For over last four years we have heard and participated in the Russian Bells meditation at Unity Pavilion in International Zone. Vera shares with us her thoughts and aspirations on them. As she says "During these four years a few thousand people have enjoyed these deeply resonating sounds in Auroville, and several hundred people from all the continents experienced the wonder of playing the instrument together in – this magical way and communicating through harmonious sounds, without words, without knowing each other's’ languages, in a single aspiration." Read more

For Sri Aurobindo, says Rod Hemsell, spirituality has a purpose, that of furthering the evolution. And it was this idea that Rod showed us through his readings and commentary of selected passages of Savitri in his presentation at the Unity Pavillion. His reading persuades listener to fall into a state of meditation as he digs deeper into how the idea of the Divine Mother is connected to the earth and its evolution. This session was organized by the University of Human Unity, Auroville. Read more

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. Read more

The Pavilion of Tibetan Culture invites us to an exhibition of rare historic photos Walking into Exile - The Dalai Lama arrives in Tawang (March 31 to April 18, 1959) tomorrow 28th of January at 5pm. The exhibition will be inaugurated by Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, former Kalon Tripa and will be followed by a talk by Samdhong Rinpoche on My Vision of Future Tibet .In today's news we feature short phone interview about it with Namgyal. Weekend it will be nicely busy, as it is usual for this time of the year, with lots of good music, presentations... Read more

On today's news we're featuring three short interviews. Andrea is talking with Ribhu on last meeting with Pudhucherry Municipal Services on waste management. Ronald Rand is talking about his play "Let It Be Art" which we can see on Saturday 24th of December at Sri Aurobindo Auditorium, Bharat Nivas, pavilion of Indian Culture, and about his workshop on 26th and 27th of December. University of Human Unity organized International Seminar on Integral Paradigm, and Vladimir talks about it. Later different approaches to knowledge will be discussed. Read more

On one of the lasts talks Jaya, Shivaya, Deepti, Julian Lines, Brook Teklehaimanot talked on projects for and within the international Zone. Jaya and Deepti started with general overview , and touched CIRHU (Center for International Research in Human Unity) which should be a hub and concentration spot for people to learn and grow through experiences, it should be center for all human unity... Shivaya and Julian talked about the Peace Table, made by George Nakashima. Shivaya continued with Unity Pavilion, Brook talked about Africa House. Read more

For sister Sandrine and bredren Alex moving to Ethiopia was a matter of faith. For one to repatriate have to emancipate oneself from the mental slavery, from lust and vanity, ... Holly Mount Zion is the reality - Ethiopia, and Shashamene the spot given from his majesty Haile Selasie to expatriots as a token of appreciation. Although it might look at the first glance that community is divided - still no matter what is their mansion, they're singing the same song, they're all rastafari and they all believe in the Dvinity of negus Haile Selasie. Read more

Auroville International meeting in Ethiopa in Addis Abbaba officially started on 24th of October with some introductory speeches by many, with mr. Heimanot Alemu as master of ceremony commenting talks on his own witty and humorous way. As we had a chance to see later, during the week, he is a man of many talents. Heimanot breifly explain to the numerous Ethiopian public what the Auroville stands for, and the purpose of this meeting with short description of all the talks and presentations. Auroville International members welcomed guests. Read more

Humanity on planet Earth spent past weekend in different gatherings, meditations, prayers ... for humanity, human unity, ecological awareness .... and of course for peace. One of those special occasion was a common gathering at the same time on three continents around three tables of peace made by George Nakashima. Irene Goldman welcomed those gathered in Moscow, Julian Lines had guests in New York and Shivaya welcomed those in Auroville. Greetings were followed by Vera playing on Russian bells and the reading of prayers and messages. Read more

Resident Assembly Service informs us that The silver RAS boxes will be waiting to receive our Candidate Proposal Forms until Monday 5th September at the Solar Kitchen, Town Hall, PTDC and Pour Tous Aspiration. Two Candidate Proposal Forms (one for AVC members, one for WC members) will be available wherever the boxes are placed. On all locations boxes will be there until noon, at Solar Kitchen until. Next AVI meeting at Ethiopia at the end of October need sponsors for speakers / participants because AVI's donations are not enough. PT # 251350 Read more

In today's news we feature interview with Renu from L'Avenir d"Auroville / Town Development Council on updates from them. Adrien, Elsa and Sophie have been working with TDC/ Avenir and Road Service and Marie since June on a design for the Mahalakshmi Park (SK to Arka area) Their concept will be presented next Thursday, 18th of August at 4pm at Conference Room in Town Hall. For the Sri Aurobindo's birthday and for the Independence Day of India many programs and offerings are prepared. From morning bonfire...to colective meditation at UP. Read more

