by Damaghoa dasa
25th June, 2016
Hare Krsna to all
If you dont read anything else in this lifetime, this article should be one of the last things you read.
It is that important.Why is that?
Because below you will find so many things that Srila Prabhupada tells us to do as a practical way to solve our modern problems. But who will hear these things? Those who are able to hear from the bona fide and empowered representative of God-Srila Prabhupada. We may say, I hear and read daily what Srila Prabhupada tells us to do, and that may be the case, but have we implemented these instructions in our daily lives? And in the ways he and Krsna wants us to do? These things take time, but they can be done, and the result is that we will get that result of our famous slogan-
Chant Hare Krsna and Be Happy !
Below is a quick summary of the points covered:
1.Do not modernize Vrndavana
2.Our philosophy is to produce food
3. Producing your own food is the FIRST religion
4.This age 99% are all sudras because they cannot live independently.
5.City life is vicious- we must for our own sanity give it up and Make Vrndavana
6.The karmis will say this is primitive-No it is intelligent life.
7.The formula is already there in BG-he says to read it
8.Why are our devotees not attracted to living in the country on farms and be self independent?
9. They are too attracted to the hellish city life
10.Farm project means “intense love for Krsna”
11.Even the devotees are so blind they do not know they are presently suffering so much in cities
12.He say to prove them (all who wont do it) all fools by practical actions
13.You economically prove KC way is the best way
14.No hired men or salaries
15.Krsna told Arjuna, now you decide-your plan or My plan
16. The formula is there in BG-annad bhavanti bhutani
17.The defect of modern life is following blind leaders.Canakya tells us the way to happiness
18.Do not be allured by this machine civilization
19. Everything is now clear Srila Prabhupada !
Hare Krsna-I sincerely you get something valuable from these timeless instructions.
sincerely,
damaghosa das
——————————-
June 14 1969 Letter to Hayagriva–Vrindaban does not require to be modernized because Krishna’s Vrindaban is transcendental village. They completely depend on nature’s beauty and nature’s protection. The community in which Krishna preferred to belong was Vaisya community, because Nanda Maharaja happened to be a Vaisya king, or landholder, and his main business was cow protection. It is understood that he had 900,000 cows and Krishna and Balarama used to take charge of them, along with His many cowherd boy friends, and every day, in the morning He used to go out with His friends and cows into the pasturing grounds. So, if you seriously want to convert this new spot as New Vrindaban, I shall advise you not to make it very much modernized. But as you are American boys, you must make it just suitable to your minimum needs. Not to make it too much luxurious as generally Europeans and Americans are accustomed. Better to live there without modern amenities. But to live a natural healthy life for executing Krishna Consciousness.It may be an ideal village where the residents will have plain living and high thinking. For plain living we must have sufficient land for raising crops and pasturing grounds for the cows. If there is sufficient grains and production of milk, then the whole economic problem is solved
May 25 Rome-– Our philosophy is that you produce your food anywhere. You stay, and keep cows, take milk, produce vegetables, food grains, and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. That’s all. This is our philosophy.Make your life successful. By becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious, you become free from all these troubles of material condition. This is our education. Don’t be after these motorcars, television, and all nonsense things, sporting, wine, women. Don’t be after these. Simply eat sufficiently, keep your health nicely, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, realize Kṛṣṇa, and go back to home. This is our philosophy.
March 1 1975 Atlanta–
Prabhupāda: Our first problem is, because we have got this material body, eating. Everyone must eat. So Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā, annād bhavanti bhūtāni: [Bg. 3.14] “If there is sufficient food grains, then both man and animal, they become happy.” Therefore our first religion is to produce food grain sufficiently to feed everyone. Kṛṣi-go-rakṣya–vāṇijyaṁ vaiśya–karma svabhāva [Bg. 18.44]. This matter has been entrusted to the vaiśyas. They should produce sufficient food and give protection to the cows for sufficient milk. Then the whole human society, animal society, will be happy. But we are disobeying the orders or the rules given by God.Instead of producing food, we are producing motorcars. And motor tires, motor parts. And so many other things. And therefore people are starving. The manual labor is being misused. We are disobeying the orders of God. Therefore we are unhappy. I have seen all over the world. There are enough space for producing food grains. And if we actually produce food grain, we can maintain ten times of the present population of the whole world. There is no question of scarcity because God has created everything complete.
…. So in this age, 99% people are engaged as śūdra, working for others. No independence.Otherwise brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, they are independent. They are nobody’s servant. But at the present moment, education means how to become expert servant. That means śūdra. So we cannot expect any good things from śūdra. That is not possible.
