AUM meets AVI at Woodstock

During the last meeting of Auroville International (AVI) in Spain, our host, Alfonso, requested that the next meeting be held in the US “while Obama was still President” and the destination be Woodstock. His wish was fulfilled this August. The gathering ended up combining both an All USA Meeting (over 60 people from the US) and Auroville International with representatives from the US, Canada, France, UK, Germany, Holland and Spain in attendance.

The AVI members, who came early for their Board meeting, were housed with various neighbours near Matagiri, the Sri Aurobindo Center which, like Auroville, was founded in 1968.

When these meetings are held, the organizers often try to make a presentation about Auroville to the general public and we were fortunate that Frederick, one of the first Aurovilians, was visiting the East Coast and that Nadaka had been giving concerts in Quebec City and Montreal. Both were able to join another early pioneer, Savitra, at the Woodstock Community Center. Their talks, along with the screening of the new Acres for Auroville video produced by Rakhal, gave the gathering a good sense of the history and trajectory of Auroville.

The first night of the conference opened with an introduction by Julian Lines who noted that the original ‘69 Woodstock Festival began on August 15th, Sri Aurobindo’s birthday. While reading Festival promoter Michael Lang’s “The Road to Woodstock” he had uncovered the fact that the papers creating Woodstock Ventures, the legal entity behind the whole event, were signed on February 28th, another date which, he said with a smile, “was not a mere coincidence”...

The evening included local singers Amy Fradon and Leslie Ritter singing songs from the original ‘69 Festival, including the Dylan/Band classic “I Shall Be Released”, while Woodstock photographer Elliott Landy showed his rare photos of the Band from the “Big Pink” era. Then Auroville expats Amando and Dhani Muniz rocked out the evening with hits from the era, with some local friends assisting on vocals and drums.

The keynote speaker for the conference was Savitra (Alan Sasha Lithman) who has published a number of books and moderates the “Occupy Love” site on Facebook. He received a standing ovation for his talk, which explored the evolution of Sri Aurobindo’s and Mother’s yoga since their passing. In light of the unprecedented Evolutionary Force of Change shaking the very foundations of human consciousness and civilization, over-stressing ecosystems and nervous systems, challenging the very sustainability of our planet and our species, how, he asked, has the Integral Yoga Community and Auroville evolved to meet it? And if the Mother and Sri Aurobindo were here now, what would they say to us?

Other outstanding Auroville pioneers who presented included Martha Orton and Andrea van de Loo. Martha had written her thesis on “Oneness” based on Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy. Andrea spoke about the honesty and effort needed to climb out of addiction into a sober life. It was noted during the workshop that there are many forms of addiction besides alcohol, including power, speed and conspicuous consumption, drugs, gambling and sex, and that all had to be left behind in an evolutionary yoga.

Mandakini made a compelling presentation about the land and the work of Acres for Auroville and the recently acquired piece close to the Matrimandir. She also chronicled the life of Dr. Judith Tyberg who was given the name Jyotipriya by Sri Aurobindo. Her work in Los Angeles had a profound effect on the US, and the Sri Aurobindo Center there continues her legacy.

There were moments of bliss when Wendy was teaching an outdoor yoga class while Nadaka and Gordon were teaching a South Indian tune to Klaus, and moments of utter frustration when the conference centre internet and phone system crashed exactly when a live video dialogue with Auroville was scheduled. The session finally took place on Sunday morning at Matagiri, where a final group photo was taken on the library steps. Having Nadaka present to sing and chant for the Woodstock community and those attending the AUM provided an invocation and closing blessing for the days we had been together.

The entire programme is listed on the www.collaboration.org website along with links to a Facebook page with links, photos and the latest information on AUM 2016.