On 19.6.1967, The Mother declared that “from the psychological point of view, the required conditions for living in Auroville are:
To be convinced of the essential unity of mankind and to have the will to collaborate for the material manifestation of that unity; To have the will to collaborate in all that furthers future realisations. The material conditions will be worked out as the realisation proceeds.”
Thereafter, the Mother clearly indicated the broad lines that were to be observed in our material life. These are to form the basis of our collective existence, but should not be applied in a dogmatic and rigid manner. Therefore the framework of the collective life of Auroville should be vast and very flexible; it is evolutionary in character and will change according to the individual and collective growth of consciousness and with the progressive emergence and expression of the inherent Truth of Auroville.
The foundations of this way of living are trust, sincerity, responsibility and goodwill.
1. Collective life
Auroville wants to be a city where people from all over the world live in harmony, striving to realise human unity and to be at the service of the Truth beyond all social, political and religious convictions. Thus all are invited to come and join us in this evolutionary endeavour. While it is not for us to question the ways of spiritual development or the private spiritual practices of any individual, Auroville must not be used as a place for proselytising or recruiting followers to any political, religious or spiritual organization.
Relations in Auroville should be based on sincere collaboration and fraternity. Conflicts among residents are to be solved within the community, in a manner that is consonant with the spirit of Auroville. Any form of violence or abuse has no place in Auroville.
A friendly relationship with the local population as well as respect for their culture and traditions is indispensable. Learning to speak Tamil will greatly facilitate this relationship.
Respect for nature and the environment is expected from all.
The laws of India are to be respected. Anyone breaking these laws may be subject to trial in a court of justice, which could result in a period of imprisonment or in expulsion from the country. In this respect everyone should be aware that the use of drugs, which has been also prohibited in Auroville by the Mother, is also prohibited by the laws of India.
2. Work, contribution, and money
Work:
Each one should be aware that we are here to build a city of 50,000 inhabitants as a means of realizing a "living embodiment of an actual human unity". Participation through meaningful work is an essential aspect of living in Auroville. Everyone is expected to take up an activity that corresponds to the needs of the community in harmony with the capacities, priorities and needs of each individual.
Contribution:
Everyone is expected to contribute to the collective welfare in work, kind and/or money. Productive units are expected to contribute a substantial part of their income or production to the township. Affluent Aurovilians who do not depend on the community for their livelihood are encouraged to make regular or incidental donations to the community or to any of its projects.
Money:
Since one important aim is that Aurovilians receive no money equivalent as ‘payment’ for their work, and that there be no circulation of money within the township, the community is responsible for providing for the regular needs of each person as much as possible.
To increase Auroville’s economic strength and to help develop a cashless economy, individuals with the financial means to do so are expected to contribute at least enough for all their expenses in Auroville and as generously as they can to the general expenses of the community through the Central Fund. They are also encouraged to keep their financial assets in Auroville. Newcomers are expected to contribute at least enough for their own expenses for at least the first year. For more details, see “Auroville Economy Guidelines” at the end of the document.
Though intensive efforts are being made, Auroville is not yet in a position to meet the totality of needs – especially housing – of all residents. Experiments are going on and all new Aurovilians are expected to participate in the economic experiment that is presently being developed in Auroville. (For more details, see “Auroville Economy 2000 – An Experiment” at the end of the document.)
3. Property and Housing
Property:
Each resident is expected to deal with his or her resources at the highest level of his/her consciousness. In Auroville, all is, according to Mother, collective property to be used for the welfare of all. Money and assets in the township are under the trusteeship of individuals, project holders, and managers of services or commercial units. They are to be utilized for the activities and development of the township as well as for the promotion of the ideals of Auroville. No one has any ownership rights over houses and other buildings, services, projects or commercial activities in Auroville. Selling or renting these assets for personal profit is unacceptable. All activities are part of the overall Auroville framework and all financial transactions regarding them take place through the official channels of Auroville.
Housing:
Until a few years ago, because our numbers were small and the area vast, housing was individual and spread out. Then the trend changed to building in clusters, but still by individuals. Now there is a call for something else. Housing will be built and owned by the collective and assigned to individuals and families on the basis of need. All who can will be asked to contribute generously to the housing fund.
During the Newcomer period, you will have the possibility to live in a Newcomer house or a guest house according to the availability of such accommodation. Ideally, you will have the choice between various types of housing which will be presented to you by the Housing Service. You must be aware that Auroville is presently facing a critical housing shortage and that the availability, type and size of accommodation may depend on your ability to contribute for it. For more details, see “Auroville Housing” at the end of this document.
4. Education
Auroville is intended to be a place of unending education for all and there are already many opportunities for the various categories of people (including villagers) who live in the area to develop their potential and learn new skills.
