

21st February:	The Mother's Birthday.
24th April:	The Mother's final arrival in Pondicherry.
15th August:	Sri Aurobindo's Birthday.
24th November :	Day of Realization (Siddhi Day).

Other Important Days:

17th November :	The Mother's Withdrawal.
20th November :	The Mother's Mahasamadhi.
1st December :	Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education.
2nd December :	Demonstration by Physical Education Department.
5th December :	Sri Aurobindo's Withdrawal.
9th December :	Sri Aurobindo's Mahasamadhi.

Once known as "Puucherry" (New Town), Pondicherry is a port 100 miles to the south of Madras. Legend says that in the olden days it was known as "Vedpuri" (The City of Vedas) where the renowned sage Agastya had had his Ashram.

It is located at latitude 12° N. and longitude 80° E. on the eastern coast of India, 160 Km. (100 miles) south of Madras on the Madras-Tindivanam-Pondicherry highway.

Transport:

There is a regular bus service between Madras and Pondicherry with a bus almost every two hours. The journey takes about four hours. Taxis are available. Pondicherry is also

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connected by train to Madras via Villupuram. The train journey takes a little longer time and one has to change trains at Villupuram.

Climate:

The Climate is hot and humid from April to October. It is pleasantly cool from November to March, though it is never very cold. Light woollens are rarely required during December-January. The rains occur principally in October, November and December, with a few showers from July to September. Cyclones are not unusual.

Mean monthly temperature:	Maximum: 36.5° C. (98° F.) June
Mean monthly temperature:	Minimum: 20.1° C. (68° F.) Jan.
Maximum temperature:	41.0° C. (106° F.) June
Minimum temperature:	18.4° (65° F.) Nov. March
Rainfall:	100 cms. (40 in.) to 150 cms. (60 in.) annually.

Ashram & Auroville:

The Ashram institutions and houses are scattered all over Pondicherry and even in the neighbouring areas. Auroville areas are 3 to 5 miles from the main Ashram building on the way to Madras spread on the borders of Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu.

Reception Services:

These services are open from 8 to 12 in the morning and 2 to 5 in the afternoon. If a visitor wishes to go round the Ashram departments, a tour is conducted from 8-15 a.m. The visitors are requested to assemble near the Ashram Gate a little before the bus leaves.

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The Darshan of the Samadhi of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother is from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday for casual visitors.

A conducted tour of Auroville is arranged at 2-45 p.m. For further information, visitors may contact Auroville Information Office, opposite the Ashram.

Guest Houses:

The Ashram and the Society maintain a number of Guest Houses for visitors to the Ashram with well-furnished rooms, many with attached baths. The charges range from Rs. 5/-to Rs. 40/- depending on the type of accommodation. Dormitory type of accommodation is available at Rs. 3-00 per head per day.

Dining Rooms & Restaurants:

The Ashram Dining Room provides simple but hygienic food to Ashramites as well as visitors. The charges for visitors are Rs. 3-00 per head per day. (Breakfast, Lunch and Supper).

The Society runs a kitchen where the charges are Rs. 7-00 per head per day (Breakfast, Lunch, Tea and Dinner). The Cottage Restaurant of the Ashram prepares varieties of sweets and snacks and also serves meals.

Timings:

The Ashram Main:	4-30 a.m. to 11-00 p.m.
Building
The Ashram Departments :	8-00 a.m. to 11-30 a.m. and
	1-30 p.m. to 5-00 p.m.
Meditation at the:	7-45 p.m. to 8-15 p.m.
Playground:
(Thursdays & Sundays)

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Ashram Dining Room:

Breakfast	6-40 a.m. to 7-45 a.m.
Lunch	11-15 a.m. to 12-30 p.m.
Supper
Mondays, Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, Fridays:	5-45 p.m. to 6-00 p.m.
	7-45 p.m. to 8-30 p.m.
Thursdays & Sundays:	5-45 p.m. to 6-00 p.m.
	8-15 p.m. to 8-45 p.m.
Saturdays (If there is a Film-Show):	6-15 p.m. to 7-00 p.m.
Society Kitchen:
Breakfast	7-00 a.m. to 7-45 a.m.
Lunch	11-30 a.m. to 12-30 p.m.
Tea	3-45 p.m. to 4-15 p.m.
Dinner
Mondays, Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, Fridays:	7-00 p.m. to 7-45 p.m.
Thursdays & Sundays:	7-00 p.m. to 7-20 p.m.
	8-20 p.m. to 8-30 p.m.
Saturdays:	6-15 p.m. to 7-00 p.m.

