How collective solutions emerge in complex evolutionary and spiritual work such as in Auroville.
A conversation with Gloria
Originally published 2008
We wanted to return to Finland where we had lived for two years. In Italy, there was too much corruption, too much dishonesty, we could not accept it. We were in the process of preparing to leave, finishing whatever we had to do, when by chance at our neighbour’s apartment we met an actor who had been to Pondicherry. He spoke to us about the Ashram and Mother. That was in 1966-67. He gave us the titles of some books by Sri Aurobindo. So we started to read The Synthesis of Yoga, The Life Divine. Politically we belonged to the left, since in the milieu of architects people were very aware of social problems. We were also anti-Catholic. So to discover that there was an inner world, so different, so deep, was very exciting.
We exchanged letters with Nata 1 (who did the liaison between the Ashram and Italy), and through him we learnt that there was the project of building a city which would be based on new ideas. It was very interesting for us! For we conceived architecture as something that had to reflect an inner search: something simple that could combine structure, solidity, economy — these material aspects — with all that a space can give a human being. A space can have a great influence on human beings. So we were enthusiastic about this new possibility: doing new things, building new things on a spiritual basis. It was the union of matter and spirit. We read Sri Aurobindo and we liked it a lot. We also read the conversations of Mother with the school children — which we found a bit simple.
Finally we decided to leave for Pondicherry: why not have this experience in India for a year before returning to Finland? We thought: let us go there for one year. We wrote to Mother and she replied “Come at once”.
We arrived in Pondicherry on March 12, 1968.
Nata brought us to see Mother on the 3rd of April (it was Piero’s birthday), and we took with us our daughter Martha who was almost 5. Mother did not look at us much, she mainly concentrated on Martha (laughs). But what was coming from her was so strong — like another world — that afterwards I wanted very often to go back and see her.
Until it was not possible any more (in 1972, I believe), I went to see her once a month with Nata. I didn’t want to talk during those occasions. At the beginning I tried to speak about work, etc., but for technical things it was much easier to write. I did not want to waste these moments with her, when just the experience of looking into her eyes could take me into a totally different state!
One year passed, and we had too many things to learn and do here to think of leaving. Our second daughter Grazi was born here, and it was such a joy to bring her up in Mother’s atmosphere filled with hope.
Piero had the privilege of reading Mother’s conversations on Matrimandir with Paolo and Satprem (recorded by Satprem). Nata had let him read them. Piero was very much touched by Mother’s vision. When the work started, he offered to look after the construction. As for me, it was the contact with Mother that did it. We then decided to stay one more year.
And then, two years, three years, and now… it has been forty years! It is funny, no?
Piero was involved in the Matrimandir work for twenty years. He didn’t want to leave things half-done. He wanted to finish the Inner Chamber. The exterior [of the Matrimandir] did not interest him, but the vision that Mother had of the Inner Chamber, yes, he was deeply touched by it.
Even now, if you compare Auroville with the outside world, even considering all the mistakes, the difficulties, at least here there is an aspiration, a search, something so different, so much deeper. It is interesting to travel outside Auroville; one can see beautiful things, but where does one find a family like Auroville which has all these ideals in common?
For the first years after Mother left, there was an amazing hope, and there was a very strong connection between us, a very intense collective life, but in spite of this the division was deep. Today we don’t have this great hope as we had before; we are very much aware that it will take much more time, because it is infinitely more complex — but I find that many of us have progressed a lot. Not outwardly, but inwardly: we learnt to have detachment, patience towards others, which we didn’t have before. Earlier we had a lot of love for those who were part of our own circle, but we felt a lot of anger towards those who were of a different opinion. It’s not like this anymore. One has realised that everyone has their own background, their own ideas; everything is complex and we cannot expect everybody to think in the same way. One feels much more compassion, even towards oneself. One knows how difficult it is to change, even with the best goodwill; how it is difficult to become wise, to experience mental silence, to preserve experiences; extremely difficult.
Aurovilians don’t meet often nowadays. Piero and I just don’t have a social life anymore. We meet people only in relation to practical work. This is because we have understood that words, in the end, are not very useful. Discussions, discussions… they are so much linked to each one’s mental formations. Personally, I don’t feel less close to others than before. It has become something much more interiorised. I don’t have anger or resentment any more against anybody.
Are we together enough, in view of all the problems?
