The Delta programme: aspiring for collective transformation

In amongst Auroville’s current governance schism, there are a few initiatives taking place to find a way through to an opening to something higher to unite us all. Heartweaving, in which a small group is participating, has come out of Raghu’s work (AV Today issue 402). In addition, there are less publicized initiatives such as Breathwork trainings, Partho’s retreat as well as dances that are being offered to help the community shift the energy of our current political impasse.

In November Natasha Storey put a call out to the community to see whether people would be interested in taking part in another such initiative, the Delta programme. It evidently touched a nerve because eighty-four people, twelve groups of seven people, committed themselves to this seven-week programme.

The Delta is one of the the Gene Keys programmes, which refers to itself as ‘a path of gentle transformation’ to ‘develop our humility’ based on four values: contemplation, patience, inquiry and gentleness. Given the challenges of Auroville at present, it is clear that these qualities speak to many of us who have the aspiration of changing the prevailing paradigm from within. The Delta is relevantly titled as ‘a Game of Gene Keys programme’ in which seven participants take on seven positions in rotation over seven weeks, with a corresponding text to read, audio to listen to and key inner values and practices to work with. For example, in one of the positions the emphasis is on selflessness of speech, but also awareness of its shadow aspect of seeking recognition for what we are giving. There is a focus on parts of the body – in this example the throat -- and specific suggestions, like to notice dreams and first and last thoughts of the day.

The hands-on experience of the Delta programme is one of community, honesty and self-reflection on the course themes, which, aside from selflessness, include harmony, clarity, purification, intuition amongst others. Community is built by the weekly group gathering, and secondly by connecting with one partner who changes every week, so by the end of the course an increased connection is found with all seven in the group by the sharing of their inner journey. Honesty and self reflection arises through the exploring of these topics supported by a group.

There is something in the challenges we are going through at present that has catalysed an inner seeking, and there has been an understanding that a community crisis does not manifest out of nowhere and that one solution is the inner work of dealing with what comes up. The Gene Keys emphasis on shadow work and contemplation has fitted this need for a quiet reclaiming of our inner path in the midst of the turmoil.

It remains to be seen what the result of the Delta course will be, but the building of a stronger collective fabric, the deepening of inner work, less reactivity, and the acquisition of tools to access higher states will surely have its effects on the community.