{"id":3443,"date":"2020-10-13T23:08:23","date_gmt":"2020-10-13T23:08:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecoversities.org\/?p=3443"},"modified":"2021-06-27T17:33:36","modified_gmt":"2021-06-27T17:33:36","slug":"integral-economy-in-auroville-a-learning-laboratory-for-unpacking-reimagining-and-co-creating-an-economy-that-serves-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecoversities.org\/es\/integral-economy-in-auroville-a-learning-laboratory-for-unpacking-reimagining-and-co-creating-an-economy-that-serves-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Integral Economy in Auroville a learning laboratory for unpacking, reimagining and co-creating an economy that serves Life"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

By Sangeetha Sriram<\/strong><\/p>

The real purpose of education is to serve life and enable meaningful living and bringing out the highest potential in people; fulfilling and dharmic livelihood is one among its many dimensions. But we now live in a world where an insatiable and destructive capitalist economy has come to exist for its own sake, and almost all of education is being designed to serve this cancerous growth. The current industrial system of education is churning out unimaginative degree holders (1)<\/span>, pushing them into what we might as well call \u2018deadlihoods\u2019, sucking them dry of their agency and creativity, and touting consumerism as the cure for the lack of joy they experience. It is clear that we need a radically new vision. And thankfully, beyond the field of mainstream capitalist education, there are ecoversities which are reclaiming diverse knowledge systems and reimagining new approaches to higher education that are inspiring and preparing young people for \u2018alivelihoods\u2019, occupations that help them and the world heal, come alive and thrive! And there is an urgent need for Ecoversities to bring to the heart of their conversations and practice, a radically new vision for the economy and embodied experiments to actualise it. <\/span>Auroville<\/span><\/a>, an international, intentional community (located in Southern India) where I reside, that aspires to be a learning society that is at once a university as well as a city where learning happens in live-in laboratories, offers some insights into how this can happen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Over the past couple of years, I have been part of a weekly study circle in Auroville with others who held similar questions and aspirations which we explored at three levels: the personal (our individual journeys, struggles and insights around money and wealth), Auroville ( the collective journey of Auroville in the economic realm and lessons to be learnt) and the larger systemic (what new models can we offer through our work here to creatively challenge and dismantle the already obsolete and crumbling global financial system). This essay lays out the process in the following four distinct sections: the personal, the collective (Auroville), the National (Vikalp Sangam), the Global and an aspiration for the way forward to weave them all together.<\/span><\/p>

I – THE PERSONAL<\/b><\/p>

Over the past year, The New Economy Study Circle met every Monday morning over a community breakfast of idlis and vadas, plenty of laughter, and serious conversations around our insights on what we meant by \u2018the new economy\u2019. Every week, one member shared their understanding of the ongoing capitalist economic crisis, their personal journey and their vision for the new economy. When we realised that we had a shared understanding of the nature of the crisis (2)<\/span> and since we had all individually already spent many years trying to understand how the dehumanising market system worked at the global and national levels, there was a collective need to deep dive into the other end: the personal, which we felt was largely unexplored. If we want to be part of creating a larger system that is based on abundance, the quality of the most fundamental building blocks (i.e. individuals) becomes very critical. <\/span><\/p>

\"Auroville<\/a>We had each been part of collectives where individual members, without having a deep personal commitment to looking at their own fears and insecurities and habitual behaviours around money, attempted to \u201cchange the system out there\u201d. Since our experience in these spaces had been dissatisfactory and shallow, and sometimes even led to a collapse of the experiment itself, we decided that a non-negotiable qualification to be part of the circle would be a willingness to sincerely share our questions, dilemmas, self-discoveries, dreams, shame, arrogance, fears, aversions and desires (around how the money system affects our inner worlds) as <\/span>they arise at different points along our journey; and the ability to laugh at oneself at the end of the day! The group believed that deep change needs to be simultaneously personal and political; that unless we bring our inner worlds into the game, we cannot change how it operates in the various layers of the outer realm. We did a few experiments around this.<\/span><\/p>

\u2018Money on the Table\u2019<\/i>, for example, was an experiment where, once every two weeks, everyone placed on the table any amount of money that they felt called to. Two of the Circle members\u2019 names got picked randomly through lots. They took the fund to come up with any way that they would like to use it to seed the new economy of their dreams and share their experiences and insights at the next meet. The key thing was for everyone to share their experiences all the way from pulling out cash from their wallets (Am I offering too much or too little? What will others think of me? Do I feel scarce? Am I being calculative?) <\/i>and offering it to the collective, to what they learnt about themselves and their relationship with money. An experiment that came out of this was the semi-spontaneous \u2018multicolor wealth exchange<\/i>\u2019 (recognizing and sharing multiple forms of wealth) in a public place in Auroville. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

One member led the process of creating a repository of resources (books, essays, films, podcasts, games, etc.) which explain the fundamental dysfunctionalities of the old system, as well as inspire imaginations and possibilities for the new.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

At the next level, the Study Circle attempted to study Auroville\u2019s journey in economic reorganisation.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Auroville\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Participants offering and receiving wealth by writing down their offers and needs in a unique colour for each form of wealth.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

