Auroville is FREAKY

Today Ant and I decided to take a tour of the city of Pondicherry. Most of the tour was uninteresting except for a surreal stop at Auroville. Auroville is an alternative way of living, which is summed up by their charter.

When you get to Auroville, you are herded like cattle into this single file line. No bags, cameras, water bottles. THere was more security and checks than most embassies (esp. the Indian one in NYC that let me in with my knife). Every 50-100 feet there was someone waving us into line.

No talking allowed. Shuffle in line quietly.

Errrr... ok.

What followed were some really pretty gardens, and I actually did appreciate the strict silence rule. It was the first time in ages I had heard nothing but my breathe.

Then you walk around a corner and there is this massive round building that looks like gold plated satellite dishes were faced outwards, beaming out their brainwashing cult telecasts. Think Disney's EPCOT center. Instead of pretty triangle sections that look like a golfball, the dimples are round and gold.

We shuffle a little further and are relieved of our footwear.

A bit further and COMPLETE silence is enforced.

We walk up to the structure, which is not silent because it is still being constructed. I try to ignore it. As I am about to walk into the building, a young western blond guy with a big beard looks at me, and tries his best not to crack up. What is all this nonsense about?? What are we going to see??? I read something about a crystal ball but after all this preparation, I don't know what to expect.

We walk in, walk around the inside ramps (also similar to EPCOT), and then come to the main show. You are given about 5-10 seconds to gaze into a surreal room. THe walls are all white and the floor and walls seems to merge. In the middle is a single beam of light, focused on a massive and beautiful crystal ball.

I felt like I was in the last scene of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Was the StarCHild going to show up?? What the funk. As soon as it begins, the viewing is over and you are shoved out.

The crystal ball itself was very beautiful and I could see why the room could be a major meditation aid. What was up with all the pomp and circumstance of herding us to the crystal ball though? WHat was I supposed to see or learn?? I don't know, I just left thinking that a) the crystal would have made a nice prop in the Lord of the RIngs movies as a palantir (I know, I'm a geek) and b) I think the purpose of herding us like cattle was just a game to amuse the Auroville inmates.

After leaving the "silent" area, I couldn't help but laughing at all the hippies and other deep type folk I saw. One lady whose name HAD to be Starchild was introducing some relatives to one of the volunteers. SHe was complete with a tight band around her unruly blonde hair and forehead.

Ahhh.... gotta love deep people.....

For pics of this highly deep place, click here.