What is spirituality? A reflection by young Aurovilians

Having grown up here, I’ve heard the words ‘spiritual’ and ‘spirituality’ a lot, often in different contexts. When I left Auroville in 2008 to further my education in the Netherlands, I was often asked whether spirituality is taught at Auroville schools, and whether I am ‘spiritual’. My initial and honest response to the former was always ‘No’, and over the years, I asked myself the latter: Am I spiritual? And what does being spiritual entail?

Looking back on my upbringing in Auroville schools, I can say that I was never directed towards spirituality, or pushed to read the works of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. And yet, I slowly came to realise that the spiritual component that is transmitted to young Aurovilians such as myself is invisible and intangible. Throughout the years, I cultivated an interest and a curiosity about spirituality that I explored on my own, following my inner voice. I ultimately found my own ever-changing meaning of spirituality, one which resonates with me and that I apply in my own way.

I was allowed to discover my own interest in spirituality, and to foster the courage to do it at my own pace. I would not be able to pinpoint a moment, a place, or a person, that specifically guided me, but a critical element was identifying with the Auroville Charter. Having read it at school, it gave me a feeling of unity with others and created a concrete purpose for living in Auroville.

At the end of the day, I am here because I have chosen to unravel the winding path to spirituality, and to do it here; not because I read The Mother or Sri Aurobindo, but because I was awakened by a curiosity for and a drive to explore the essence of my being. For me, spirituality leaves the trail of philosophy when, through an integral approach to self-discovery, we actively pursue the aim to establish a connection with the psychic.

Having somewhat established what spirituality means to me, I was impelled to shed light on the experiences and voices of others like me. This article is the culmination of conversations that I have had over the past few weeks with a representative sample of Auroville youngsters, all of whom are currently living here.

Different meanings of spirituality

Someone who associates spirituality with taking moments out of the day to sit quietly and listen to himself is Emanuele (24 years old, working in Future School). For him, spirituality is something personal and close to him, an awareness of what goes on inside. By experiencing things and by acting in a different way from usual, he asks himself questions, and realises that there are parts of him beneath the surface. This questioning element has always been there for him. He says that when he is aware, he realises that most of the time he is not, and that there are moments that parts of him need to run on automatic, because being aware all the time can be very draining. He says that there is no how-to book on spirituality. He also believes that spirituality goes beyond the books. If you don’t believe in it, feel that it is true, or apply it to yourself, then reading The Mother and Sri Aurobindo won’t make you a spiritual being. It’s a lot about experiencing things and being aware of what’s happening.

Someone else who relates to stepping back and observing himself is Noé (18 years old, working in Youth Centre). He says that spirituality is a longing for self-development and for working on yourself, and not being too concerned with external desires. Auroville is the reason why he considers himself to be a bit spiritual, and that it’s his destiny, that everything happens in the way it’s supposed to. For him, being spiritual means taking moments during the day to sit down quietly and meditate, being in the present moment and getting rid of all your thoughts.

Mohini (26 years old, working in Nine Palms) says that spirituality represents a path in life that you choose to follow by connecting to your true self, your inner being, and then connecting that to your lifestyle. She explains that she achieves that from time to time through traditional methods like yoga and meditation, or at home by being aware and more conscious of the goals she aims for.

She says that by growing up in Auroville, automatically you have a connection to The Mother and Sri Aurobindo because they are present all the time, and you learn about them, not only in school but also through interactions with people, your surroundings, and also through programmes and activities.

Dasha (23 years old, co-founder of Esendi Swimwear) who has lived here since she was a toddler, says that it’s different for everyone, but also identifies with spirituality as a connection with yourself. She feels that she is spiritual in the sense that she has a kind of awareness, and feels grounded and in control. She mentions the role of Awareness Through the Body (ATB) classes as a starting point on this path. She adds that awareness and spirituality are almost a part of her personality, and that spirituality can never be defined by the way you dress or speak, that dressing fully in white as the stereotypical attire won’t make you more spiritual. She also questions whether we can label someone as spiritual, and adds that, maybe, everyone is more spiritual than it may seem at first.

Two other views on spirituality come from Manjula (25 years old, working in Last School) and Shrishti (25 years old, working in Shradhanjali). Manjula thinks that spirituality is an inner journey of consciousness that can be made through work that requires sincerity. She says that in Auroville there is a lot of help, and that she aspires to be spiritual, in her own humble way. For Shrishti, being spiritual is an attitude of focussing on growth in whatever you do. Neither of them associate being spiritual with just reading works of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. They explain that it’s not only the exposure to the books, but also to the people who attempt to live according to the ideals that represents spirituality to them.

For Premi, (18 years old, student of Future School) spirituality is something which is above her that she connects to when she calms her mind, it is an external force that gives her a solution and another way of looking at things. For her, playing the Veena and dancing are what bring a spiritual component to her life.

