Karma yoga

At that time, I participated in the wonder of Auroville as if by magic: no expectations, no groups, not many responsibilities, etc. Then, as one grows, more and more work starts flowing towards you, responsibilities are offered and taken, with exceptional experiences like the completion phase of the Matrimandir, the soul of Auroville. There was a feeling of being blessed to do this work.

Non ownership, non-hierarchical functioning, and group work were lessons still to be learnt. In Auroville, all projects are for The Divine, for the Mother. The Mother wrote down and said some things about how to go about it, but the rest is left to the individual and group to figure out. Thus, the functioning and decision-making processes of Auroville are unique and cannot really be defined. As active participants in the creation of this place and despite differences of opinion, this is the biggest challenge.

For a project like Auroville where you work for the Divine, it plays out in hardly conceivable methods. To be a true doer of divine works, one has to be free from desire and ego. Though the intention is given, this experiential discipline is extremely hard to realise as the ego is clever and sneaky, it shows up all the time. We regularly witness these effects within and without.

After all, Auroville is an experiment of the Divine, and we are guinea pigs being rolled around in the research lab of the Divine. So the journey becomes exhilarating, painful, and intense, with nonstop pain, growth and action. As The Mother promised, you come here for growth of consciousness and not fulfillment of desires; circumstances around ensure that this is tested a million times.

Sometimes, decisions do not seem to be based in logic or common sense, but after going up and down in this roller-coaster ride for a while, a design and plan start to reveal themselves. This Auroville soup is meant to change us, change us for good. The only constant truth: “Surrender”, “Let go”. Let go of our opinions, our ideas, our thoughts, our tangible and intangible possessions.  

Spirituality in action emerges in this act of surrender: surrendering one’s sense of ownership, surrendering one’s control over the outcome, surrendering one’s being, ideas and all of oneself to Her. This is hard, it is difficult, and it does not happen without constant practice.

Another feature that appears constantly and evidently in working for Auroville is that, easily my own will, ego, desires, opinions and views are put out as that of the divine. This happens to all of us, hardly anyone is spared of this feature.

Group functioning is a special phenomenon, worthy of research by a doctorate student, the challenges and the highs and lows come while working in groups. We work and create for ourselves and the community: the ownership is common and the result is also common. If we are together and harmonious, we can create; if we are not, we destroy or definitely delay. It can only be compared to a family functioning. Families though are naturally socially, genetically, and culturally homogeneous; here the family has 50 other nationalities along with educational, social and cultural differences. The ecosystem of decision-making and of work can only proceed with an alignment of ideal. If not, it is impossible to proceed.

Since last year, Auroville is undergoing a shift, a drastic shift of collective consciousness, with strong forces in action. The violent methodology and lack of consensus to build have created a big division in a community of collective ownership and an aim of Human Unity. Further attempts to force a decision as well as disrupt, dilute and modify Auroville, have brought a spontaneous unity, a spontaneity to act, putting aside small differences to stand up for Auroville. This action to stand despite personal threats and risks, brings a hope, a hope for the survival of Auroville, that the cradle of superman will survive the crass, petty-minded, brute attempt to crush the New World.

This rise of collective consciousness visible in recent weeks and months is a rare phenomenon to protect A Dream. The one example that comes to mind are the sacrifices of Bhagat Singh or Chandrasekhar Azad for India’s freedom. Boldly and courageously risking comfort and life for an ideal greater than oneself. Can this giving be a collective Karma yoga? I don’t know, the Mother has said this is an experiment, so many new phenomena will emerge, and we will be the instruments that are molded, used and ultimately changed through this process.

So ultimately how is it to work in Auroville, for Auroville? When it is sincere, working is a joy, a learning and progressive experience. When it is mixed with desires, ego and personal goals and aims, it becomes a struggle. Any which way, it is changing us, as willing or un willing servitors; working in Auroville is, and probably will remain, a transforming experience.