Many films feature good hotels in central locations where the political, intellectual, and economic elite meet. I always perceived this as something very elitist, colonial, and power-hungry. What escaped me in the films, and probably was rarely their subject either, is the networking that takes place in such places. Now, the Center Guesthouse in Auroville can hardly be compared to a luxury hotel in a metropolis, although it is a very beautiful place, welcoming, friendly, and making life easy.
Rather, the Center Guest House is a place of encounter. Every day I meet new people here who have a strong relationship with Auroville—this relationship is spiritual, supportive, or friendly. It is quite astonishing what it means to be in such a place. Every day I learn new aspects of Auroville and the influence this place radiates into the world. Much German, English, French, Hindu, and Tamil is spoken.
Two worlds intertwine here: the world of the Tamils and the world of the mostly Indian and European visitors. These worlds are ultimately connected spiritually. I rented my scooter from a Tamil; he gave me a ‘student price,’ for we were all students of the Mother here. It is remarkable that the two worlds move toward each other here, united in the will to build something new.
The Devine Life
I keep reading Sri Aurobindo’s book; much is explained here: fundamentals of consciousness, spirituality, the Self, being. Aurobindo pursues the great questions and does so with the greatest openness, accompanied by reason, yet not reduced to it. He places reason and intuition in a symbiotic relationship and points out that we can learn much about this from the Upanishads.
What is exciting is that Aurobindo’s philosophy can also be felt in the Central guest house. The people, the architecture, the forest, the birds and other animals, the conversations and offerings, the cooking and the stillness, the connectedness of the people, the respect, a shared goal, the trust in meaningfulness, the contentment and devotion, and the richness in modesty are the keyboard for Aurobindo’s philosophy.
Leave a Reply