News & Notes - Auroville

More documents

Recommendations

Info

obscured through time and labelled superstitious by scientific minds, some of these customs are still very alive, and draw on a timeless knowledge. Traditions in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe vary in their forms, but share universal elements, and may well hold seeds for the future. Essentially a rainmaker is someone who knows how to enter into conscious communication with the Forces of Nature that determine the weather. While this capacity can be a gift, an inherited trait (as in the matrilineal Rain Queen in South Africa), and often induced by rituals and/or special substances, a rainmaker usually undergoes a long and rigorous training, and observes a lifestyle of purity that allows him or her to maintain a closeness to the powers that make the Weather. In ancient Tamil tradition, three kinds of people were apt to call the rain: a perfect king, a pure woman, or a santron (a wise and selfless advisor to the community). A well-known classical poetess affirms that “the existence of one man of perfection is sufficient to get the rain for the survival of the people of the whole world”! China, where the government is planning to boost its massive cloud seeding programme by five times to an unimaginable 280 billion tons of yearly precipitation, had in ancient times an enlightened way to bring about rain: In times of drought or other calamities, a sage would be called in to advise the people on what was amiss in the society, and how to collectively recover the harmony that would inevitably restore Nature’s balance. Such subtler methods are being increasingly rediscovered. A modern-day rainmaker in the USA uses the thorough training he received from an Ojibwa medicine man in combination with a sophisticated ‘Wilhelm Reich’ rainmaking device to achieve astounding results, through a technology that has neither the exorbitant cost nor the problematic effects of cloud seeding. His website makes for fascinating reading. We in Auroville are privileged to have access to numerous accounts of Mother’s experiences with the forces behind the Weather. And while our soil is thirsting for monsoon rain, we have the prayer given by Her, which has brought about the heavenly grace again and again: Rain, Rain, Rain, we want the rain. Rain, Rain, Rain, we ask for rain. Rain, Rain, Rain, we need the rain. Rain, Rain, Rain, we pray for rain. Further reading: Mother’s Agenda. www.rainmakerrainmaker.com, internet on Reich’s rain machine. The Green Column appears bi-weekly as an initiative of the Auroville Green Center. We invite everyone to share any green topics, for a healthy Auroville, bioregion & planet Earth! For AV Green Center (avgreencenter@auroville.org.in) Jasmin, Lisbeth & Bridget About ACT being forced to discontinue free buses to Pondy For about two decades SAIIER provided free transport to Pondy, in spite of all odds and risks: two trips in the morning and one in the afternoon, weekly; during the tourists’ season, supplying two or three buses at the time. When SAIIER discontinued the offer, for legal reasons, the ACT team kept alive this free service; some passengers did not pay because of their tight economic situation or as a matter of principle – but others paid, in support of this indispensable transport. For most Aurovilians the first stop was the Samadhi where Sri Aurobindo’s and the Mother’s bodies rest; some spent long time in meditation, and eventually afterwards ate at the Ashram Dining Room. Others visited friends, or sick people admitted somewhere; or had X rays and tests done, consulted specialists and so on. I have seen Aurovilians carrying on the ACT bus trunks, suitcases, gas stoves, computers and other cumbersome items, even a bicycle. Besides the psychological and spiritual issues, do we realize how much money we saved, through that bus – not to mention in terms of pollution and congestion? Many adults took regularly the bus, for years. The senior Aurovilians too, starting from Mahalingam (the Tamil translator of Sri Aurobindo, over 90), so dear to the Mother that she paid for his family to keep him at the Ashram! Two seniors boarding the bus every time are no more, but they enjoyed their trips till the end. The SAIIER and ACT free buses, quite full, were even more packed on Saturdays and holidays, when our students joined. Add the volunteers, who work here for free, and the guests (often paying exorbitant prices to the guesthouses), and what that service meant to so many people is obvious even to the deaf and blind. From last July to October the ACT was allotted a monthly subsidy of Rs. 38,000; afterwards the BCC/FAMC cancelled that meagre help too. With the paying trips (mainly visitors in Pondy boarding the bus to go to the Matrimandir) the ACT raises 35.000/40,000 every month. But as their yearly expenses are 13 lakhs, without a prompt intervention they will close down the entire ACT service, including the Matrimandir trips. Private cars as a status symbol? Motorbikes since one’s teens, machismo? Taxis for those incapacitated or too old? This cannot be the answer. And if on top of this cynical scenario we point out that, by the Mother’s will, the Sri Aurobindo Society provided two Pondy bus trips a day, in special occasions even three, it is legitimate to ask: what have we done with the Mother’s provisions for Auroville? To suppress the two weekly free trips to Pondy is the last stroke of the systematic work of dismantling all that the Mother had put in place for a city to be inhabited, and run, by those of whom we hardly speak: the “honorary voluntary workers” – “willing servitors of the Divine Consciousness”, in Mother’s parlance. But if, even worse, the BBC/FAMC fail to understand the necessity for the Pondy bus altogether, and the ACT is forced to close down, as I was told, 1) it is an outrage to the spirit of Auroville and the Mother’s guidelines 2) it unmasks the bluff of our pretension of inhabiting an ecological city 3) it exposes a financial-economic system gone so astray, after 45 years, that we cannot even ensure the collective transport to the Matrimandir, not to mention that of the residents. Then what our ‘values’ are will be known to all, with irreparable damage. Truth! The best reply is the SAIIER free bus gone last Sunday to Pondy for the sole purpose of us visiting Sri Aurobindo’s room. The rain was pouring but we cheerfully boarded the bus; at every stop more Aurovilians, of all ages and ethnicities, joined, filling almost entirely the large bus, as it happens at every darshan trip. Nonagenarian Mahalingam was present, beaming like usually, he too braving the rain. A big thanks to SAIIER! Long live to Auroville! Submitted by Paulette 8 News&Notes 30 th November 2013[525]
