My experience of Satprem

Priorities

Satprem was wont to repeat that we were not here to build one more temple or one more city, but another, a new man, possessed of a consciousness of unity. But at the same time I was seeing here and there that many were feeling encouraged, by his words or his letters, to “perceive “ an enemy – to identify the “fraudsters” and the “snakes”. At times one just has to put forward some difficult questions: the Mother’s disciples have obviously not always been up to the mark – some among the most eminent and respectable appointees ended up biting each other’s nose with the pettiest and most calculating court-cases, a very Indian habit one may say; but a few have also played roles which were somewhat deforming and determined What I can say is that Imuch of the way to be trod. I would venture here to draw a parallel between two such deformations which were heavy with consequence for all Aurovilians. Two “deformations”, two attractive twists which each appeared to aim at getting the vital interested in the work to be done: the first one introduced by Roger A when he modified the initial plan of a motionless core radiating in all directions at the same time, to the movement of a rotating galaxy; the second one introduced by Satprem when he designated the “enemies” and those from whom one must guard, whereas Mother’s love and call were for all equally and forever. The two have allowed for an emotional commitment where perhaps the nature of the task might have seemed too abstract, or unrewarding, or else too heroic – a king of vital romanticism and estheticism could thus come to aid, sustain and encourage vital participation, to the detriment of a deeper and wider comprehension. The subsequent imposition of the Galaxy model on all future development of Auroville, claiming a direct divine inspiration, has legitimized the most short- sighted and limitative actions and caused gaping chasms and divisions within the collective experience which are yet far, today, from being resolved. Never would

40