content (Health) Healing Touch is a therapy focused on the energy field of the body that assists in balancing the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the self. By tapping into the array of energy centers in the body, Healing Touch encourages the being's natural ability to heal. I spoke with a group of Healing Touch certified practitioners who have come to offer Healing Touch classes as a gift to Auroville.
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Wednesday, 15 February 2012 (Spirituality) The program 'Matter Precipitates... It is in a hurry to transform itself' by Sri Aurobindo Centre for Studies... India and the World, concluded with the 'Auroville Round'. It was a session open to all to come together and share their perceptions of how to take the next steps towards creating a new collective space. Aurovillians, scientists, philosophers, researchers, followers of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, and curious tourists, who had attended all or some parts of the program got together to share their learnings and experiences.
Sunday, 12 February 2012 (City Life) February 11th 2012: Ted MacDonald, the athlete experimenting with running on bare feet gave an inspiring speech for the marathon runners. There was that much interest in his talk that the speech had to be given in the open air, on the Visitors Centre's square. Ted spoke of his view on running with or without shoes and his journey to find the ultimate running experience, and encouraged people to keep running and keep searching for their own perfect way of doing so. Undoubtedly, Barefoot Ted gave every runner the power they need for the marathon!
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Sunday, 12 February 2012 (Spirituality) Dr. Chris Macann, a philosopher, first explains that it's crucial to know 'whose' vision we subscribe to in our understanding of the world. He goes on to draw comparisons between the philosophy of Sri Aurobindo and that of the French philosopher Henri-Louis Bergson on the 'visionary element in human thinking', and the 'Ladder of Being' (i.e. matter / life / consciousness / self consciousness). He then proposes an alteration in the ladder, that of replacing 'matter' with 'nature', and explains what can be made possible with this change.
Saturday, 11 February 2012 (Spirituality) Dr. Rekha Tandon, an Indian Classical dancer, presented an often forgotten similarity between yoga and dance, especially classical Indian, where both are exploratory forms in which we work through matter to find the spirit. As in yoga, the Indian classical dance poses are much about balancing the body, the spinal chord, and so the chakras. And as in the yogic chakra system, by practicing the Indian classical dance forms, a person can truly begin to experience the transition from matter to spirit.
Saturday, 11 February 2012 (Spirituality) Dr. Prema Nandkumar talked about the growing need for humanity to break the seal of the last chapter of the play she calls the 'evolutionary destiny of man'. With stories and poems ranging from Norwegian folklore to western legends, from Indian mythology to Greek mythology, Dr Prema spoke about the meaning of the cycle of life and death, and if a total transition of the matter is possible. Finally she draws our attention to relying on the power of the soul, not science, to explore matter.
Saturday, 11 February 2012 (Spirituality) Devdip Ganguli reflects on dilemma around 'right action' - how to evaluate an action as right or wrong? In the context of solutions provided over the ages, such as codes, testaments and religious principles, Devdip uses some very interesting anecdotes and letters written by the Mother to present her view on this issue and her strong belief in a person's inner sense to take decisions. Devdip concludes that 'right action' is what is inspired from the highest light available to us at that time.
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Saturday, 11 February 2012 (Spirituality) Uma Haimavati, founder of a design unit at Auroville, shares her experiences of being in Auroville and of the inspirations that the Mother provides her. After experiencing 'extreme vulnerability' during the recent cyclone Thane, Uma's past experience was reinforced that 'creativity' must apply itself to human unity in order to counter the feeling of nullness that arises after a disaster. She strongly believes 'knowledge would be delivered at the doorstep of action,' and looks forward to humanity arriving at its best composite for the future.
Saturday, 11 February 2012 (Spirituality) Georges Van Vrekhem, as a physicist, curiously observes that 'matter is weird stuff'. With interesting examples and clarity, he compares the general religious view of matter or the human body (i.e. burdensome) with that of Sri Aurobindo's (i.e. miracle of matter). He also explains the 8 ways of interpreting matter and goes on to ponder on texts by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and explains the relationship between matter, mind and spirit. His conclusion: In matter lies the truth, the reality. Human existence is then a matter of matter! Read more Saturday, 11 February 2012 (Spirituality) A presentation by Dr. Anand Kumar, Professor & Chairman, Department of Reproductive Biology, AIIMS, New Delhi. Also a student of Life Divine, Dr Kumar discussed how Science has used several connection, metaphors and simile to explain the wonder of human life. Often 'life' has been reduced laws of chemistry and physics, sometimes DNA, genes and proteins. But do they explain our being? 'No', comes the clear answer from Dr Kumar. Perhaps there is no definite 'program' that explains the 'higher beings' that we are.