….Guest (1): …at the present time in this country to 10% of the people. They don’t have jobs. They are let out. They can’t…
Prabhupāda: Yes. No, every country, every country. Now, just like you are highly educated. Your country could not give you service. You are coming here. And that is śūdra. One who cannot live independently, he is śūdra. Paricaryātmakaṁ karyaṁ śūdra–karma svabhāva–jam[Bg. 18.44]. Kalau śūdra–sambhavaḥ. In this age, everyone is practically śūdra, because nobody can live independently. So we are producing mass śūdras. Therefore it is in chaotic condition. The Communist is the last word of the śūdras. The Communist philosophy is that “We are worker. We have all the power. We must have all the power.” And that they are doing. And because they do not want to obey any authority,therefore they are denying existence of God. This is the tendency of the modern society. Not only they do not know what is God, and they are trying to disobey the orders of God. So practically there is no religion. And without religion human society is animal society. Dharmeṇa hīnāpasubhiḥ samānāḥ. “Human being without any ideas of religion, God, he is no better than animal.” That is the difference between animal and human being
Aug 1 1975 New Orleans
There is no need and I don’t find in Bhāgavata big factory and slaughterhouse, no. Nothing. The whole atmosphere is surcharged with sinful life. How people will be happy? Now they are coming to crimes and hippies and so many things, problems, diplomacy, CIA and what other? So many unnecessary waste of energy, time, and money. Vicious condition. Better give up city. Make Vṛndāvana, like this. City life is abominable. If you don’t live in the city, you don’t require petrol, motor car. It is no use. They may criticize that “You are going to the farm in a car.” So for the time being, there is no vehicle. Otherwise bullock cart—where is the difficulty? Suppose you are coming, one hour, and it takes one day. And if you are satisfied, such life, there is no question of moving. Maybe local moving, from this village to that village. That is sufficient, bullock carts. Why motor car? Drive here and park problem. Not only park problem, there are so many
there are so many things. There are three thousand parts, motor car. You have to produce them, big factory.
Satsvarūpa: Insurance.
Prabhupāda: Insur… So much! Everyone is being (indistinct). We do not decry, but we point out, “In this way our valuable time of life is being wasted.” They say it is primitive life, but it is peaceful life. We want peaceful life and save time for Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is not primitive. That is intelligent life.
Jan 21 1976 Mayapura
Prabhupāda: [break] …possible for us to challenge the whole world that “You are all fools.”Huh? Is it possible?
Harikeśa: Yes.
Prabhupāda: No, no, they don’t care for Vedic. That is another foolishness. You have to present. You have to prove them fools by practical. And otherwise, “Who cares for your Vedic instruction?” they will say. Why they should… “We have got our own instruction.” That is preaching. If you quote simply Vedic literature, they will think, “We can quote many others.”
June 6 1976 Wash DC
Prabhupāda: You economically prove that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is simple and inexpensive life.
Devotees: Yes, jaya, mercy.
Prabhupāda: Food, diet, living condition, healthy, hygienic, everything. You prove that this is the best way of life. That’s a fact. From all sides, prove that Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is essential for the human society, to make them happy in this and the next life. That is a fact.
Aug 3 1976 Paris
Prabhupāda: Yes, that’s all. Why salary? Kṛṣṇa’s servant. We are eternal servant. That is the beauty of our institution. We have no hired men. Unless one is sincere, why he’ll work? What is the time now?… So show the simple example that how by simple living and thinking of Kṛṣṇa, one can become perfect and happy.
Vrndavana Nov 6 1976
Dr. Kneupper: What do you understand is man’s place in nature? Should he invent, let’s say,electricity? Should he invent machines? Do you think these are good or should he just leave those alone?
Prabhupāda: Well, these are good or bad. Suppose if there was no, this comfortable pad. That does not mean that I cannot sit. If there was no electricity, it does not mean we would have died.
Dr. Kneupper: No.
Prabhupāda: There was lamp. We were doing that. So we don’t condemn electricity, but it does not mean because we have got electricity, we shall deny the authority of God. That is rascaldom.
Dr. Kneupper: Yes.
Prabhupāda: That is rascaldom. You might have improved from the oil lamp to electricity. That does not mean that you have the control over God.
Dr. Kneupper: Yes, certainly not.
Prabhupāda: So these foolish rascals, because they have improved little, they are denying, “Oh, now there is no need of God. That is opiate.” What is that? Opiate?
Jagadīśa: Opiate of the people.
Prabhupāda: “They make the man foolish, God consciousness,” and so on, so on. These scientists, they declare, “What is God? This is all superstition.”