'These Timings are subject to change whenever there is a special programme. Changes are announced on the Ashram Notice Board along with the announcement of the Programme.

Cottage Restaurant:

7-00 a.m. to 10-00 a.m.

12-00 noon to 1-00 p.m.

3-00 p.m. to 7-30 p.m.

Sri Aurobindo Society Pondicherry-605002.

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3

Auroville

A DREAM

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 sufferings and miseries, 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 possions, the seeking for material pleasures and enjoyment. In this place, children would be able to grow and develop integrally without losing contact with soul. Education would be given not with a view to passing examinations and getting certificates and posts, but for enriching the existing faculties and bringing forth new ones. In this place titles and positions would be supplanted by opportunities to serve and organize. The needs of of the body will be provided for equally in the case of each and everyone. In the general organization intellectual, moral and spiritual superiority will find expression not in the enhancement of the pleasures and powers of life but in the increase of duties and responsibilities. Aritstic beauty in all forms, painting, sculpture, music, literature, will be available equally to all, the opportunity to share in the joys they give being limited solely by each one's capactities and not by social or financial position. For in this ideal place money would be no more the sovereign lord. Individual value would have a greater importance than the value due to material wealth and social position. Work would not be there as the means for gaining one's livelihood, it would be the means whereby to express oneself, develop one's capacities and

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possibilities, while doing at the same time service to the whole group, which on its side, would provide for each one's subsistence and for the field of his work. In brief, it would be a place where the relations among human beings, usually based almost exclusively upon competition and strife, would be replaced by emulation for doing better, for collaboration, relations of real brotherhood.

Auroville, The City The Earth needs

Greetings from Auroville to all men of goodwill.

Are invited to Auroville all those who thirst for progress and

aspire to a higher and truer life.

Auroville wants to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realize human unity.

Auroville: at last a place where one will be able to think of the future only.

Auroville Charter

1.

Auroville belongs to nobody in particular, Auroville belongs to humanity as a whole. But to-live in Auroville one must be a willing servitor of the Divine Consciousness.

2.

Auroville will be the place of an unending education, of constant progress and a youth that never ages.

3.

Auroville wants to be the bridge between the past and the future.

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Taking advantage of all discoveries from without and from within, Auroville will boldly spring towards future realizations.

4.

Auroville will be a site of material and spiritual researches for a living embodiment of an actual Human Unity.

The Mother on Auroville:

Auroville should be at the service of The Truth, beyond all convictions, social, political and religious.

Auroville wants to be first realization of human unity based on the teaching of Sri Aurobindo, where men of all countries would be at home.

Let Auroville be the symbol of a progressive Unity. And the best way to realize it is a unity of aspiration towards the Divine Perfection in work and feeling in a consecration of the entire life.

Auroville wants to be a new creation expressing a new Consciousness in a new way and according to new methods. . . . Auroville offers itself to all who aspire to live the truth of Tomorrow.

Auroville is the effort towards peace in sincerity and Truth.

Auroville is an attempt to world peace, friendship, fraternity, unity.

Auroville is the shelter built for all those who want to hasten towards a future of knowledge, peace, and unity.

Humanity is not the last stage of terrestrial creation. Evolution continues and man will be surpassed. It is for

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each individual to know (whether he wants to know) whether he wants to participate in the advent of this new species.

For those who are satisfied with the world as it is, Auroville has evidently no raison d'etre.

To work for Auroville is to hasten the advent of a more harmonious Future.

Auroville is meant to hasten the advent of the Supramental reality upon earth.

The help of all those who find that the world is not as it ought to be, is welcome.

Each one must know if he wants to associate with an old world ready for death, or to work for a new and better world preparing to be born.

To be a true Aurovilian one must never tell a lie.

The ideal Aurovilian aspiring to become conscious of the Divine Consciousness takes neither tobacco, nor alcohol, nor drugs.

We are not living in Auroville to be comfortable but to grow in consciousness and to serve the Divine.

Auroville has been created for a super humanity, for those who want to surmount their ego and renounce all desire, to prepare themselves for receiving the Supermind. They alone are true Aurovilians.

Those who want to obey their ego and satisfy all their desires belong to a sub humanity and have no place here. They should return to the world which is their true place.

Everybody has to progress and to become more sincere. Auroville has been created, not for the satisfaction of the

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egos and their greeds, but for the creation of a new world, the Supramental expressing the Divine perfection.

At last there is a place where one can think only of progressing and transcending oneself.

At last there is a place where one can live in peace with no conflict and rivalry among nations and religions and ambitions.

At last there is a place where nothing will have the right to impose itself as the exclusive truth.

To Be A True Aurovilian

1.

