The Auroville Economy: Computers or Hibiscus?

In spite of threats of a monsoon downpour, five per cent of Auroville made its way along the unfamiliar paths and tracks to Sharnga, skidding and sticking in the mud, here and there taking wrong turns, but eventually arriving at the ‘Palacio’. This was lesson one: a symbol of the process. It made me remember that in fairy tales the venture into the unknown goes through whatever mud and perilous adventures to reach the palace (and of course the princess ... ). In this case, the Palacio is beautiful, but not yet finished, and so the monsoon did leak a bit though the roof.

I did not expect very much of this conference and the prospect of meeting intensively for two full days could be a waste of time and encourage more frustration. Obviously, others had similar apprehensions. But unlike for some other meetings, extensive work had gone into planning and organizing this seminar and there seemed to be unanimous agreement that the meeting was a success. Now, how could that happen?

This question of why the meeting ‘worked’ is more interesting in some ways than the actual content of the meeting (see the nicely documented minutes and other reports of the meeting in this issue). The deeper issue involves how would-be Aurovilians can explore the human unity issue when they’re such a diverse group, very individualized and in their mind quite sure of how things should be. On the big question of money, everyone has a vested interest and plenty to say. However, it was not so much what was said but how it was said, that was important. The songs, poems, relaxations and good meeting techniques contributed a lot to an open atmosphere, where everyone could breathe freely, be themselves and be listened to without hostile reactions.

On the second day, actual discussion of issues could take place against the background prepared by the first day. At one point one could note opposing trends that might be called the computer versus the hibiscus. One participant gave the example of someone who just grows hibiscus, as being an unproductive person. After he had been reminded by others that the Founder of Auroville Herself had designated one particular hibiscus flower to be the flower of Auroville, and had given a host of other beautiful names to the many hibiscus species (like the Supramental Consciousness, the Power and Beauty of the New Creation, etc.), the group eventually could conclude that neither assembling electronic components nor growing hibiscus determines an individual’s value to Auroville.

At the end of it all, it became quite clear that joy and endurance were needed, above all, to keep the Auroville process going and growing. The steps toward a collective economy must be taken, the steps along the path to the palace, however muddy.