….Prabhupāda: We should stop all rascal plan and should take the plan given by God. Then it will be… Everything will be all right. Simple solution. The God’s plan is there in this book. Let us take it. Then everything solved. But “No, we are scientist. We are philosopher. We are big man, politician. We shall make our own.” Do and suffer. God has given freedom: “All right.”Yathecchasi tathā kuru [Bg. 18.63]. Kṛṣṇa said in the Bhagavad-gītā after explaining Arjuna everything, then He asked, “What you have decided? Your plan or My plan?” So Kṛṣṇa said, “I am giving you freedom. Whatever you like, you can do.” The plan is there. Now it is up to us to accept it or reject it. If you reject, you suffer. If you accept, you become happy. So we are requesting people, “Accept it.” This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. “Then you’ll be happy.” But who cares for us? He is making his own plan. Therefore he must suffer. Nature’s law he cannot avoid. That’s not possible. Nature’s law, there is… [break] …if God likes, immediately there will be rain. Yajñādbhavati parjanyaḥ. That is also stated. So read that. Annād bhavanti bhūtāni, annād.
annād bhavanti bhūtāni
parjanyād anna–sambhavaḥ
yajñād bhavati parjanyo
yajñaḥ karma–samudbhavaḥ
[Bg. 3.14]
parjanyād anna–sambhavaḥ
yajñād bhavati parjanyo
yajñaḥ karma–samudbhavaḥ
[Bg. 3.14]
The formula is there. Annād bhavanti bhūtāni parjanyād anna–sambhavaḥ, yajñād bhavatiparjanyaḥ. Annāt, a-n-n-a-t.
Jagadīśa: This one?
Prabhupāda: Yes, the outside. So all philosophers, all scientists, all politicians, let us combine together. The formula is there. Read it.
annād bhavanti bhūtāni
parjanyād anna–sambhavaḥ
yajñād bhavati parjanyo
yajñaḥ karma–samudbhavaḥ
[Bg. 3.14]
parjanyād anna–sambhavaḥ
yajñād bhavati parjanyo
yajñaḥ karma–samudbhavaḥ
[Bg. 3.14]
“All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rains. Rains are produced by performance of yajña, sacrifice, and yajña is born of prescribed duties.”
Prabhupāda: That’s it. There is no prescribed duties. Everyone is a butcher. Formerly there was distinction, “Here is a butcher; here is a religious man.” At the present moment everyone is a butcher. Who is religious man? There was division, at least one class, first-class man, second-class man, third-class man. Then, if there is ideal first-class man, even the fourth-class, third man, he’ll take the idea, “Oh, here is first-class.” But there is no first-class man. All fourth-class men. So who will give idea? And they want to remain fourth-class. If you say that “You become first-class,” they will laugh. “What is the use of becoming first-class?” First-class means, find out,śamo damas titikṣā, then, brahma–karma svabhāva–jam.
Feb 2 1977 Bhubaneswar
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.
Yogeśvara: Simple living.
Prabhupāda: But they are the topmost devotees. These (chuckling) uneducated, without any town life, cow-men, they are Kṛṣṇa’s best friend. Unsophisticated, no education, but love intense that is perfect. That attracted Kṛṣṇa more. Vṛndāvanaṁ parityajya na padam ekaṁ (sic:) nakartavya… Kṛṣṇa
is so much attached to Vṛndāvana that He goes nowhere… What is that? They are not educated girls, up-to-date fashion, (indistinct) or nothing. Crude. As soon as there was blowing of the flute, immediately they began to run towards Kṛṣṇa. Somebody is taking care of children, somebody is engaged in boiling milk, and somebody was even lying down with her husband. Still, immediately… Very crude, unsophisticated, but intense love for Kṛṣṇa—that isVṛndāvana. We want to introduce this farm project means intense love for Kṛṣṇa. And other things—very simple: little milk, little food grain, little vegetable, that’s all. And that is very nice. If you get fresh vegetable, fresh milk, and food grain, what do you want more? And from milk you can prepare so many nice preparations, unlimited number, all very palatable, sweet. This civilization we want to introduce, not so-called rascal civilization and become implicated in this cycle of birth and death. This is not civilization. This is killing civilization. Human being got the opportunity to get out of these clutches of birth and death. They do not understand. They‘re so rascal, they do not understand how they are implicated in this cycle of birth and death, nor theydo take it seriously, that this is the problem, janma–mṛtyu–jarā–vyādhi–duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam [Bg. 13.9]. They are so blind rascals, they do not see that this is real suffering.They do not know it. Simply theorizing, making plan, and they do not know what is the suffering. Such a rascal civilization. So we have to introduce real civilization. Therefore we are struggling so hard.