Yes, two years are around already, and Auroville Film Festival 2011 is approaching fast. In the interview with Marco and Tlaloc we found out some interesting details about it. Believe it or not, but those who hasn't applied yet still got two solid weeks to do so. At the same time organizers are asking for help in many various forms of volunteering work. Auroville Film Festival is much more than just a bunch of more or less good movies - it is about sharing, educating, being together as community in festive environment dedicated to film. Read more

With Tibetan visitors we talked about Auroville, Tibet, world, and their experiences . And if means to be a citizen that you belong somewhere, for Tibetan life of refugees is hard since the government in exile cannot issue them citizenship . Those who might obtain citizenship in any country around the world they remain to be Tibetans by their hearts but they also appreciate the feeling of belonging. Internationally they do get lot of support, but at the same time they also know that they do not have the same opportunities as others. Read more

We had a rare opportunity to interview Kalki, main actress in new and unique Tamil film , done by two women - director Vijaya Padma and producer ‘Punnagai Poo' Geetha. This film brings on screen the feelings of the third sex in a realistic way. As Kalki says Love is the thing that connect us all, and for any individual the most important factor is to accept oneself, and embrace with love. During her living in Auroville she felt lots of love, and it has been a life school to her in many ways. Read more

In the interview with Chandresh, one of the Working committee members we talked about it, about Resident Assembly Service...about problems Working Committee and Auroville Council does face in its functioning. What challenges Auroville and its residents do face in governing the city, what experiences this might bring with it, and how all of it fit in to the progress and evolution of each of us. Read more

To remember dear Bhavana Auroville Village Action Group (AVAG) would like to invite you this Saturday, to join them for a little get together to remember our great friend Bhavana Dee. On 11th of June it will be one month since she left her body. They would like to meditate together and if there are people who want to speak and remember her in a group, they would be very happy to provide the space for it. They want to connect Aurovilians, villagers and everybody else, who would like to join, in an open gathering and sharing about Bhavana. Please feel free to join them between 10 am and 11.30 am at the AVAG- Campus in Irumbai. An announcement From the News desk which says that Owing to the resignation of the main News& Notes messenger, the Messenger Service will be reduced drastically in the coming weeks. As a consequence we will also be short of delivery staff from July 1st. Every community is requested to install a covered mail box on the main gate for receiving the weekly News copies. There will be no more door-to-door delivery. Read more

Hot summer Saturday afternoon didn't stop African students to hold a drumming gathering on the land appointed for Africa House - Pavilion of African Culture in International Zone. Mohanam Sound Crew hosted them with instruments and exchange rhythms with Africans. Interesting, and very lively combination soon attracted crowd which was passing by on their way to Matrimandir...and lifted up quite some feet. Read more

Unity Pavilion was again in a spirit of cultural exchange on Saturday 28th of May. A group of Rwandan students from Annamali University in Chidambaram, celebrated with Aurovilians their traditions of singing and dancing. What started with rhythms, songs, and cultural dances- as an introduction to their rich African heritage- followed with embracing the audience to move to the rhythms of the continent. The evening also exposed the visions of the Africa House, Pavilion of African Culture here in Auroville. Besides drumming and dancing, talks and poetry spoken by Levite from Kenya, currently a student at Erode University, created an environment to raise socio-cultural issues. Read more

Saturday shouldn't be boring at all because Africa House in International Zone prepared whole day in African spirit. They will start at 3pm with drumming circle and blessings on African Land in International Zone, behind Secretary house. At 5pm at Certitude sports ground will be lively since there will be two friendly matches between Auroville and African students in football and basketball. They sincerely hope - both teams, that you will come to cheer them up. AT 8pm at Unity Pavilion in International Zone African students from the area prepared cultural event which will include dances, songs, story telling, poems ...and more...We all know that Africans stay up long at night so we can expect a surprise or two...

Today's news features an interview with Luigi, that shares with us recent steps on the project of CIRHU - Center of International Research in Human Unity. He explain its aims and ideals and the results of the general meeting that was held past Friday at the Town Hall. Some announcements from the community: The Auroville pre creche needs teachers, Tsunamika projects wants to connect with Japan and Nonviolent Communication Practice Group (NVC) is happening every Thursdays 4.30-7pm. If you connect with some of those information, listen to the news to know how to get in touch with them! Read more

In his talk about the need for change in contemporary psychology Dr. Suneet Varma exposed some important aspects. If psychology does not respond to the need of humanity in terms of fundamentally reconsidering its scope and purpose, it will become redundant for humanity that will grow and progress despite it. As Sri Aurobindo said "God shall grow up while the wise man talk and sleep."He as a yogi not only saw the current psychological impasse of humanity suffering from essentially ego based consciousness, but also did his yoga to be able create conditions whereby a higher stage of consciousness in the form of the supramental becomes the basis of a new psychology and manifest itself not only in a select few but gradually and potentially becomes available humanity as a whole. Goal of the new agenda of psychology to explore the alchemy of the transmutation of the human into Divine. Integral psychology does opens out this new dimension of human development and progress. Read more