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Friday, 10 February 2012 (Spirituality) Dr. Ashok Mukhopadhyay from the National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, has been studying stem cells extensively, and alongside finding correlations between the human body's natural survival behavior and experiences of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. He explained certain biological process and demonstrated how the natural tendency of the cells to multiply, evolve, fight against threats and heal is what Sri Aurobindo and the Mother may have called 'physical transformation of biological matter and the yoga of the cells'!
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Friday, 10 February 2012 (Spirituality) Manoj Pavitran, an Aurovillian, once used to run away from technology. Today he sits in front of his 'square foot of light', his computer, connects with the whole world, and even develops web programs for Auroville. We have a love-hate relationship with technology, he says, and directs our attention to the technology-led knowledge economy and what it represents. For example, Wikipedia and open-source are examples of a radical shift in human consciousness, where people come together to create wealth for humanity and earn joy by 'giving'.
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Friday, 10 February 2012 (Spirituality) Dr. C.V. Rao from America gave an informative session on 'How Globalization and IT Revolution is Erasing the Boundaries of Science, Technology and Medicine.' Dr Rao expounded on the origins of globalisation and IT revolution, and the tendency of civilizations to look for 'other' sources to fulfill their needs. Despite erasure of geographical boundaries, however, globalisation and IT have their downside. And yet, the two phenomena are here to stay and it is unto us how to utilize them best... for human unity perhaps?
Friday, 10 February 2012 (Spirituality) Jean-Yves Lung opened 'Matter Precipitates' with his ideas on the present status of humanity. Today, he says, the world is coming together through technology, economy, education, ecology... as well as the problems. But we are drifting away from the solution with our reliance on technology, finance... At one time, humanity was considered at the peak of evolution, today we see much irrelevance in what we have become. What is the true development we seek? And of what? Is there an answer in Sri Aurobindo and the Mother's ideals of human unity?
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Friday, 10 February 2012 (Arts & Culture) Just before his departure Marc Vella honored us with his last concert in Auroville, and first concert at CRIPA Hall in Kalabhumi. How strongly Aurovilians grown to fond of him was very much obvious not only by the numbers but also by respectful and loving attitude of the audience. Marc who shares his music and love with gentleness and utmost respect invited for that afternoon some of the performing and other artist to join him on the stage. Before leaving he assured us that his Love Caravan will start next year in Auroville.
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Tuesday, 07 February 2012 (Spirituality) As every year in the second week of February also this year Sri Aurobindo Centre for Studies... India and the World Bharat Nivas, prepared series of talks and cultural events with the read thread "Matter Precipitates... It is in a a hurry to transform itself". Starting with Thursday 9th of February for three days many scientists and researchers, as well as artist will share with us their particular view on fluidity in our beings, transitions which so adventurous lead into unknown world of changed matter, so much palpable with its new qualities.
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Tuesday, 07 February 2012 (Health) Sports ground at Certitude, the field next to and Udavi sports ground were very lively past weekend with Hat Tournament , which is ultimate frisbee tournament a different way with mixed team, as Mark explained it to us. Twelve teams consisted of seven players played for four games (long 1h15m) in the morning and two games in the afternoon on all three fields. Ultimate frisbee is more self sponsored sport with clear spirit of sportmanship; ultimate is different, one has to keep it cool, know the rules, has to call it fair and work in a team.
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Monday, 06 February 2012 (City Life) With the bustling background of Lively Up Your Earth festival at Solitude Farm Marc Vella shared with us some thoughts, and reasons that he spend so much time on the road with his piano. As he says, "problems are everywhere, and it is much easier to start the war than to say to somebody that you love them.." His experiences proved to him that everybody needs LOVE, simple, tender and understanding, and he does share love without expectations but with his utmost respect. Marc Vella's next Love Caravan is planned for India.
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Monday, 06 February 2012 (Spirituality) ..."But the hour is often terrible, of fire and whirlwind and the tempest, a threading of the winepress of the feed of God..." says Sri Aurobindo on the Hour of God which Loretta quote in our interview or reflections on recent cyclone Thane raging over Auroville and nearby villages. And as she says that when something happens that hurts you, and it hurts you much, you stop and ask, although the Hour of God is not physical thing but it does crush down something inside of us. The bottom line is LOVE, which made and manifest the Universe.
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Saturday, 28 January 2012 (News) From Auroville Cyclone Response Team / Energy comes and important safety advice on the electrical poles that have broken during the cyclone. In many cases a new pole has been installed while the old pole is still on the ground next to the new pole with meter boxes and switch boxes still attached to that old For the sake of safety, everyone is requested not to interfere with the equipment, meters, fuses, switch boxes on broken poles as these may be in use. in today's news we feature interview with Kim and Kimbo about Thursday concert at Arka.