As a newcomer you will be also encouraged to follow various programmes of study which will enable you to deepen your understanding of the aims and ideals of Auroville, India and the local culture, to learn the 4 languages Mother wanted to be spoken in Auroville (English, Tamil, simple Sanskrit, French) and discover other aspects of Aurovilian and Indian life. There are many possibilities to learn new skills and to participate in physical, social, cultural and other collective activities.
Though Auroville is responsible for meeting the educational needs of its youth, parents should be aware that the Community is not bound, nor presently able, to financially support education outside of Auroville. Studies are presently going on to find solutions to the existing challenges. Parents with school-aged children who wish them to attend Auroville schools should contact the Auroville Board of Education in order to be properly informed about the various aspects and challenges of the present educational experiment in Auroville. See Introduction to education in Auroville at the end of this document.
5. Transportation
At present individuals are responsible for their own transportation.However there is a need to study how to change the current pattern before we replicate the traffic problems of most cities of the world, and the situation becomes irreversible. The recent increase in the number of motorized vehicles on our roads is causing pollution and making our roads unsafe, while Mother envisaged non-polluting public transport. So while you still have to invest in individual vehicles, you should be aware that in the future a way will have to be found to reduce the number of private and polluting vehicles in the city and greenbelt.
6. Health Care:
While there are many alternative healing practices (homeopathy, ayurvedic medicine, etc) available to you, allopathic health care is basic and we have to rely on services from Pondicherry and Madras.You may wish to consult your medical practitioners for advice regarding typhoid fever and malaria before leaving your country.
II. HOW TO JOIN AUROVILLE
Before formally applying to become a member of Auroville, you must first inform yourself about the conditions for joining Auroville. You can get this information from the Entry Group office in Auroville, by mail or by email, from any Auroville International (AVI) Center, or the Auroville site on the Internet <http:/www.Auroville.org>.
It is best that you come to Auroville, first, for a three-month visit before deciding to join the experiment. For foreign nationals, a Tourist Visa may be obtained from the Indian High Commission, Embassy or Consulate nearest your home.
You should schedule an interview with the Entry Group at the end of your guest period to formally confirm your decision to join. You will be asked to fill out an application form.
For foreign nationals, it is the Entry Group which arranges the necessary Letter of Recommendation requesting the Indian High Commission, Embassy or Consulate of your home country to issue an Entry Visa. While you can visit Auroville on a Tourist Visa, this visa cannot be converted into an Entry Visa. You are obliged to return to your home country to get this Entry Visa, since the entry process cannot commence without it. If your decision to join is made after you leave Auroville then you can write to the Entry Group for the Letter of Recommendation of your Entry Visa.
A Residential Permit is granted on the basis of being an honorary voluntary worker in Auroville. As a requirement from the Government of India, people over 16 must produce an AIDS certificate recognized by the World Health Organisation and issued less than one month before arrival. This certificate can be also obtained after arrival in India (ask the Entry group for details).
Within 48 hours of your arrival in Auroville, if you are a foreign national, you are required first to fill out an Arrival Form and register with the Visa Service. If you have come with the intention to stay and have obtained the proper Entry Visa, you should then make contact with the Entry Group to start your Newcomer period.
If you are an Indian national intending to join Auroville, you are requested to register with the Entry Group within one week of your arrival in Auroville in order to get the necessary information that will allow you to start your entry process.
You will be welcomed by the Entry Group and introduced to your contact person who will guide you throughout your Newcomer period. The Entry Group will announce, after consultation with the contact person and the community in which you stay, your status as a Newcomer to the Community at large. You will be requested to sign the declaration at the end of this document.
Your Newcomer period will then begin and last for a period of two years. From the beginning, you will be a full participant in Auroville’s life as described in this document. You will take up an activity useful to the Community and at the same time conducive to your integral personal growth. Starting a new undertaking – a service, commercial unit or an independent project – during this period is only allowed with permission of the Entry Group. You will be encouraged to join in various collective activities, open community meetings and other gatherings, as well as in the new economy experiment that is presently underway.
You are expected to remain in Auroville for your first full year. In case you have to leave Auroville temporarily or permanently, you must inform the Entry Group. Newcomers of foreign origin are requested to consult the Visa Service about the exit and/or re-entry procedures.
At the conclusion of the Newcomer period, you will be invited to meet the Entry Group again who may recommend your joining to the Residents’ Assembly. If there are no sustained objections from the residents of Auroville, you will become an Aurovilian. Your name will be entered on the Master List and you will be full-fledged resident of Auroville and member of the Residents’ Assembly.
It is the duty of the Residents’ Assembly to see that the guiding principles given by Mother for Auroville are observed by its residents. Should these principles be seriously and repeatedly violated by an individual, his/her status as resident can be put in question by the Residents’ Assembly at any time.
II. Declaration
I have read the brochure “Ideals of Auroville” as well as the document “Joining Auroville – to live and work in Auroville”.
I understood and agree with the conditions for living in Auroville.
I agree to commit myself fully to the realisation of the ideals of Auroville.
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