Land Fundraisers Bulletin Summary – 15 August 2023.pdf
நில நிதி திரட்டுபவர்கள் செய்திமடல் சுருக்கம் – 15 ஆகஸ்டு 2023.pdf
Contents
1. A4A Flier – 15 August 2023
2. LFAU Letter – 15 August 2023
3. My Life’s Journey with Auroville – By Gunasundari
4. Gijubhai Dave – an Auroville Newcomer at 87!
5. A New “Art for Land” Exhibition: 13 August – 17 September
6. Shraddhavan – A True Child of the Mother
7. How to Donate – New Banking Information for Contributions
8. Inspiring Quotes – The Divine Shakti (Part 2)
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Dear friend of Auroville’s bright future,
August 15th is a special day for so many important reasons, with the year 2023 marking the 151st birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo, and the continuing celebrations in his honor. This year also inaugurates Year 10 of the Acres for Auroville land campaign. Here, we highlight the majestic Banyan Tree, first identified by The Mother as the center of Auroville, with its silent spiritual presence and psychological support – the symbol of our unity.
We thank all the friends and donors who have supported Auroville’s vital land consolidation ! The past campaign year 9 saw the acquisition of new land in these Auroville City and Greenbelt areas : Sharnga, CSR, Horizon, Certitude, Sacred Groves, Kriya, Siddhartha Farm, Auromodele, and in Bommapalayam. Donations are the only source for land purchase and so this progress is entirely thanks to you!
We also greatly appreciate the support actions from Right Path Café, the AV Information Center, AV Paper, AV Press, Maroma, and the Art for Land action – as well as from the Auroville International Centers which are the founding partners of Acres for Auroville.
In honor of this special date, our bulletin offers you a great and inspiring read with more accounts of the life paths of Auroville pioneers and newcomers – including the story of Gunasundari whose whole life and four family generations are an integral part of the Auroville mosaic, and the interview with 87 year-old newcomer Gijubhai!
We pay homage to Shraddhavan and share her legacy for us, and also provide an update on the new Art for Land exhibition that is happening now.
New banking rules for foreign donors are clarified below, now with the two donation options of bank transfers to the Auroville Foundation or donations via an AVI with possible fiscal deductions for resident taxpayers and / or via the transfer fee-free services of AVI USA (Note: there have been no changes for Indian donors).
We close with the inspiration of the last Chapter of Sri Aurobindo’s classic book “The Mother”.
Happy Darshan to all!
Aryadeep & Mandakini & Jothi
The A4A team
1. A4A Flier – 15 August 2023
In the first chapter of “The Life Divine, Sri Aurobindo wrote: “The earliest preoccupation of man … is also the highest which his thought can envisage. It manifests itself in the divination of Godhead, the impulse towards perfection, the search after pure Truth and unmixed Bliss, the sense of a secret immortality. … These persistent ideals of the race are at once the contradiction of its normal experience and the affirmation of higher and deeper experiences….” Please click here for the flier in English, here for la version française en pdf and here for the Tamil version.
“Be true to your ideal , and you are sure to rise still higher in your achievement.” – The Mother
2. LFAU Letter – 15 August 2023
For those who have accepted Sri Aurobindo’s “gospel of life”, 15th August is a day full of deep meaning and relevance – individually and collectively. To the question of the best way to celebrate this special day, Sri Aurobindo endorsed this view: “Every day should be regarded as a day when a descent may take place or a contact established with the higher consciousness.” So each day is an opportunity for cultivating greater openness and aspiration, for advancing on the sunlit path of the future. On this special day we recall his words and that The Mother created Auroville for the Future! Please click here for the English version, here for la version française en pdf and here for the Tamil version.