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Tuesday, 24 January 2012 (Arts & Culture) "If we have nothing to fear in life, we might give ourselves as much we can because we are on this Earth to love one another and to give of ourselves, and to share who we are in our center as much is possible to make this much better place to live.." says amongst many other things Ronald Rand in our interview. He came to Auroville for a short visit, and during his stay we will see his play LET IT BE ART!, and he is offering workshop "Art of Transformation" on Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th at SAWCHU, which should open us, give freedom to express.
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Friday, 23 December 2011 (Environment) On Sunday 18th of December Thamari Center in Edayanchavdi Village will open its doors for 10am onward with a lively evening program at 6.30 pm on the rooftop. At Thamari Centre 24 children play in the morning and around 40 children of different ages participate in the after school program. In the Healing Center they will also launch a bilingual book "Blooming Thamarai" , photographic representation of the artistic and self discovery of children trough the project of doll making, Krupa was exploring body image and identity of children with it.
Wednesday, 14 December 2011 (News) We are all invited tomorrow between 5 to 7pm at Multimedia Center Auditorium in Town Hall to a slideshow presentation of three different adventures that took place this year in Hampi and Himalyas(Darjeeling and Laddakh). Presentations are full of images, while members will narrate the experience, and members of treks - The Learning Community (TLC) team, Jean, Joy, Pierre Anu, Lalit, Palani, Swaha, Elke, Dinesh, Lola, Anandamayi, Vladimir, Aurevan, Sergei and Jonah are looking forward to see and share the stories with us.
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Thursday, 08 December 2011 (Arts & Culture) It was a special treat for music lovers: Friday's concert by Suryan who is blessed by an amazing, rich and charming voice, capable of different styles. Whether soul, R&B, funk, poetic rock...his songs deal with emotions honest and open yet sometimes with a healthy humorous distance. His honesty and heart-probing songs touched us, brought us nearly to tears. And maybe for the first time in public the richness of his songs came out. The intimacy of the room in Pitanga as well as the duet with Taranti combined to make the event one of the kind.
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Monday, 05 December 2011 (City Life) With sparkling eyes and always present smile on her face Rebecca is one of very interesting long term guest we can see around for almost a year now. Her curiosity and a quest to finish her phd thesis on community and belonging brought her to Auroville. And since the method of research is ethnography in anthropology with participant observation she involved herself in few projects. In one she works for SAVI , interviewing units holders in order to design web page which will bring more useful informations to potential volunteers.
Thursday, 13 October 2011 (Spirituality) World Poetry Movement organized for 24th of September World Poetry Reading day, and 283 poetry reading in 80 countries occured that day. Unity Pavilion with the Tamil Heritage Centre with Anandi was the host of one in Auroville, starting by reading of Savitri in many languages. B while reciting his poem Today also wanted to join this event with The Moving Planet event, which is trying to reverse global warming, and was organized for the same day. And as the need for the kind of global solidarity, the need for ecological push is here.
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Sunday, 25 September 2011 (News) In today's news we feature interview with Tanja on the life-saving swimming competition in Trivandrum which she attended with 15 AV children and 7 adults previous weekend.On Thursday September 8, at 5.30 pm in the Picture Gallery at Savitri Bhavan Ladislav Brozman will have a Solo Violin Recital with Sonatas by J.S. Bach, Ysaye and Honegger. Auroville Green Practices Organizing Team is organizing the annual Auroville Green Practices event from 8-10 September with the tittle Regenerative Townships of Tomorrow - Vision Workshop.
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Tuesday, 06 September 2011 (Arts & Culture) Auroville is a universal playground that offers us richness of sounds as well as human diversity. And we were playing. In the Creative Radio workshop, we were playing with sounds - listening to the morning sounds of waking nature, bees buzzing, sounds of children playing with grains of sand, passing through sports grounds listening to the boisterous cries of kids engrossed in their games. We ended our sound journey with the flowing water at lotus pond at Matrimandir. Read more Monday, 05 September 2011 (Education) Urvasi addressed a group of women caregivers at Auroville's Life Education Center. She gave a lecture followed by a demonstration on the various aspects of caregiving and spoke about the importance of establishing a one-on-one rapport with patients in order to have a deeper understanding of their individual needs and problems. The group also discussed some of the challenges and difficulties caregivers face in their day to day interaction with their patients. Urvasi shed light on caregiver coping skills and responses to life situations.
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Friday, 26 August 2011 (Arts & Culture) Neither the raging storm nor the rain stopped the music lovers from coming to Pitanga on Wednesday evening 24th of August for one of the best concerts this year. Matt, out of his love for music , put together Confluence - a concert of contemporary Indian jazz featuring Amit Heri on guitar . Beauty of songs was expressed with excellence in techinque. Love and passion for music can bring the transcendental into music. In this moment the listener is melted into energy of it, drifted away, and beside music nothing else matters any more.
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Thursday, 25 August 2011 |
