Which town?

21

In the middle of this vast plateau still nearly bare and virgin, rose in space the vessel of the Matrimandir, its four arcs ascending like a prayer, dense and silent and solid.

The effervescence of the first years had dissipated.

Gestures were more sober, bodies were more invested.

Accidents had occurred.

Lessons of humbleness.

The Society had cut the funds but the work had proceeded all the same = for a few disciples who had made to Her the promise they would see to the financing of Her temple, had persevered in their task and together found the means to channel just enough money and materials onto the site so that the volunteers could move forward; yet there were less workers coming from the villages, the teams were pared down and those who remained must learn everything, in the gardens as in the workshops or on the structure. R. had withdrawn and gone away: in this atmosphere of conflicts and shortage, what sense was there to pretend one was building a city?

And as for the Matrimandir, what could he now add to it?

How could he play his role of visionary architect in this paralysis?

Where could he exercise his creativity?

Other projects and possibilities had solicited his attention; would the chance and the occasion to direct this realization present themselves again in the years to come? He knew not. Doubtless, this division had, by the very fact of Her withdrawal, become inevitable: he well knew the different mentalities and had himself

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