3. My Life’s Journey With Auroville – By Gunasundari
Gunasundari was born in the bio-region of Auroville, and joined the community at the age of 16. Her family worked with and became good friends with the first pioneers who came to Auroville to begin building the dream city it aspires to become. After marrying Aurovillian Arumugam, who has been involved with Auroville since childhood and manages the ‘La Ferme’ Cheese Unit, Guna joined the Unity Fund where she has worked for 17 years. She received her Business degree while raising their two children, both who grew up and went through Auroville schooling, before stepping out for higher education. Guna’s story is one of deep commitment to Auroville, part of a family chain of four generations! Please click here for Guna’s life journey.
4. Gijubhai – An Auroville Newcomer at 87!
One of the ideals that the Charter of Auroville speaks of is: “youth that never ages”. It could be understood in the sense that regardless of the years one has lived, one can be full of energy and enthusiasm in reaching the goal one has set before oneself. It also means that, regardless of the body’s age, one can be full of great dreams and tasks to be accomplished. It means one is never pessimistic, regardless of failures and difficulties. We present in this article the life-story and works of one such person – Gijubhai – a newcomer to Auroville at 87! Please click here for Gijubhai’s interesting and inspiring life story.
5. A New “Art for Land” Exhibition: 13 August – 17 September
To honor Sri Aurobindo’s Birthday, we are holding the 2023 main Art for Land Exhibition, « Individual and Collective Auroville – Moving Forward Together » from August 13th till September 17th.. The symbol of our collective unity – the Banyan tree at the Matrimandir – is the exhibition’s central artistic theme. We are grateful for the continuing solidarity response from our many Artist supporters, and this year’s participation of Cedric Brognard with his collectively-produced painting of the Banyan Tree. Works can be seen and purchased at the Unity Pavilion and also online at https://artforland.in/. AFL’s proceeds all go for Auroville land purchase via the A4A campaign! Please click here for more details.
6. Shraddhavan – a True Child of the Mother
Last year, Shraddhavan, one of pioneers and forerunners who was deeply committed to the Mother’s and Sri Aurobindo’s vision, and was an example for so many, left her body. Named Shraddhavan – “one who has faith in the higher being” – by The Mother, she joined Auroville from England in 1970. A teacher, Matrimandir worker, writer and poet, she is best known for the creation of Savitri Bhavan with her partner Helmut. Here we share glimpses of her life and links to her many in-depth talks on Savitri and The Life Divine, an inestimable treasure for us all. Please click here for the tributary article and its resources.
7: New Banking Information
Our sincere thanks go to all of you who support our efforts for manifesting the physical base of Auroville! If you are a foreign donor, please know that the Indian Government has instituted new rules and donations may now be sent only via bank transfer to the “Auroville Foundation” or via an AVI center. For Indian donors there is no change in practices. You can see all the current banking information for Foreign donors and for Indian donors here (and also on the “How to Donate” page https://land.auroville.org/donate/) Version française en pdf.
8: Inspiring Quotes – the Divine Shakti (Part 2)
In this issue of our Bulletin, we resume and conclude our presentation of the all-important Chapter VI of Sri Aurobindo’s booklet “The Mother”. It is in this final chapter that he speaks of the four great Shakti powers – Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, Maheshwari, and Mahasaraswati – describing their roles and actions in the material manifestation through their specific powers of strength, beauty, wisdom and perfection in works. Please click here to read Sri Aurobindo’s text.
There are many ways to make your donation. Please click here to know the details and recent changes for both foreign and Indian donors. When you donate, kindly send us a mail at lfau@auroville.org.in or write a letter or call us (see contacts below), informing us of your donation so we can better track and immediately respond to your solidarity!
Now starting the10th year of the A4A campaign, we thank all the many friends
who are bringing their encouragement and solidarity
for the City of Dawn, creating a dynamic space
for the ideal of human unity to flourish and grow – a hope for us all !
Thank you for joining your hands of collaboration!
In solidarity and trust in Auroville’s bright future,
Aryadeep & Mandakini & Jothi
The Acres for Auroville team
LFAU (Lands for Auroville Unified), +91 413 2622657, Town Hall, Auroville, 605101, India
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LFAU (Lands for Auroville Unified), +91 413 2622657, Town Hall, Auroville,, 605101, India
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