The first necessity is inner discovery by which one learns who one really is behind the social, moral, cultural, racial and hereditary appearances.

At our inmost centre there is a free being, wide and knowing, who awaits our discovery and who ought to become the acting centre of our being and our life in Auroville.

2.

One lives in Auroville in order to be free of moral and social conventions; but this liberty must not be a new slavery to the ego, its desires and its ambitions.

The fulfilment of desires bars the route to the inner discovery which can only be attained in peace and the transparency of a perfect disinterestedness.

3.

The Aurovilians must lose the proprietory sense of possession. For our passage in the material world, that which is indispensable to our life and to our action is put at our disposal according to the place we should occupy there. The more conscious our contact is with our inner being, the more exact are the means given.

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4.

Work even manual work, is an indispensable thing for the inner discovery.

If one does not work, if one does not inject his consciousness into matter, the latter will never develop. To let one's consciousness organize a bit of matter by way of one's body is very good. To establish order around oneself, helps to bring order within oneself.

One should organize life not according to outer artificial rules, but according to an organized inner consciousness, because if one allows life to drift without imposing the control of a higher consciousness, life becomes inexpressive and irresolute. It is to waste one's time in the sense that matter persists without a conscious utilization.

5.

The whole earth must prepare itself for the advent of the new species, and Auroville wants to consciously work towards hastening that advent.

6.

Little by little it will be revealed to us what this new species should be, and meanwhile the best measure to take is to consecrate oneself entirely to the Divine.

Conditions for Living in Auroville

To be an Aurovilian one must at least belong to the enlightened humanity and aspire to the higher consciousness, that which will govern the race of tomorrow. Always higher and always better, beyond the egoistic limitations.

From the psychological viewpoint, the required conditions are:

1. To be convinced of the essential unity of mankind and and the will to collaborate towards the material realization of that unity.

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2. To have the will to collaborate in all that favours the future realizations. The material conditions will be worked out gradually according to the realization.

Auroville will be a self-supporting township. All those who live there will participate in its life and development. This participation may be passive or active. There will be no taxes as such but each will contribute to the collective welfare in work. Sections like Industries which participate actively will contribute part of their income towards the development of the township.

Or if they produce something (like foodstuff) useful for the citizens, they will contribute in kind to the township which is responsible for the feeding of the citizens. No rules or laws are being framed. Things will get formulated as the underlying Truth of the township emerges and takes shape progressively. We do not anticipate.

The Mother

On 16-8-71 the Mother gave her sketch of the new symbol of Auroville. The tracing of the design was seen and approved by her on 24-8-71. She explained the significance thus:

"The dot at the centre represents Unity, the Supreme:

the inner circle represents the creation, the conception of the City;

the petals represent power of expression, realization".

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Auroville—The City of New Life

Auroville, sponsored by the Sri Aurobindo Society, is being established to give a concrete shape to its ideal of a progressive universal harmony. Named after Sri Aurobindo, Auroville literally means the "City of Dawn". Introducing the project, the Mother, President of the Society declared:

"Auroville wants to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities.

The purpose of Auroville is to realize human unity."

Auroville proposes to realize this unity in diversity and not in uniformity. In fact the first condition to live in Auroville is to be convinced of the essential unity of mankind and the will to collaborate in the material realization of that unity. On 28th February, 1968, was laid the foundation-stone of of this unique town. On this occasion, young people came from all over the world, bringing love in their hearts and and soil from their countries in their hands, which they placed in a lotus of marbled-mosaic as symbolic of their cooperation in this project.

The town, planned for 50,000 residents, will be an expression of beauty in all its forms. The site selected is on a high level land in Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu, in South India, and provides a panoramic view with the sea on the east and a number of lakes on the west and the north.

The town will be divided into four zones: international, cultural, industrial and residential with a central sector. Nothing necessary for life will be forgotten.

Permanent cultural pavilions for each country and also for each State of India, are an important feature of Auroville activities. An attempt will be made to represent here the cultures of the different regions of the world in such a way

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as to be accessible to all, not merely intellectually but also vitally in habits, customs, in art in all its forms, and physically too through dress, games, sports, industries, food and even reconstruction of natural scenery, all leading to a unique cultural synthesis.

The activities in the project cover a very wide range; industrial, agricultural, educational, artistic and others. Each nation will have the opportunity to participate in the project in which it specializes. The work in Auroville will not be a field which one is compelled to accept for earning one's livelihood but joyful means whereby to express oneself while doing at the same time service to the whole group. In fact, the whole of Auroville will be a living university, a place of unending education, of constant progress. There will be thus an integrated effort and a practical research towards creating conditions where each individual can occupy the place for which he is best suited, develop himself to his highest possibilities, inner and outer, and give his maximum to mankind.

