Srila Prabhupada: Simple living, high thinking - how to do it.
The following is a short compilation of statements by our Acharya Srila Prabhupada who is giving us both material and spiritual directions on how to live in this material world of Kali yuga and at the SAME TIME, make spiritual advancement. Those who are intelligent will take advantage of them...
► Conversations, May 24, 1974, Rome
... Yes, naturally. If this man is fed up with this industry, he can go back to village and produce his own food. But he is attached to this industrial activity because he is thinking that "We are getting more money for wine and woman and meat. Let me enjoy." That is the perfect, imp... But if he chants Hare Krishna maha-mantra, his consciousness will be purified and he will be made not interested in this kind of work. He will go back to village and produce food.
► Conversations, June 21, 1974, Germany
Prabhupada: Most unnatural life. City life, most unnatural.
► Conversations, May 27, 1974, Rome
Prabhupada: Yes, it will go on, but when they will see that your ideal community is better than city life, people will take to it. Param drstva nivartate. When one gets a better standard of life, naturally he will give up the lower standard of life.
► Conversations, May 25, 1974, Rome
... That is yajna. So in the Kali-yuga the yajna is made very easy. Chant Hare Krishna. So anywhere you go, chant Hare Krishna, and see that there will be clouds, there will be rainfall, and just work little, you get your food grains, and chant Hare Krishna.
► Conversations, May 24, 1974, Rome
…eatables to the animals and to the men, then everything is prosperous. So where is that arrangement? There is enough land, enough possibility, enough water. Now utilize them and produce food grain, eat nicely and live peacefully and chant Hare Krishna and go back to home, back to Godhead. This is our philosophy. Why there should be industry? You want to eat after all. Instead of eating this flesh, killing poor animals, why don't you produce food grains, fruits, flowers, food grain, and take milk from the animals and produce milk products, all nutritious food, all nice food, and be happy and remember God for His kindness. This is civilization. What is this nonsense civilization? Now there is petrol problem. I see so many buses, and not a single man, one or two men. And for two men a big huge bus is being run, and so much petrol is consumed unnecessarily. I have seen. I went from Nairobi to London in a plane--only five passengers. Out of that, four passengers we were. Why? Why this nonsense? And there is petrol problem now. They are creating simply, the so-called advancement of civilization, creating problems, that’s all. And that is due to these rascal leaders. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanas te 'pisa-tantryam uru-damni baddhah. They do not know what is the ideal of life, what is the aim of life. They are creating hodge-podge civilization and putting the mass of people in chaotic condition. This is the sum and substance. I do not know whether you'll agree with me, but this is my study of the whole situation.
► Conversations, May 25, 1974, Rome
Prabhupada: Yes. (break) ...encouraging in our society to take to agriculture to support this center. I am purchasing land in Vrindavana and Mayapura to become self-sufficient. Whatever production you make, you be satisfied. Little vegetable, little grain and little milk. That is sufficient.
► Conversations, May 25, 1974, Rome
Prabhupada: Yes, that was Gandhi's philosophy, village organization. These people, they are attracting villagers to work in the factory, and they are exploiting them.... our philosophy. Make your life successful. By becoming Krishna 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 Krishna, realize Krishna, and go back to home. This is our philosophy...
► Conversations, May 25, 1974, Rome
Prabhupada: Stick to your own place and grow your food. There is no question of transport. Little transport is required, that bullock cart. Krishna was being carried on bullock cart. There is no use of petrol. Use simply the bull. They are already there. Utilize them.
► Conversations, May 27, 1974, Rome
Dhananjaya: So in fact, Srila Prabhupada, we should start using bullock carts. Prabhupada: Yes. No, first of all you start the community project, as we have already started in New Vrindaban. Make this perfect.
► Conversations, May 27, 1974, Rome
…newspaper, nonsense newspaper, huge, huge quantity? So everything will be nice provided you become ideal. Live in community. Produce your own food. Even you can produce your own paper. You don't require printing of so many books. If there is one book, others can ...
► Conversations, May 27, 1974, Rome
... Keep amongst yourself and produce. Produce food grain, produce cotton, mustard seed. Self dependent, no use... And we don't require motorcar. Bullock cart is sufficient. There is no need of going anywhere...
