August 15: Happy Birthday Sri Aurobindo!

For the holiday I decided to go to Auroville, my first time leaving Pondy since I got here! I stayed at an incredible guest house, Sharnga, where I was treated like family. This place was like a jungle paradise compared to city life. Lush, tropical forest with an incredible banyan tree to admire in the courtyard, a pool where I remembered how therapeutic it is to float, really cute nice doggies to pet and wonderful people to have conversations with! I had a fantastic time. It was really nice to talk to other foreigners, just because culturally we have more in common. I met a young American named Sadie who was living at the guest house while she taught kindergarten at a nearby school. Super great. The last night Benoit brought out his guitar and we all sang songs.

It also happened to be Sri Aurobindo's birthday! I was unaware! This turned out to be a VERY busy weekend at Auroville. Sadie, Benoit and I woke up at 4 in the morning on his birthday to go to the Matrimandir for a sunrise ceremony. It was actually quite incredible, New Agey as can be. The first 20 minutes were dark and silent, and people just gathered in the outdoor ampitheater, the stairs lit with candles. Then three huge bonfires were lit around this urn that contains soil from every country that Aurovillians are originally from. As the sun rose, a recording of the Mother's voice was broadcast for all to hear, speaking philosophy on how to clean your body (the temple) in order to receive the Divine. Everyone meditated as the sun rose. I was quite impressed by how minimal it was-- no pomp and glory. It certainly reflected the feeling of Auroville.