Foreword to the Address to the Matrimandir Gardens Workers July 2005 Slightly Revised and Expanded We are not building the Matrimandir, the Matrimandir is building us. Narad In 1961 Mother invited me to come to the Ashram with Her words to Jyotipriya, ‘He may come and stay as long as he likes.’ She accepted me as an Ashramite and I was given 'Prosperity', began an Ashram Choir that sang to Mother on Christmas eve, and received innumerable blessings from Her and Sri Aurobindo. In 1968 She invited me to come for the inauguration of Auroville and when I met Her, She said, ‘You don't want to come to Auroville in a few years? I feel you

The Children's Gardening Class.htm THE CHILDREN’S GARDENING CLASS The Gardening Class for children was for me one of the highlights of the 1970’s, a time when we were introducing many new flowers and breathing and living in the Mother’s atmosphere, so strong in those difficult days of the first twelve years of Auroville.  It was the first time I had worked with young children and I look back on it now, thirty-five years later with great joy since I am once again taking classes with children of all ages through the Matrimandir Gardens and working with the Ashram students as well. I had wonderful times with these little ones, from the age of four or five to fourteen, for we would have all kind

A Letter to Aurovilians about Trees June 12, 2005 Dear Friends, You ask how I feel about trees. In February of this year I spent hours with Leonard and Nadia going through "Flowers and Their Messages" to select trees that would be most suitable for the Matrimandir Gardens. Trees are the Guardian Presences, the calm Protectors who offer their cooling shade and strength to all who walk under their welcoming branches. To know how I feel about trees one has only to stand under the 'Service Tree' at the Samadhi or the Banyan of the Matrimandir Having said this I would like also to add that the two mos

The Dalai Lama’s First Visit to the Matrimandir Area.htm The Dalai Lama’s First Visit to the Matrimandir Area In the early 1970’s a workers camp was constructed at the ‘Center’ of the Matrimandir Area.  There were a number of rooms for the workers,  a meditation room, a kitchen and a  large dining area.  The construction was casuarina poles and a keet (coconut leaf) roof. One day we were in the dining area finishing a meal and a few Aurovilians were in the kitchen cleaning up when suddenly someone came running in and said, “The Dalai Lama is coming.” We hurried to clean the dining room, setting chairs and tables in place and cleaning the kitchen as quickly as possible.  I remember one o

A Walk in the Outer Gardens of the Matrimandir I had the opportunity last week to walk through a section of the Matrimandir outer gardens with two friends. It was an extraordinary hour spent in the presence of massive, kingly trees, flowers and fragrances. The eucalyptus were awe-inspiring, towering to great heights. Eucalyptus ptychocarpa was truly magnificent with its brilliant clusters of reddish-pink flowers. All was a revelation of Nature’s loveliness. These special children of ours, planted in the early to mid 1970’s, had many of the large pits dug by the Ashram boys who came out a midnight to work by the light of lanterns. Many

From the Journal, COLLABORATION – Summer 1975 NEWS OF AUROVILLE Matrimandir: The skeletal curve of the upper sphere is now plainly visible. A massive concreting was scheduled for the end of April. Aurovilians from all communities are devoting as much time as possible to carrying out the construction. The outer gardens around the Unite office have been planted with trees, which have taken root and appear to be thriving in spite of the drought. Patricia, who is coordinating the work, along with several helpers hand- waters the trees and shrubs. Rakelda, one of the Ashram’s oldest members, comes regularly to help Matrimandir Plant Nursery:

Article on the Matrimandir Gardens for 'The Seed Pod'.htm

Dear Dr Hanna, Richard Eggenberger has shared with us his great pleasure at meeting with you in April and has given to us a brief appreciation of your considerable achievements at the University of Georgia. We shouldlike to express our gratitude to you for making available to Richard the turf samples. With these we hope to dramatically reduce our water requirements whilst retaining the beauty of year round grass cover. To have available to us throughRichard the facility of your advise and your expertise is indeed a grace. With many thanks from the Matrimandir Team MichaelTait

Letter to an Aurovilian Concerning the Matrimandir Nursery and Gardens Regarding the plants in the Matrimandir Gardens and Nursery, we began with a palette virtually devoid of colour, not only in the Matrimandir but in Auroville as well in the very early 1970’s. When Mother gave me the charge to build the Gardens of the Matrimandir I set out in 1969 to find an area close to the Center, Peace, where the Matrimandir would be built. I selected a spot that would offer the most protection for the thousands of seedlings and cuttings that would be introduced. There was a grove of mango trees with a bullock path bordering one side, a canyo