► Conversations, May 27, 1974, Rome
Prabhupada: No, no. These varieties... Suppose you grow half a dozen different types of vegetables. So from this half a dozen you can make three dozen varieties. If you are a good cooker. So the varieties of enjoyment will be fulfilled. We have got some desire of different quality of varieties. That you can make. From milk, vegetable, grains, the three things, you can make three hundred varieties.
► Conversations, May 27, 1974, Rome
Prabhupada: Yes, it will go on, but when they will see that your ideal community is better than city life, people will take to it. Param drstva nivartate. When one gets a better standard of life, naturally he will give up the lower standard of life.
► Conversations, May 28, 1974, Rome
So you have to set up real human society in a small scale so people will see, "Yes." Because man has got intelligence. Just like, although I am ... my preaching. So why you are coming? So if you stick to your position, real human civilization, people will come, gradually. Because they have got the sense....
► Conversations, May 28, 1974, Rome
Prabhupada: No, there is no question of extended. You keep yourself in a limited solution. And then, when it is appreciated it will be automatically extended. You don't touch the extended. You become ideal civilized man. Others will follow.
► Conversations, June 2, 1974, Geneva
Prabhupada: Wasteful, yes. Therefore I say they have no brain. All, they are rascals. Rascal leaders. A little labor in agriculture will be sufficient to produce the family's food stock for the whole year. You can stock. You work only three months, and you get sufficient food for your whole family. And nine months, you chant Hare Krishna. But these rascals will not do that. They will work hard like ass simply for eating. Nunam pramattah kurute vikarma yad indriya-pritaya aprnoti. They will not accept easy life.
► Conversations, June 5, 1974, Geneva
Prabhupada: Sacrifice means to satisfy God. So you satisfy God. By God's mercy there will be sufficient rain. And when there is sufficient rain you produce sufficient food, food grains, and both the animals and men eat and live in God consciousness.
► Conversations, June 11, 1974, Paris
Prabhupada: No, we have to make this propaganda because we are servant of Krishna. And Krishna orders, krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam. So we must take to agricultural work to produce food and give protection to the cows. And if there is excess product, we trade. This simple thing we must do. Therefore I'm anxious to take outside Paris this center. Our people should live there peacefully, produce food grains, give protection to the cows, and work hard. And if there is excess product, you can make money also.
► Conversations, June 11, 1974, Paris
Therefore I'm anxious to take outside Paris this center. Our people should live there peacefully, produce food grains, give protection to the cows, and work hard. And if ... this point. We can make good money. We'll not be loser. Krishna conscious men, they'll be never loser by following the instruction of Krishna. They'll live comfortably without any material want, and tyaktva deham punar janma naiti, and after leaving this body, go to, directly back to home...
► Conversations, June 19, 1974, Germany
Prabhupada: My idea is that all our centers should be self-supported. We do not like that idea that for your support you have to go 100 miles to get your bread. That is a very dangerous drawback. You produce your food locally and then support yourself. The main problem is what to eat, where to sleep. So we get some place and support ourself by producing our own food. We have already begun in New Vrindaban, New..., West Virginia, Virginia, and similarly in other centers, we are producing our food, grains, vegetables, fruits and milk. That is sufficient.
► Conversations, June 21, 1974, Germany
Prabhupada: Most unnatural life. City life, most unnatural.
► Conversations, July 9, 1974, Los Angeles
Prabhupada: (laughs) Yes. Murkhayopadeso hi prakopaya na santaye. If you advise rascals, they'll be angry. No good result. Murkhayopadeso hi prakopaya na santaye, payah-panam bhujanganam kevalam visa-vardhanam. So we have to become very strong preacher. Then this movement will stay. If you simply take the temple worship, it will not stay very long. Just like...
► Conversations, April 1, 1975, Mayapur
... don't distribute. You live only, till the ground and take your food. Where is the question of distribution? Whatever you can till, you take so much land. God has enough land. Why do you possess more? One acre of land is sufficient for producing your food. Why do you take more?
► Conversations, April 3, 1975, Mayapur
There are so many land. Come here and grow food. Grow fruit. That is the desire of Krishna. Annad bhavanti bhutani. Produce food and eat it sufficiently, be strong, and chant Hare Krishna. That is our philosophy. Why you are producing bolts and nuts, tire and tubes? Eat. They do not know that first of all you must eat. No, everyone is engaged in industry. Why? Krishna does not say that "Take to industry." Krishna says, "Produce foodstuff." Annad bhavanti bhutani. If you produce foodstuff, then both your animals, yourself, will be happy, becoming strong. Why do they manufacture other things?