Auroville has been unanimously supported by the General Assembly of UNESCO in Paris. "Rotary" and and "Lions" organizations have also resolved to lend their support to Auroville. Architects, engineers and many other specialists have offered their services voluntarily.

At present there are nearly 300 persons, from all the continents of the world, from various walks of life, who are staying at Auroville, in small communities significantly named, "Promesse," "Hope", "Peace", "Fraternity", Utility", "Success", "Aspiration." Also there are three villages, Kuilapalayam, Kottakkarai, Edyanchawadi, within the urban area of Auroville which are being given a chance to participate in the building up of Auroville and also to learn various crafts and skills without any interference in their community structure.

Work is continuing in agricultural farms, dairy, orchards, gardens and industries. Research is being carried on in various

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fields of practical importance: Energy and waste recycling, reforestation and organic farming, food and nutrition, environmental and architectural research, art and culture, education and research on man.

Matrimandir, the soul of Auroville, at the centre of the town is under construction presently. The four huge pillars supporting the Matrimandir sphere, symbolically representing the four aspects of the Divine Mother, Maheshwari, Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati, have been completed. The concreting of the first layers of all the four ribs of Matrimandir sphere was completed in time for the Mother's 96th birthday, 21st February, 1974,

The central sector comprises of Matrimandair, the Garden of Unity around the banyan tree and an amphitheatre built around the marbled lotus into which the soil from the different countries of the world, was poured on 28th February, 1968. In the residential sector a few permanent houses have already come up.

In the International zone, the construction work on the auditorium and the restaurant of the Bharat Nivas, the pavilion of India, is nearing completion. The construction of four pavilions for the States of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh has been undertaken by the Auroville construction team. Work on other State pavilions will be taken up gradually. Site clearance and initial preparations were started on 28th February, 1974.

At "Aspiration", which houses 125 persons, a new school has been opened, sports facilities have been created, a printing press, a handmade paper factory, a polyester factory and a health centre are functioning and three more schools are under construction. Many of the goods made in these small production units and some articles of village crafts are exported. A Cultural Centre and a Television Centre are also slowly taking shape. Near this is being but "Auro-Model", the advanced colony for builders and technicians.

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For the moment life is hard and full of challenges and sacrifices. But there are always those with an adventurous spirit who want to be pioneers of the new world. Auroville invites all those who are aspiring for a better humanity and a better world, to participate in this unfolding saga of the world progress.

Here are the beginnings of a "dream city" of which we have dreamt as little children and hoped that someone, some day, would fulfil it. And now it is on the way to fulfilment— the city of happiness, harmony and progress, with no politics, no economic exploitation, no rich or poor, no employer or employee but all brothers, united in their upward march.

The evolution on earth from stone to plant, plant to animal and animal onward, cannot stop with man. It continues and man will be surpassed. In this further evolution lies the fulfilment of present humanity and a solution of all the problems with which it is faced today.

Contributions to Sri Aurobindo Society—Auroville, qualify for tax-exemption under section 88 and section 35 (1) (iii) of the Indian Income-Tax Act. Under section 35 (1) (iii), the limit of 10% of profits does not apply and the whole donation is treated as an expense i.e. the tax-relief will be be on 100% of the amount contributed. All cheques should be drawn in favour of "Sri Aurobindo Society—Auroville". All enquiries may be addressed to Sri Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry-605002, India.

Auroville—Physical Data Location:

The location of Auroville is at latitutde 12°N. and longitude 80°E., about 160 Km. (100 miles) south of Madras on the Madras-Tindivanam-Pondicherry highway, mainly in the State of Tamil Nadu with some areas in Pondicherry State. The town is flanked by new Madras highway on the west

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and the old Madras road on the east, about 10 Km. north of Pondicherry. The site, 50 to 60 metres above sea level, gradually sloping down to the sea osi the east and to the lakes on the west, commands a panoramic view of the coromandel coast. It is planned to cover an area of about 40 sq. Km. (15 sq. miles), for 50,000 residents.

Climate:

The climate is hot and humid from April to October. It is pleasantly cool from November to March, though it is never very cold. Light woollens are rarely required during December-January. The rains occur principally in October, November and December. Cyclones are not unusual.

Transport:

Visitors are advised to stay in Pondicherry. There is no public transport to Auroville, but conducted tours to Auroville, by bus or taxi are arranged by Auroville Information Office, opposite the Ashram Main Building, Pondicherry 605002.

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