“In the material world one has to work for the maintenance of the body and soul, but how can one perform such work in a way that is favorable to the execution of Krishna Consciousness?”>(NOI.2.Purport, HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
>Activity is required in the material world. Unfortunately, without dovetailing all actions to Krishna Consciousness, one is simply wasting their time in fruitless pursuits of sense gratification. In Srila Prabhupada’s purport from the Bhagavad Gita 5.2, he says “action in Krsna Consciousness automatically helps one escape the result of fruitive action so that one need not descend to the material platform.” By engaging in devotional service and chanting the maha-mantra Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna, Krsna, Hare, Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare, even in the beginning stages, one can quickly see how Krishna shows his mercy. A higher taste is aroused but it must be carefully nurtured in order for it to take root and rise to the level of a pure devotee. “Bhakti is a sort of cultivation. As soon as we say cultivation we must refer to activity” (N0I Text 3 Purport).
>P In order to grow, a devotee must strive to follow the advice of Rupa Gosvami:
“The essence of all advice is that one should utilize one’s full time—twenty-four hours a day—in nicely chanting and remembering the Lord’s divine name, transcendental form, qualities and eternal pastimes, thereby gradually engaging one’s tongue and mind. In this way one should reside in Vraja [Goloka Vṛndāvana dhāma] and serve Kṛṣṇa under the guidance of devotees. One should follow in the footsteps of the Lord’s beloved devotees, who are deeply attached to His devotional service.” (NOI.8)
A key element to successful engagement in Krishna Consciousness is surrounding oneself in the company of devotees. Some individuals do not live near temples, some are disheartened by the corruption of others, and some are looking for a community founded on the living principles of Krishna Consciousness as founded by Srila Prabhupada. This is not a new concept of trying to establish these rural communities, but it is a point that needs to be further addressed. In addition, until a time approaches that will allow for establishing such places, the devotee must take advantage of utilizing the the spiritual community found within the internet. By this latter process, relationships can be formed that will help actualize the former. The ability to network and communicate over great distances very rapidly will help in bringing momentum to this cause. As Prabhupada used a Dictaphone and Printing Presses to leave his transcendental message, the devotees must continue to utilize this new technology to continue to spread love of Krishna and at the same time continually striving to establish actual living communities.
Although a devotee must sometimes adapt to the surroundings given time, place, and circumstance he/she finds themselves in, providing a place infused with Krishna Conscious activities would provide a thriving soil. Establishing a community based on “plain living” and high thinking” would allow devotees and those new to Krishna Consciousness to become enthusiastic, confident, patient, able to act according to prescribed regulative principles, abandon the association of non-devotees, and follow in the footsteps of the previous acaryas. Consisting of self-sufficient schools, temples, housing, and agriculture, a community could sustain very simply. Prabhupada comments, “by God’s arrangement, anyone in any part of the world can live very peacefully if he has some land and a milk cow. There is no need for man to move from one place to another to earn a livelihood, for one can produce food grains locally and get milk from cows. That can solve all economic problems” >NOI.2 Purport). What greater work can be done than to live in unalloyed devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krishna? In a letter dated December 18, 1974, Prabhupada wrote, “Our farm projects are an extremely important part of our movement. We must become self-sufficient by growing our own grains and producing our own milk, then there will be no question of poverty. So develop these farm communities as far as possible.” (http://www.prabhupadanugas.eu/?p=23428)
The details of such a plan require patience and determination on the part of the devotees, but if one remembers Srila Prabhupada’s example of what can be achieved in such a short span of time, then there will be no doubt of its inevitable success. The benefits to the devotees and the surrounding community would be overwhelming. When Krishna Consciousness takes its root the light of Krishna can shine. ““Kṛṣṇa is compared to sunshine, and māyā is compared to darkness. Wherever there is sunshine, there cannot be darkness. As soon as one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the darkness of illusion, the influence of the external energy, will immediately vanish”( NOI.7 Purport). The
Although this is a preliminary discussion to spark some interest in bringing together devotee’s in a living community, it should hopefully get the ideas going on where, when, and how this important mission can be accomplished. The foundation of any such endeavor should always be the teachings of Srila Prabhupada as they were originally taught, without deviations or changes. Everything that we need is in his books, lectures, and video. The message is transcendental and can lift everyone out of the darkest ignorance. Prabhupada writes,
Letter to Rupanuga, Ahmedabad, September 29, 1975:
If these farm projects are successful, then all this industry will be closed. We do not have to make propaganda, but automatically people will not want. The people are innocent. The rascal leaders say it is primitive to remain on the farm, but to do business in the city and become rogue and rascal, that is advanced. They have dog race, horse race, gambling, coca cola, pepsi cola—all unnecessary. There is no use for it but the business is going on. They take to cigarette and T.V. because they have no good engagement. They are chewing the already chewed.
Thank you very much
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
Brandon.
(references to Hansadutta are not required, so removed)
Some punctuation errors and spacing, one awkward sentence needs rewriting, and two disagreements in the pronouns themselves .
Please correct, and post
as a discussion entry at the class site? Excellent!
...And fast ! >,' )
PASSED
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