According to Elke, (working in Future School) it is very clear that being spiritual is not the ability to extensively quote The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. For her, the message they convey becomes a part of her life and becomes integrated in the way she relates to other people and to nature. She does not relate it to meditating, but to growing as a person towards becoming a better being. She believes that there is a purpose in life beyond just being born and dying, and also that you can come back in a different life to learn what you did not in one lifetime. On a practical level, even small things such as how she talks and tries not to be hurtful, how she does not crush a bug because she recognises that this being has its own reason to live, are part of her spiritual touch.

Another side of spirituality was brought forth by Samai (30 years old, co founder of Kallialay Surf School and INDI Surfboards) and Suhasini (24 years old, co-founder of Esendi Swimwear) who both associate spirituality with something personal that comes through work and doing things you love. Samai explains that on a daily basis spirituality plays a role in doing the best you can, and striving to do better every day. It doesn’t mean only reading The Mother or Sri Aurobindo. There are plenty of other people that can help you, and spirituality is not a religion, so their work should not be taken that way.

Suhasini explains that although for every individual it’s different and hard to define, for her spirituality is related to Love. If you love what you do and you can find yourself in it, that’s spirituality, and that’s where she is at this stage in her life. She shares that she feels lucky that she can do what she loves, and that this dedication and joy is a form of spirituality. It is where nothing stops you and you find ways to reach your goals. She stresses that many adults expect youngsters to look at spirituality the way they do, and they do not realize that it’s a journey that is different for everyone.

Virya (28 years old, working in Green Care/AVHoops) defines spirituality as the essence of human life. He explains that all religions have the same spiritual aspect, a mystical, real, and pure essence. He says that because division and differences between religions have been created over time, the purity of spirituality did not yet succeed in uniting us.

It became clear that everyone I talk to believes that spirituality is something personal that cannot be defined or identified by anyone but yourself. Each one mentioned that the meaning of spirituality will differ from person to person, and that the most important factor is the application of spirituality to daily life, which has little to do with just reading The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. The latter is referred to as a help or a guide that can be sought out in times of need.

Can one teach spirituality?

Next, I probed my respondents about what they think the form and role of education should be in introducing spirituality and the vision of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo.

Virya clarifies that spirituality is something you cannot push on a child, because the curiosity has to blossom from within the individual, and any form of teaching young minds would lead to a form of conditioning. He says, “It should stay subtle and always present but not be force-fed” and adds that, in this respect, his time in Kindergarten, Tran-sition and Future Schools was perfect. He adds that Awareness Through the Body was an effective class, where he learned to understood the philosophy of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo because it was integrated directly into his daily life in a soft and practical way.

Daniela (27 years old, working in Visitors’ Centre) says that that the works of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother should be read by everyone only when they are ready for it. Dasha and Suhasini both feel that Auroville schools should offer the option of learning things by themselves. Dasha feels that living here is not always enough to have an in-depth knowledge of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo, hence the option of a class should exist.

Suhasini says the Auroville philosophy classes offered in Future School provide such an introduction, but she is aware that not everyone of high school age would be interested. She doesn’t feel she has missed out on anything as, being born and growing up here, she feels she was surrounded by the ideal of Auroville. After a certain age, and especially because she decided to stay in Auroville, these questions came up at the right time, and she was able to satisfy her curiosity at her own pace. Mohini agrees that the Auroville philosophy class allowed students to explore a very meaningful subject on their own. Premi says that when she sees a picture of The Mother she reads her quotes, but she doesn’t miss a class in school that is dedicated to her teachings because there are books in the library, and spirituality cannot be taught.

Noé, however, says that when he reads the weekly News and Notes extract on the back of the cover page he realises that he would have liked to attend a class about Auroville, and The Mother and Sri Aurobindo, because there are so many things that he doesn’t know. He emphasizes that such a class doesn’t have to be in school, but that it should be aimed at young people who are interested, and be done in an inviting atmosphere, where nothing is forced on you.

Manjula adds that it is very important that the person guiding such a class is not too opinionated and directive. Elke believes it would not be popular if The Mother or Sri Aurobindo’s work were introduced in a class. She says that when it is integrated in daily life it becomes more relevant for students, for example by applying it to issues that concern a particular generation, such as family, relationships, or work. She says the classes in Savitri Bhavan are not accessible, and do not fit the mindset of young people. She feels that Auroville has to evolve in a certain way that goes beyond the vision of The Mother. It has its own dynamic and a lot of things are happening here that are a part of the process of evolution, and we cannot teach that in a conventional way. She mentions that there can be space for more introductions to spirituality, that Auroville Philosophy classes are a very good option, but it could have more emphasis and priority, and especially if there is an emphasis on academics it’s always good to balance this.

Emanuele says he only took up the path of spirituality because it was a choice he consciously made. He shares that some classmates had a blockage which prevented them from being interested in spirituality because of repeatedly being faced with something they were not ready for. He also adds that he likes the way it is currently done.