Look. At that time very often I had problems concerning work or concerning my children. And I would go to the Mother thinking, “Ah, today I am going to talk about this!” Then she would look at me… she would look at me — almost sternly — intense, very intense. She penetrated deep inside, and then it would become… so sweet! Such sweetness, such love: large, vast! And I would wonder, “But where are the problems?” (laugh) One would feel the solution of the problems inwardly, just looking at her, and without her saying one word. “Ah, how simple! It is like this! No need to ask her!” This is something that never happened to me with anybody else.
And for me this is the way of Auroville. I can see the problems, yes, but it is not so important. We give a huge importance to our own truth, our own opinion. I don’t believe anymore that there is only one Truth comprehensible by all. I don’t believe it anymore. Where is the truth? The truth is made of a million truths together. Our mind cannot see the full picture.
For the problems of Auroville this is the same. We look for solutions and we don’t find them. But if we do some inner work and go beyond, we can accept that difficulties are part of a complex evolutionary work.
When Mother left her body, the first moments were shattering. One thing touched me very much. At that time we still lived in Promesse. That night they came from the Ashram to tell us that Mother had left her body. She had left at 7.25 pm. At the exact moment when Mother left her body, we were finishing the concreting of the four pillars of Matrimandir (we always noted down the time when the concreting ended). It was symbolic. As if Mother had waited till the basis, the basis of Auroville, was there. Feeling shattered, we immediately went to the Ashram. Mother’s body was there. We could hardly recognize her: that was something kind of serious, hard. But suddenly we felt as if Mother was everywhere, all around us. She was not in her body, but her presence was so strong, so strong! As if she was saying, “My children, I gave you this to do, do it!”
Before the concretings, we used to write to the Mother asking her for her blessings. Once during the monsoon, we told her: “If it rains, all the cement will be lost, so Mother, pray for us.” It never rained during a concreting. Never. Often it rained two or three hours later, when actually curing was necessary and so it was a good thing. So we had this irrational impression, that Mother had power over the clouds, over the weather — that she was protecting us. For Piero and myself, it was strange, because we had a scientific background, not at all mystical. On a rational level, we could not believe these things, but when things happen again and again, how can you not believe?
Is this protection still there?
Yes. First of all I have had personal experiences of protection.
Then, if you think of all the communities that were born in the world during the sixties, where are they today? But Auroville is still here. Auroville is here. Of course at times everything seems impossible, because there are so many problems: speculation, Pondicherry development, dilution of the international character, etc. How to solve all this? On a practical and human level, it is impossible. But for me, even if Auroville at some point would become like Shantiniketan 2, as is probable, then it is not for us to decide. We do our best, and then it becomes what it becomes. Our aspiration will still have had its importance. In history it will have had its importance. And maybe that’s what the Divine wanted. If you look at world history it’s the same thing. Civilisations are born, develop, and then die. It does not mean that they were unimportant. Think of the ancient Egyptian civilisation or ancient Greece: they have disappeared. But what they have given the world is still alive, it is still very important. So it was worthwhile…
Otherwise one would despair…
Mother gave Auroville its basis, which is karma yoga. One does the work as best one can, but one is not attached to the result. The result is not in our hands… This thought gives me a certain peace, and also the desire to work for Auroville till the end. Too bad if it does not develop, but what we do, I hope, still has some value…
From a conversation with Gloria
Excerpt from Turning Points: An inner story of the beginnings of Auroville (Auroville Press, 2019, pp. 24-26)
Turning Points is one of the best-selling books by Auroville Press, and available locally through these outlets. The book features twenty-one true stories recounting how in the sixties some men and women’s lives changed radically the moment they entered in contact with the Mother of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and they discovered a place called Auroville.
- Nata: an Italian disciple in the Ashram ↩︎
- Shantiniketan: international university created by Rabindranath Tagore near Calcutta around 1920. For a long time Shantiniketan, which Tagore had conceived as a “forest university” was an extremely lively and creative centre and attracted the greatest Indian and international talents. In 1951 a law gave Shantiniketan the status of a “Central University”. Shantiniketan has become an institution that has little influence outside of Bengal. ↩︎
2 Comments
Love this interview. I believe it was also reproduced, in a short form, in the last issue of Voices of Auroville.
Very relevant to the situation today. Thanks for republishing it!
Dear Gloria, thank you for this very touching and honest article, light and precise at the same time- and very rooted! We from outside appreciate the capacity of communication and openness which we find in your article. Thank you!
O.