41–50 of 83 posts
BTW, their course offering looks very good: https://edu.auroville.org/courses
- Construction & application of Ferrocement
- Production of & construction using CSEB
- Arches, Vaults & Domes - Masonry
I kind of would have expected Yoga and spiritual things, but it appears they are genuinely interested in the technical skills required for hands-on self-sufficiency.
Tbh this may sound cultist to others, but it's really not. You'll need to understand the philosophies of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo first for it to make sense. It's sets the example of a Utopian society. One shouldnt simply look at it from that angle and discard it without understanding the history and vision behind it.
I agree - as far as spiritual movements go, this is one of the least cult-ish I've ever seen. Even the stuff they say - I can at least sit down and consider it without freaking out instantly. In some ways they resemble the very modern panpsychist school of thought (Giulio Tononi, Sam Harris). Consciousness is a basic ingredient of matter. Both matter and consciousness are real. Evolution is real. There is no biblical…
Many of the younger people I met were only living in Auroville because they were born there, and they had little to no interest in spirituality, the Mother, Sri Aurobindo, etc.
> "Auroville was born on 28 February 1968. Its founder, the Mother, created the Auroville Charter consisting of four main ideas which underpinned her vision for Auroville. When Auroville came into being, All India Radio (AIR) broadcast the Charter, live, in 16 languages. Aurovilians apply the ideas of the Auroville Charter in their daily life, in policy-development, and decisions, big and small. The Charter thus form…
Also, when you actually visit Auroville, you find that it has splintered into disparate communities that sometimes outright dislike one another. Again, this seems very different from cults, which tend to insist on forced unity and orthodoxy among its membership.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I agree - as far as spiritual movements go, this is one of the least cult-ish I've ever seen. Even the stuff they say - I can at least sit down and consider it without freaking out instantly. In some ways they resemble the very modern panpsychist school of thought (Giulio Tononi, Sam Harris). Consciousness is a basic ingredient of matter. Both matter and consciousness are real. Evolution is real. There is no biblical…
I had no idea Sam Harris would be described as panpsychist. Interesting.
This is literally the last thing I expected on the front page! My family are all based in Pondicherry and have very strong historical links with the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and the Mother. And are also involved in the Auroville administration and management. I've been there a lot, I've stayed there, met many people who live there and work there. And it's an unusual place. Some of the folks in Pondy call it "Horrorvile"…
I always view these types of movements with a lot of suspicion. Mainly because of the falsehoods they present. Self-realization is not something that can be taught by following someone else. You can spend your entire life looking for it in other people. But you have to experience it, to truly understand. You shouldn't even listen to what I'm writing here, as this entire comment could be a similar falsehood that detracts you in your search.
This is literally the last thing I expected on the front page! My family are all based in Pondicherry and have very strong historical links with the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and the Mother. And are also involved in the Auroville administration and management. I've been there a lot, I've stayed there, met many people who live there and work there. And it's an unusual place. Some of the folks in Pondy call it "Horrorvile"…
sounds about right for a commune