Having heard many stories on how spirituality unfolds, I am moved and humbled by the responses. Perhaps young Aurovilians have not had a “sustained education in aspects of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo’s vision” but everyone is spiritual in their own way, and nobody points fingers and says that our education has not taught us about the vision. On the contrary, the feeling is that spirituality and the work of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo cannot be taught, but are instead taken up by each and every one at their own pace. School can offer guidance, rather than teaching. With this in mind, I asked my respondents how they got in touch with their spiritual side, and if they had some suggestions as to how this can be encouraged for future generations.

Getting in touch with one’s spiritual side

Virya stresses that the role of the parents in a child’s rounded education should not be overlooked, because they play a significant role in being able to raise curiosity about Auroville, and The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. However, he points out that in the case of Auroville children, it is often the parents’ choice to live in Auroville and follow this way of life, not the child’s, so it should rightfully be the child’s decision if they wish to learn about The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. Everyone needs their own time to plunge into spirituality, whether it is at 5 years of age or at 35, or even not at all. In his experience, the three schools he attended have always been in touch with Sri Aurobindo and The Mother’s concepts on education. “What more can one ask for?” he asks.

Samai envisions that the way to get through to children is by explaining what Auroville is about, and that the decision to pursue it further will be theirs. He explains that the aim of Auroville should be described in an interesting way, and he says that he would have liked to learn about The Mother’s vision in a non-religious way. Mohini, who is someone who loves to work with children, points out that for the younger age group, a programme where spirituality and works of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo can be integrated should include games and fun.

She agrees with Virya’s and Dasha’s opinion on classes like Awareness Through the Body and says that they can be very helpful and effective, especially for young children.

School activities, outings and seminars would also help in integrating different aspects of our community into the education of Auroville children. She has read some of Sri Aurobindo’s work, and agrees with Virya on the role of parents. She recalls that it was by talking to people who guided her, and especially her father, that she was able to grasp the meaning of spirituality in Sri Aurobindo’s vision.

Mohini’s interest in the works of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo came much later, after having left Auroville. This helped her to appreciate The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. She mentions that, while living here, she constantly heard people speaking about it or using arguments based on what The Mother and Sri Aurobindo said, so she developed an aversion. For the same reason Daniela calls it an ‘allergy’, and explains that she was only able to appreciate the work when she chose to do it on her own. Manjula had a similar reaction. Hearing constantly around her, “The Mother said this, and Sri Aurobindo said that” made her not want to get in touch with the work, and it took her a while to begin the exploration by herself. Mohini explains that there are certain things that are done individually that can result in an interest in spirituality. She gives the example of attending bonfires where you feel connected to Auroville, and going to the Matrimandir to visit the gardens, or going into the chamber. She says: “Most of the people in my generation feel the same. We do talk about spirituality in school but then it also comes from the older generation because it is very present everywhere.”

Emanuele expressed that having someone to talk to or a chance to explore it through Awareness Through the Body can be useful. If someone feels embarrassed about their inability to describe to someone The Mother’s vision or what spirituality means, then that person should have made the effort to educate themselves. Elke says if you are interested in a topic then you make sure you get exposed to it. But Emanuele points out that if you are spiritual, you don’t need to know anything. You can have a conversation about spirituality with someone who has never read The Mother and Sri Aurobindo and you will still have common things to talk about. Manjula reveals she has had the most astonishing conversations about spirituality with people that may not look like the classical image of spiritual people. She suggests that an option for young people to get in touch with the work of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo would be some collective interactive sessions guided by senior Aurovilians, like they do in Last School. Shrishti agrees, and shares that one way to spark curiosity about spirituality, its meaning and its presence in our daily life could be through such interactive sessions that inspire questions and make us revisit our reasons for choosing to be in Auroville. She explains that what worked for her in Last School, having arrived in Auroville at the age of 14, was not having anything preached to her, but instead participating in discussions and open sessions about Auroville, the world, and life in general, and to explore The Mother and Sri Aurobindo’s work from that angle.

Finally, Emanuele summarises it beautifully: “If you take all the parts of my life in Auroville and you dissect them, in the end there is something left that can’t be named, and that’s the reason why we are here. It’s something that calls to you.”

Responsible for own education

As can be seen by the responses, young Aurovilians are open to the idea of having classes about The Mother and Sri Aurobindo, and in fact do attend them when they feel the time is right. It is very clear that nobody feels that their education in Auroville has insufficiently prepared them when it comes to being able to explain the essence of Auroville and the vision of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. In that respect, we are all responsible for our own education, and because we have tools such as Awareness through the Body, the books in our libraries, the platform in schools and in courses, and the people to guide us such as our parents and our teachers, not using them is our own choice. It is not the role of education to teach us about the vision of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo, because the essential truth of their vision is transmitted in invisible and intangible ways, and will only ever be felt by those who are open and ready for it. At the end of the day, words will always fall short because spirituality transcends those boundaries. One thing I’ve learned is that when I ask the question ‘What is the meaning of spirituality to you?’ I feel rather than hear the answers at the level of my heart. It goes far beyond words, and in that respect each of us radiates that feeling. The rest... It’s all semantics.