The spirituality of this place

An at times uncomfortable reality of Auroville, is that the spirituality of this place can whack you over the head. You end up experiencing things or coming face to face with emotions that you would prefer to avoid. Being open to these experiences matters and will help to shift your own understanding of self.

This is apparently one of the snails you should avoid. You can tell how long he is because that is his tail inside the pipe

During the 3 weeks that we have been here so far, I have been busy with doing focus groups and training. There is more to come in the final week. In between, I have been trying to look at myself. This has been done in various ways with contemplating at the Matrimandir as central to the effort.

Self-reflection is a powerful tool as long as the ego can be quieted long enough to hear the other life messages. In our busy day-to-day lives of work, friends, social obligations and getting the chores done, it is easy to avoid having to look at this stuff. Distractions can be wonderful ways to avoid. Here in Auroville, there is lots of time to reflect.

When you begin the process, you start to see things that you don’t like. Behaviors that get in the way of being who you seek to be; relationships that you have underperformed in; duties of fatherhood that I have been deficient in; being less of a husband that I could have been. Yet, all of these are also about coming to grips with being a fallible, imperfect human being.

For me, one area that has been coming up on a regular basis is the role that spirituality has been playing in my life – and at times, not playing. As a young man, the Catholic Church deeply and negatively impacted me. Growing up, I was subjected to emotional and often physical abuse by the brothers at the school I attended. I came to see in my adult years how the Church not only condoned that but much more, as the serious physical and sexual abuse scandals became more and more apparent. I felt like a minor player on life stage of brutality in the name of religion.

As an aside, I am stunned to learn that just last week, there was yet another case in the United States where a bishop failed to act to protect children from a pedophilic priest. And no, this was not a case uncovered from the past, it was going on very much in the present.

These experiences from childhood and young adulthood caused my to reject the Church. It has left me spiritually wandering since then. While here in Auroville, I read Mitch Album’s lovely little book, Have a Little Faith. It reminded me that having a real spirituality is not about the relationship with an institution, but with a higher power whatever you call it. It is this that I am rediscovering here.

I was fascinated to see a group of mothers and children here from the People’s Republic of China. They were staying in the most expensive guest house in Auroville and demonstrated group behavior that reminds me that any large national group travelling together from whatever country, will demonstrate undesirable behaviors. Doesn’t matter which nationality!

Before coming to Auroville, they attended another spiritual place, The Oneness University that is also a place for spiritual development. That a group from this communist country would be wandering with children to spiritual activities is curious. They have certainly been taking the activities in here.

Also showing up from time to time are various Indian VIPs frequently with military or police escort. Thus, I found some irony in a sign posted at the Matrimandir the other day stating, “No Firearms Past This Point.” Not, in my mind, a typical sign around here. 

My lovely wife - also a delightful cat in the background. We had one ion a restaurant yesterday hop up on her lap asking for treats.