In an interesting and thorough presentation by Wolfgang we heard about the tools of Hladina method to discover layers of the heart in order to Align one's soul with the soul of the nation. Layers of the heart is process which leads to effective body-anchored spiritual revelations, which gives direct body sensation and internal vision of personal-emotional heart center, the psychic being and the transpersonal Divine or "the vastness”(experienced behind the physical heart). Wolfgang on the holistic way explained the evolution of the humankind, and evolution of consciousness with it from the mineral to the man. After he continued by evolution of nations from physical body, trough vital to mental, in order to develop awakening to psychic being or supra-national unions, a real human unity. Presentation was followed by three days workshop Aligning One's Soul with the Soul of your Nation, in order to help fostering development of pavilions at International Zone. Read more

Three days Festival of Tibetan Culture was concluded by hearted performance Dances From the Roof of the World at Visitor Center last night. Students from Tibetan Children Village, and Tibetan Students Association, Madras prepared interesting night of dances and songs by some less know facts about Tibet told by Jesse. Even living in exile those youngsters showed us that life does goes one, and one way to preserve national cultural heritage is also trough dances and songs. Their unbending spirit and courage gave to the whole performance beauty and charm...with lots of heart. Read more

Ladislav Brozman, a well-known musician and violinist from Sri Aurobindo Ashram prepared violin recital at Savitri Bhavan. The repertoir was consisted of Johann Sebastian Bach (Solo sonata in C Major BWV 1005, Adagio, Fuga, Largo, and Allegro assai) and Eugene Ysaye (Sonata Nr. 1 Op.27 in g minor, Grave, Fugato, Allegretto poco scherzoso and Finale con brio) pieces. The acoustic of Savitri Bhavan served the excellent violinists, who is also a teacher of musicology at University of Human Unity, well. An unique event for lovers of classical European music.

The theme for 3rd interactive workshop on Mutation II tomorrow at "White Room” at Bharat Nivas, Sri Aurobindo Centre for studies will be - Bridging the Arc of Mysticism guided by Bahman A.K. Shirazi. Matter changes as human mind evolves. This process seems to have accelerated greatly since 1956, due to the influence of the Supermind on lower mental spheres. And Loretta's talk on Thursday will be on - Mother Becomes The Tremendous Pulsation Of Love From The Origin. Read more

Saturday's third session on the Exploration of Nation Soul was more quiet. The group was brainstorming to find the means to implement their ideas and inspirations. The method hasn't became clear yet but many ideas emerged...among the many things that came up, they talked about national flowers, and the way to explore the genius of one's nation through the fairy tales.... Read more

Monsoon is in a full swing, and city accordingly to that is a little bit quieter. Still regular classes at Verite, Pitanga, New Creation...are going on, and in Cinema Paradiso at Town Hall, as usual, we can see some good movies. Especially sticks out Sunday's Cine Club festival of Werner Herzog, controversial but genius film maker, who was not afraid to touched even “hot” topics and questions. At Savitri Bhavan on Saturday we can follow the series of George Van Vrekhem talks, and this one will be focused on Sri Aurobindo's Descent into Death.

Last few days very very intense for the members of the International Advisory Council, for the members of the Governing Board, and of course for the Working Committee, which organized, and help with the meeting all the way trough. Yesterday's meeting of the International Advisory Council with the residents on their report brought on light some interesting observations, reflections and conclusions. One thing they all agree upon is change – visible in many ways, and also felt beneath the surface. Read more

Sunday morning blessed by sunlight was a perfect frame for the official blessings of the appointed land for the Africa House – Pavilion of the African Culture. Meenakshi on behalf of Tamil people and Aurovilians officially welcomed Africa to stay in strong ties, Dr. Karan Singh sung a shloka at the occasion, Mr.Shimelis sees this act as the beginning, Mr. Doudou Dienne shared a piece of knowledge about linkage between Africa and Dravidian culture...trees were planted together, and Tamil drummers started with the beat, and soon African students joined them... Read more

The sight on Friday afternoon at the inauguration of exhibition on International Zone was one of the nicest ones – rich, colorful, friendly – a real unity in diversity. Vera started the inauguration by playing song on Russian bells, and few official welcoming speeches were followed by Jaya, Rakhal, Jyoti, Aster Patel, MR. Marc Luyckx Gishi, MR. Doudou Dienne and Mr. Shimelis Adugna. Aruvoille in manifest form is a process, but it is an invisible action in the world of incredible values. It is also the place where world's people can represent their special unique genius of each culture, each people, and we can take it for a new step ahead as an evolving humanity, said Aster Patel amongst other. Read more