Progress in Auroville September 1979 No.1 Matrimandir Office The office space in the group of temporary workshop and storeroom building near the Matrimandir has housed a variety of occupants and functions over the years. However, as none of its past is particularly interesting or has much connection with what is happening there now, perhaps it’s best to go on to the present. Beginning several months ago, workers at Matrimandir felt the need for a weekly meeting in order to co ordinate the work, discuss problems relative to the work as a whole, introduce new ideas, etc. Around the same t

Dream-Experience of Mary Helen   It was a wooden structure, somewhat like a cabinet that contained many, many drawers.  It was so vivid that I asked Arabinda Basu if he would tell me its meaning.  He said that each of the drawers in the cabinet contained gifts that Mother was giving me.

Mary Helen’s Dream of Mother   "Trying to reach a destination as yet unknown.  Sometimes with Narad, sometimes alone, hostile beings trying to destroy us which we either fought & beat down or ran away from. Finally came to a gathering of others who had undergone the same kinds of battles to reach this place.  There was a building - not Matrimandir; just an ordinary looking western style, long rectangular building with a peaked roof.  It appeared new for the structure was complete but it had no exterior finish. As everyone gathered together we realized Mother was there - not above or apart, but among us as one of us.  She asked us to come into the building and when we were all inside She t

PROGRESS in AUROVILLE   Sept 79 – No. 1   Introduction   Auroville at birth, eleven and a half years ago, was a wide expanse of barely productive farmland and overgrazed fields dotted here and there with a few isolated trees, patches of scrub jungle and cashew groves, and Scored with deepening canyons.  But there was a feeling of pregnancy in the land, people began to arrive drawn by some deep inner response to the promise and challenge of an ideal, and the manifestation of the Mother's Dream began.   The span of time from the beginning to the present has been full – comings and goings, of discovery, experimentation, learning, and growth, - the future constantly races

PROGRESS – A Note from Narad   Introduction   In 1979 Mary Helen began the first journal of Auroville.  She called it 'Progress'. Each day she would visit a different community where Aurovilians were beginning to settle in, creating gardens, building homes, infrastructure, planting forests, bunds to allow the rains to seep into the ground and prevent the them from washing away the topsoil into the canyons and then out to sea. These pioneers of AurovilleÕs early days spoke of their hopes and dreams for this city to be built on the ideal of human unity.  Although Mary Helen completed only four issues when it was decided that a larger newsletter should be started with a proper building an

Tribute to Mary Helen – Dimitry Melgunov   Dear Narad,   Words are useless in such case, still, please, accept my deep condolences. Remembering Mary Helen with most heartful feelings.  May her soul rest at peace in Mother's embrace. Please, feel my deep sympathy and support. It is remarkable, that last days I thought of you several times and was going to write a letter to you to know how are thingsÉ Now I opened my mail exactly at 00:00 and somehow I thought that a divine message should come in such an unusual time which is as if out of time. and I got the message from you. Sending some lines which I dedicate to Mary Helen. May be they are not so good poetically, but sincere

Tribute to Mary Helen – Genevieve and John, and Rohini   Very Dear Narad,   Thank you for this beautiful message so purely representing Mary Helen, such a great soul, and so dearly admired and loved.   I felt blessed to speak briefly with Chali last night.  Her mother's strength and inner beauty was deeply evident.  I am so thankful that you will be together soon, to love, remember, rejoice and heal in Mother's Grace.   Our hearts are with you both.  Please tell us if there is any thing at all that we can do beyond holding you in our hearts and minds with compassion and great love.   Your devoted friends,   Genevieve and John, and Rohini

Minna Paladino and Amal Kiran on Mary Helen   March 13, 2002   Dear Narad,   On the 9th I mailed a letter to Mary Helen.  And then on the 9th afternoon your letter and diary notes to Amal arrived in his letter box.  He read them on the 10th. I hardly knew her. Only met her a few times on your last visit to Pondicherry.  But I feel so close to her.  I prayed for her healing practically every day.  And even after the 10th of March when I learned of her leaving, I still pray for her. Funny thing... today when I got to the Nursing Home there were two packets of pecan nuts and dried fruits from Mary Helen waiting in front of Sri Aurobindo's photo.  One is for Amal and one is for

Dean Nair to Narad – On Mary Helen's Passing                     Much moved by your experience on Mary Helen's departure.  There Was undoubtedly a passage into another unseizable dimension.                    Remain calm and peaceful in the certainty of Mother's love and protection.   Yours, as ever,   Devan