Auroville- India's Utopian Community

A few days ago I traveled to Tamil Nadu and I am currently staying near Pondicherry for a few weeks. I am staying in Auroville a utopian community of around 3000 people from 54 countries . It covers about 20 square kilometers. It was established by Shri Aurobindo and the Mother in 1968. It is located about 3 hours south of Chennai.

The Matrimandir is the focal point of the community-

 a place of silent meditation

Auroville was founded by Shri Aurobindo - an Indian freedom fighter and then later guru and enlightened Master- and the Mother (born Mira Alfassa in France) -his student and later spiritual partner and enlightened master herself

In Auroville no one owns property. They can lease land for up to 99 years and then it reverts back to the community after the "owner's" death. Auroville does not use Indian currency. There is no circulation of money. 

However many wonderful products are created here - from one of a kind clothing, to revolutionary idea water purifiers, wonderful French baked goods (there is a big French population here because The Mother was born in France), organic produce, ayurvedic products, perfumes and you name it! International art and cultural opportunities abound as well as new age classes and instruction of all kinds.

There is no one spiritual teaching that is propounded. However, everyone here is spiritually minded and must be vetted by the community before they can live here permanently. 

This huge banyan tree was designated the center of the community when it was first designed. All of the "trunks" that you see in the photo are part of the same huge tree.

An example of one of the great French bakeries- this one at the Visitor's  Center

The Mother is famous for her love and study of flowers and their associated properties and uses for spiritual healing. She documented the spiritual properties of thousands of types of flowers.

Tomorrow I have an appointment to meditate inside the Matrimandir. It is only available to access through appointment. I will tell you more about that after tomorrow. I have been inside before since this is my third visit here. It si quite a silent and cosmic space.

A statue of Shri Aurobindo at the Vedic learning center

Here is a photo of the Mother in her older days. She and Shri Aurobindo did pioneering work is bringing the supramental level of the cosmic force to earth. Their mission was to facilitate an age of positive transformation. This is the core of their teaching.

At the Visitor's Center there is a beautiful display about the teachings of The Mother and Shri Aurobindo. Here is the Mother at a young age. Her spiritual journey began when she was told that everything in the world was composed of atoms. Understanding the deeper meaning, she had the realization that therefore that nothing "really" existed. It was merely the manifestation of the Divine.