II – THE COMMUNITY<\/b><\/p>

Auroville\u2019s Vision and Founding Principles<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\"The aim of its economics would be not to create a huge engine of production, whether of the competitive or the cooperative kind, but to give to men\u2014not only to some but to all men each in his highest possible measure\u2014the joy of work according to their own nature and free leisure to grow inwardly, as well as a simply rich and beautiful life for all\u201d.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSri Aurobindo<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Such is the loftiness of the dream on which Auroville was founded half a century ago by Mirra Alfassa (fondly called \u2018The Mother\u2019), the spiritual companion of the Indian seer Sri Aurobindo. Since then, about 3,000 people from about 56 different nationalities have moved into this evolving \u2018<\/span>City of the Future<\/span><\/i>\u2019, many of them drawn to the ideals described in its founding texts: <\/span>The Dream<\/span><\/i><\/a>, <\/span>The Auroville Charter<\/span><\/i><\/a>, and <\/span>To be a true Aurovilian.<\/span><\/i><\/a> <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Our starting point, both in Auroville and the world at large, is a context that has it the other way round. Instead of the economy serving society, and all of Life for that matter, we have all aspects of life – education, culture, health, knowledge, art, religion, polity – being made to serve the economy, a dysfunctional, parasitic system that has lost its soul and its way. The purpose of Auroville is to develop as a spiritualised society, in which The Mother envisioned a new way of being and living, laying down several economic principles for the township to experiment with:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\u201cAll wealth belongs to the Divine and those who hold it are trustees, not possessors\u2026 Auroville belongs to humanity as a whole, its residents are only its caretakers. For a conscious use of matter, there is no need for the sense of personal possession\u2026 Auroville is the ideal place for those who want to know the joy and liberation of no longer having any personal possessions\u2026 All is collective property to be used for the welfare of all.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\u201cThe spirit of competition is to be replaced par the spirit of cooperation based on a sense of mutuality, coming from a sense of inner unity. It is the responsibility of each individual to give sense in his life and work to the notion of \u201cchange of consciousness\u201d.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\u201cWork would not be there as the means of gaining one's livelihood, it would be the means whereby to express oneself, develop one's capacities and possibilities, while doing at the same time service to the whole group, which on its side would provide for each one's subsistence and for the field of his work.\u201d\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\u201cMoney is not meant to generate money; money should generate an increase in production, an improvement in the conditions of life and a progress in human consciousness. This is its true use\u2026 [Money won\u2019t be used in Auroville] Auroville will have money relations only with the outside world. And one does not have to pay for one\u2019s food, but one must offer one\u2019s work or materials; those who have fields for example, should give the produce from their fields; those who have factories should give their products; or one\u2019s labour in exchange for food. That in itself eliminates a lot, the internal exchange of money\u2026 In reality, it should be a township for study and research in how to live in a way which is at once simplified and wherein the higher qualities will have more time to develop. Those who produce food will give what they produce to the town and the town is responsible for feeding everyone. That means that people will not need to buy food with money; yet they must earn it.\u201d (emphases added) (3).\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Through my own journey as an activist over the past two decades, in my attempt to understand the nature of our civilisational crisis, I had arrived at exactly these ideals. So had our Study Circle members. These, along with the larger vision of Auroville which aspires for human unity and Integral Yoga (bringing together matter and spirit) had drawn us here. Like us, since its founding 50 years ago, several Aurovilians have gathered here from different cultures, inspired by these founding economic principles, have experimented with various modes of economic organisation and practices, attempting to create a trust-based, collaborative economy. Here are a few that we found to be the most significant among them all:<\/p>

1. Ownership<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

There is no private property in Auroville: land, all immovable assets (including homes), and community enterprises are owned by the collective. Aurovilians may be stewards of an Auroville home, but they cannot sell it (even if they have financed it) or even bequeath it; they can only exchange it for another housing asset within Auroville. Similarly, there are no owners of Auroville enterprises. Even those who have set them up, and usually invested the start-up capital, are only executive managers. They cannot sell the enterprise, neither to another Aurovilian, nor to a non-Aurovilian. If they choose to step down, a community body called the\u00a0Funds and Assets Management Committee (FAMC)<\/i><\/a>, approves new executives. Some enterprises are run by a small team of executive managers, while others work along the principles of a co-operative. For example, the\u00a0Auroville Arts Service<\/i><\/a>\u00a0is an co-operative of 67 Auroville artists, through which they sell their artwork, and contribute to the service on a voluntary basis. \u00a0<\/p>

2. Forms of sharing\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Community Funds: Income-generating enterprises fund a communal budget, which is allocated across various \u2018service\u2019 sectors of the community (farms & forest, health, education, arts, municipal services, etc.) by a group of their representatives. This developed from the\u00a0Envelopes<\/i> system through which funds were distributed in the earlier years of the community, when there were very\u00a0few community services. Representatives of different settlements within Auroville placed their needs in regular community meetings, and disbursements were made through a collective process. The communal budget also funds <\/span>Maintenances<\/span><\/i>, monthly financial and in-kind support for Aurovilians (awarded on the basis of their workplace and their level of need).<\/span><\/p>