Bhavana Dee
Born 13th September, 1943 in a small town in upstate New York, Dee, as she was then known, was the eldest of six children. She died peacefully at 2:20 am on 11th May, 2011
Her pioneering spirit first manifested in the mid-1960s, when Dee chose to leave the confines of the US culture and education system to learn at what she called “the university of the road”. Some years spent wandering-while-seeking in Europe and Asia eventually led her to Auroville in 1971, where she soon became known as Bhavana.
In her early years in Auroville, Bhavana lived in briefly in Aurobrindavan and then Fertile Windmill, later moving to Bliss. She started leather & crafts units and also worked at Matrimandir.
In 1983, Bhavana founded Auroville Village Action Group, pioneering the village development work that, for her, was essential to manifesting the dream of Auroville.
Besides tireless fundraising, grant writing, and administrative work, Bhavana took a special interest in many young Tamilians, helping them develop their skills and talents and remaining available to them for counsel and encouragement throughout her life.
Bhavana moved to Vérité in 1993, attracted by its fourfold focus on spirituality, sustainability, healing and community. There she was instrumental in developing the infrastructure and the content of the Integral Learning Center, and was well known for her ever-cheerful attendance to guests. Bhavana also held morning meditation and Savitri reading daily, and introduced many to Vipassana through organizing retreats.
Bhavana was an enthusiastic ambassador for Auroville, always willing to speak at conferences and public relation events in India and abroad. Over the years, she also served in a variety of Auroville working groups and roles. At the time of her death, she was a trustee of Auroville Village Action and Auroville Animal Care and an executive of Auroville International Programmes and Vérité Guest House.
Diagnosed with cancer in January, 2011, Bhavana accepted it as her Yoga, exploring both conventional and alternative treatments while simultaneously preparing for a conscious transition, deriving deep spiritual sustenance from Mother and Sri Aurobindo. She invited many to share intimately in her intensive process, making her final contribution to Auroville a consecrated death at home in the community she loved and served joyfully for 40 years.
Bhavana died peacefully at 2:20 am on 11 May, 2011; three days later, her body was buried in Vérité’s “wisdom tope” under the words that meant everything to her: Love and Oneness.
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