June 24 1977 Vrndavana
Prabhupāda: That is required. But it will be a failure unless they are taken to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That… Gandhi’s failure was there. He did not take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Because the material civilization means pravṛtti-mārga, and spiritual civilization nivṛtti-mārga. Pravṛttir eṣā bhūtānāṁ nivṛttis tu mahā-phalām. So pravṛtti… Suppose he is in the village. He has to work with plow. And in the city, Goodyear Tire Company offering him twenty rupees per day. So he’ll see that “What is the use of working with this plow? Let me go to Goodyear Tire.” Then here the business will be finished. That is the position of India. So much land is lying vacant because there is no worker, and all the rascals have gone to New Delhi or big cities. And overpopulation? “Give them sterilization.” Here there is no men to work and they’re sterilization… How the leaders… And who is leader? Another debauch number one, Gandhi, Mrs…. And she has produced a Sanjay Gandhi. Very precarious si… So there will be no scarcity of simple living and eating. We shall give nice food, milk, and place. So bring student and teach them. Then gradually increase. They will preach throughout the whole world. The defect of the society, modern—the rascals are worshiped. Cāṇakya Paṇḍita has given all in his moral instructions. He said,mūrkhā yatra na pūjyante: “Where rascals are not worshiped…” But at the present moment rascals are worshiped. And he says. He was experienced politician. He said, mūrkhā yatra na pūjyante dhānyaṁ yatra susañcitam. “In the society where rascals are not worshiped and food grains are properly stocked...” Mūrkhā yatra na pūjyante dhānyaṁ yatra susañcitam… Another… Dampatyo kalaho nāsti: “And where there is no quarrel between husband and wife,” tatra śrīḥ svayam āgatāḥ, “all fortune will come there automatically.” Svayam āgatāḥ. You haven’t got to pray, “Mother Lakṣmī, please come to my house.” She’ll come. Three things wanted. You should not give unnecessarily honor to rascals, and you should keep your food grains very nicely, and don’t quarrel, husband and wife. Then you become fortunate. Just see. Check how these instructions are there.
Oct 8 1977 Vrndavana
Haṁsadūta: Yes, Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda: That is my desire. Don’t waste time for bodily comforts. You have got this body. You have to eat something. You have to cover yourself. So produce your own food and produce your own cloth. Don’t waste time for luxury, and chant HareKṛṣṇa. This is success of life. In this way organize as far as possible, either in Ceylon or in Czechoslovakia, wherever… Save time. Chant HareKṛṣṇa. Don’t be allured by the machine civilization.
Haṁsadūta: Yes, Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda: This is soul-killing civilization, this kind way of life, especially European countries. Anywhere you can inhabit it. It is not very difficult. A cottage; you can produce your own food anywhere. Am I right?
Haṁsadūta: Yes, Prabhupāda. We will do it.
Prabhupāda: And money, spend for Kṛṣṇa—for Kṛṣṇa’s palace, for Kṛṣṇa’s temple, for Kṛṣṇa’s worship, gorgeous, as gorgeously as… Not for false… This is the human civilization. And to organize this, varṇāśrama will help you to divide the society—brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya—as there is division in the body. That will help. Don’t waste human form of body for sense gratification. I wanted to introduce this. Now I have given you ideas. You can do it. You are all intelligent. For Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s para–upakāra… So you do good to others. Not exploit others. Any human being who has been bestowed by this body has the capacity to chant HareKṛṣṇa. Give them chance and make situation favorable. Is that clear?
Haṁsadūta: Yes, it’s clear, Prabhupāda. You have made everything very clear.
Thank you Damaghosa Prabhu, wonderful article..
Also just wondering how this ‘project’ (link below), complies with Srila Prabhupada’s instructions as quoted above.
“June 14 1969 Letter to Hayagriva–Vrindaban does not require to be modernized because Krishna’s Vrindaban is transcendental village”
https://www.iskconbangalore.org/vrindavana-spiritual-capital..
Yhs, Balaram das.
Hare Krsna Balaram das prabhu-pranams
What can I say? I don’t agree with that project-especially when I am pretty sure Srila
Prabhupada would not either. It is not in my hands at all…..
damaghosa das
Hare Krsna Damaghosa das prabhu,
Obeisances… All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Yes, just a rhetorical question on my part… keep up the ‘good fight’ and thank you for this service for the Prabhupad anugas!
Yhs,
Balaram das.
Hare Krishna. Nice! If we study seriously on articles in this site, what Srila Prabhupada taught on Istagosthi, unity, cooperation, personal ambition and good management, we will start a new truly all inclusive era in KC and truly follow Srila Prabhupada’s reasons for ISKCON.
Sincerely,
Mahatma Das