A dream takes shape – Part 3 – The land of milk and honey Part 2 see News&Notes16th November 2013 [523]. Is clean and healthy drinking water a luxury item in the future? Recently I watched a video about the water situation in Santa Cruz, USA reporting consecutive years of low rainfalls and the alarming lowering of well levels. At times water had to be rationed. The local governments are aware that salinisation of groundwater is an irreversible damage and has to be avoided at any price. Looking for alternatives like lowering the water consumption (increasing awareness), recycling of waste water for irrigation and harvesting of rainwater is all considered, researched and in the process or already implemented. And although urgent actions are needed it doesn't really address the important question: How to get, make, secure more water? In many cases the water problem has long ago exceeded the question of only maintaining the present consumption. The wells have reached their maximum capacity long ago, similar in AV. Is a return to a simpler lifestyle the answer? And if a growing population adds an additional load on the water demand? Recently worldwide rain is either way too much or not enough – at least from the human point of view. But if the weather is out of control, all the above measures to preserve and collect water will fail to solve the water shortage or secure even the present situation. Beginning of this year it rained in the south of Spain within 24 hours 30% of the yearly average rainfall and that after a very long dry summer! I looked out of my window and thought I was in India in the heaviest monsoon ever. Recent floods all over the world show clearly that the weather is “out of control”. If it ever was under control :). In many coastal areas in the south of Spain water is channelled over long distances from the mountains to the high density areas (towns) with industry, agriculture and tourism. These systems worked fine for the last 500 years (since the Arabs introduced them) but already since 2 decades fights over water-rights are common. Claro, much of the “further developments” might be questionable but nevertheless one fact remains: there is less and less water available. The rivers are running dry. It is amazing to see a plentiful river in the mountains and then hardly recognize it, trickling into the sea. In some cases the rivers don't even reach the sea any more. But AV has neither mountains nor a river nearby. What alternatives are then left for AV not only to secure the present water supply but eventually get more? How can we grow without more water? Can we afford to depend on rainfall only while wells are depleting? What does the rest of the world do to solve this crisis? Juergen, Creativity AMPHITHEATRE - MATRIMANDIR No meditation at the Matrimandir Amphitheatre on Thursday 28 th November Thursday weekly meditation Listening to Savitri read by Mother with Sunil’s music Timing: 5.30 to 6.00 pm (weather permitting) Let’s enjoy the beautiful open space, the glow of the setting sun and heavenly music in the very center of Auroville! Dear Guests, please carry your Guest Card – please no photos there. Access only for the Amphitheatre from 5.15 pm. – 6.oo pm. Thank you! Amphitheatre Group I N V I T A T I O N S An invitation to all the teachers and facilitators in the field of education to meet and aspire and connect collectively to” The Dream.” Saturday the 7 th of December for all the Auroville and Outreach Schools At the Unity Pavillion. The programme is from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 9 am to 10.15 am. Reading “The Dream” followed by a sharing where we express gratitude for all that has manifested in Auroville . 10.15 am. To 10.30 am tea break 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. Hearing “ The Charter of Auroville” read by The Mother, followed by a sharing where we each express ‘ one step that we can take in the future in the field of education to further manifest The Dream. This can be a step an individual can take, or it can be something we need to add to our school curriculum or it can be something we need to co-create educationally to manifest “The Dream” or something dear to your heart/mind. 11.30 am to 12 pm. Conclusion Our aims 1) To aspire together to manifest The Dream. 2) To connect, feel and be part of the larger whole picture –pre crèche/ kindergarten to high school 3) Be grateful for all that has been achieved 4) To see what steps emerge to further manifest “The Dream” educationally. If you wish to come and have not yet let us known, please do so by the 2nd of December. It would help us to organise this gathering well. mitadg@gmail.com News&Notes 30 th November 2013[525] 9
Page 1 and 2: News & Notes 30th November 2013…
Page 3 and 4: ANNOUNCEMENTS Participatory Working
Page 5 and 6: Some specifics books Dear Friends,
Page 7: essential to inquire and absorb inf
Page 11 and 12: CULTURAL EVENTS Change of Timing Pl
Page 13 and 14: KOLAM DRAWING Dance & Drawing is pr
Page 15 and 16: Programme for December 2013 Y o g a
Page 17 and 18: NEWS FROM AUROVILLE LANGUAGE LAB NE
Page 19: Cinema Paradiso MMC Auditorium Film

News & Notes - Auroville

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?