Find beauty and the purpose will follow. This is a credo that I try and abide by. Though by no means is it an easy task in cities like Mumbai, where the mind-numbing commute and the daily grind can make one prone to things like road rage.

In Auroville, Pondicherry, the pursuit of beauty, it would seem, is a way of life.

Potters, painters, poets and others of their ilk live and eke out a living in sylvan settings. On the face of it, their lives appear simple and uncluttered; the most common daily routine consists of Tai Chi/Yoga or meditation combined with healthy eating and a work routine that is focused and mindful. It’s a routine that is geared to assist the individual and aid the community. The art produced and sold here is beautiful and serene, free of isms and trends, indicative of a spontaneous and free way of thinking and being. This Zen lifestyle is enviable, despite the fact that the community as a whole does suffer from the same ills that plague any settlement.

Walking on dusty tracks and listening to the roar of the blue sea in the distance, I am reminded of a book called The Artist’s Way, which extols simplicity and creativity through small, daily rituals. Seemingly simplistic, these daily routines that are (to my mind) linked to the pursuit of beauty, add other dimensions to the mundane aspects of life.

The Mother of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, who needs no introduction, has written a seminal work on the spiritual significance of flowers. It’s a treatise that is both philosophical and artistic in its scope. Her samadhi shrine is adorned with flowers of incredible beauty. Matri Mandir is a structure of rare and pristine beauty. The meditation chamber offers a life-transforming experience to those who are open to it.

... contd.