“We should not be attracted by the modern city life”–SP

March 15, 2016 in Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

Submitted by: Damagosha Dasa

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Hare Krsna-
Below we have a short conversation with Srila Prabhupada about  the farm projects. He wants to know why, if it is so wonderful and attractive the devotees don’t go to live there? If they get nice fruits, grains, open air,
milk, why they should not be attracted?
Then he says, we should not be attracted to this modern city life, but instead live simply, live off the land, become independent,  chant Hare Krsna,and be happy in this way.
Hari bol
damahgosa das
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We should not be attracted to modern city life”–SP

Bhubaneshwar Jan 31 1977
Prabhupāda: So what is the report in France? Paris atmosphere is all right?
Yogeśvara: Paris? Paris, there is good enthusiasm because there is saṅkīrtana party. It is more difficult at the farm, because there is no saṅkīrtana.
Prabhupāda: Why? There are so many men. There is no saṅkīrtana?
Yogeśvara: Yes. It is far from the nearest city.
Prabhupāda: But within the farm there is no saṅkīrtana?
Yogeśvara: Regular temple activities are going on.
Prabhupāda: Saṅkīrtana is there.
Yogeśvara: There is once a week a party going out.
Prabhupāda: No, not going out. I mean to say in the temple.
Yogeśvara: Inside the temple. Oh, yes. Inside the temple regular programs are there.
Prabhupāda: So why outside? There is no sufficient men? But when I was there I saw so many men.
Yogeśvara: Wherever you go, thousands of people will follow.
Hari-śauri: They were not all from the farm. They were from everywhere.
Prabhupāda: Then not many devotees are there in the farm?
Yogeśvara: There are maybe thirty-five devotees traveling, saṅkīrtana devotees, and then…
Prabhupāda: Centering that farm?
Yogeśvara: Centered at the farm. They come back maybe once every two months. And then there are about eighty devotees at the farm, of which forty are children. Of those children, twenty or twenty-two are Gurukula children. The others are too small.
Prabhupāda: So nobody is engaged in production, fruit, flowers, grains, milk?
Yogeśvara: There are not many full-time devotees doing production, maybe four full time.
Prabhupāda: And why part time?
Yogeśvara: Part time, everyone is trying to do an hour a day.
Prabhupāda: So what they do, others?
Yogeśvara: Well, from the other forty devotees left there is the staff of pūjārīs, press, temple maintenance. So not so many are left for doing full-time work on the land.
Prabhupāda: You are not getting new devotees to join?
Yogeśvara: In Paris.
Prabhupāda: Yes. From Paris or here… In Paris… From Paris you can bring in the farm.
Yogeśvara: Well, at the farm there is not as much of a new bhakta program as in Paris. So the new men are encouraged to stay in Paris to get fixed up first.
Prabhupāda: So new… When they are trained up, they can come, live, especially gṛhasthas. My point is whether the farm is attractive. Not very much.
Yogeśvara: The potential is wonderful.
Prabhupāda: And therefore I’m asking. Potential is wonderful, so why they are not attracted to live in the farm and be self-independent and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa? That is our farm project. Our farm project is they should be satisfied with simple living. That is nice living. If you get milk, if you get fruit, if you get grain and open air, it is very healthy life. Why they should not be attracted?
Yogeśvara: It is still the beginning, and because it’s the beginning, it is a little difficult sometimes.
Prabhupāda: That may be. But this should be our aim. We should not be attracted by the modern city life. Simplified life. Save time and utilize for advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is perfect life. Just like Vṛndāvana. Vṛndāvana life means agriculturist, cowherd boys, uneducated girls, cows and calves, and tree, fruits. This is Vṛndāvana. The center is Kṛṣṇa.

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Below is a handful of root crops I just picked for Krsna’s dinner tonight-parsnips, kohlrabi , rutabaga and carrots.  And you can cook these by themselves, or add with other vegetables stored in the garage from last summers crops. And It is now the month of March outside-in the dead of winter. We also have lots of greens growing out in the greenhouse.
If one is only used to going to some store and buying what they have to offer, one can never experience firsthand the simplicity, the beauty and tastefulness of growing your own food. I can write nice words to describe this experience, but if one is reluctant and/or resistant to trying this out for him or her self, then what can be done? Srila Prabhupada has told us in thousands of his own words, many others have said the same things, that we should live simply, grow what we need, kiss the rat race goodbye , and then chant Hare Krsna Maha Mantra with all that extra time now at our disposal. And this, is what the human life is meant for.
Not making lots of papers which others call “money” and trading in your mental and physical health in exchange for them.

Hare Krsna
damaghosa das

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