I have been putting off this blog entry for some time now and after reading it you will know why. On our third day of the trip we visited the experimental society known as Auroville. It was founded by followers of the Sri Ashbendo Society and led by a women only known as "mother". To say the least the community is kinda creepy. They believe that "human unity" is the ultimate truth and that it can be achieved only after one has rid one's self of their ego. Which may sound good in theory but... In practice is well just strange. Formed in the late sixties the majority of the founders can be described as hippies. The goal was to create a experimental society of the future that was rid of currency, ownership, and religion. But, what Auroville has turned into isn't in my eyes exactly what the founders had in mind. The society consists of the remnants of the counter culture revolution and is divided into two main groups. On one side you have the group that focuses on the spirituality and teachings of the mother, while at the same time a group within the community could care less about a heighten sense of conscience and wants to end social and environmental injustice. We visited a advocacy group that operates inside the community that has social and environmental programs in the community and surrounding areas. In their hour or so long lecture the mother or spirituality was not mentioned once. However, when we met with the chief architect for the city it was a different story. He was in charge of building the enormous center of the city which is a 10 story high golden globe...which in the top has a room with the world's largest crystal ball sitting in the middle with a single ray of light shining in it...this is where the citizens of Auroville go to meditate...as I stated earlier I have been putting this off for a while now because every time I wrote it up it didn't make sense, this is when I realized that this is because Auroville itself doesn't really make sense. If you have any questions about the history or beliefs visit there website where they might be able to better explain their unique and strange society.
This is the site where they go for meditation. Inside on the top floor is the room with the world's largest crystal ball. Check out the bike for scale.
This is one of the twelve gardens that will surround the globe that represent the 12 vibrations that one should experience through meditation...?
The globe is plated in real gold...
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