► Conversations, April 3, 1975, Mayapur
Prabhupada: Therefore we are offering this place. Come here. Why do you not come here and live with us? The Krishna consciousness movement is... This is the movement, that you come here, live with us, and produce your food, produce your milk, be happy, healthy, and chant Hare Krishna. This is our movement. Therefore we are creating New Vrindaban and farm, and we are trying to purchase... This is our movement, that we give you sufficient food, shelter, health, philosophy, religion, character, everything, purity. Come here. Why don't you come? They come here on the weekdays, and then fly away, go away. You see? We are giving such nice room, but they will not live here. They will go to the hubble-bubble of the city. They like to come here. Therefore they spend so much money for gas and come here. But because they are not accustomed, they go back again. Return ticket. From hell to heaven, and again hell (laughter) Return ticket—coming back to hell again, not going back to God.
► Conversations, September 12, 1976, Vrindavan
Prabhupada: No, they're thinking that so many people are coming to the cities, how we shall provide them? That's a problem. After all government has to supply them rations. Where is so much foodstuff? And if they are not supplied, then there will be resentment. That's a fact. What they are doing in the city, so many scooter (makes motor sound), going here and there. Actually no engagement. The girls are loitering in the street by dressing. It will become more and more problems, city life. So this is the solution, that they must go back to the village. But they are trained up to enjoy the facilities, so-called facilities, of the city. They are not going to village. But if we can introduce this hari-sankirtana, and if they have little taste, that is success. It's a great program. And that taste will come--ceto-darpana-marjanam. If he simply becomes little sober that "I want to eat, I have to sleep, I want some sense enjoyment and defense.
So if I can get easily in the village, why shall I go three hundred miles away? Just keep in mind the psychology. So that simple life will be possible if one is bhakta. Bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra syat. Only by devotion. Not by otherwise. Not by artificial means, by manufacturing toilet. Only bhakti. If they get little attachment for Krishna the questions will be solved automatically. And they will be happy. Undoubtedly. That is the Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's first instruction. Ceto-darpana.
►Conversations, September 26, 1976, Vrindavan
Prabhupada: Yes, also. Otherwise, we have seen in our childhood how happy people were. They were. Simple. If one has five rupees income per month he's happy. I've seen it. Husband, wife, a small family. If he has got five rupees income, they can maintain very nicely, happily. Why not? Suppose he has got five rupees income. The rice was selling at four rupees. So two person, say one-fourth kg., one-fourth share each. A gentleman cannot eat more than that. So means half a share. And the whole month, fifteen share. It is about one rupee eight annas. And further, one rupees eight annas add for vegetables and other things. With three rupees they can maintain, the husband and wife. And two rupees still there. He can spend for other purposes. I have seen it. Fresh vegetables, rice, this and... Just like with banana leaf. The pots were of earthen, the wife is cooking and she's utilizing dry foliage as fuel, a little temperature, everything is cooked. The husband takes one banana leaf and spreads, and the wife gives
sufficient rice, vegetables. And things were so cheap. I have seen it. And fresh.
► Conversations, September 16, 1976, Vrindavan
Prabhupada: Otherwise, within the village you can get everything. Village economy. Everything very cheap. And as soon as they got these transport facilities, the local men, they could not eat, and these lazy rascals, they are getting everything. Big, big cities like Calcutta, Bombay, they (have) millions of population. They are not producing anything. The producer is different man. They are simply artificially cheating them by paper money and they ...
►Conversations, September 26, 1976, Vrindavan
... other important members said, "Why Abhaya Babu is living separately? He should be the president of the Bombay." I never said, but they said. I was living separately. Then Prabhupada ... do himself everything. You haven't got to recommend him." These very words. (break) ...Krishna require any president or any GBC. He's giving chance to everyone, that's all. Otherwise thousands of presidents and thousands of GBC may come and go, His work will go on. Krishna is complete Himself. He doesn't require anyone's help. That is Krishna. (break) ...sei hetu pracara. One who has got life, he can preach.
► Conversations, October 16, 1976, Chandigarh
... Bhagavad-gita, krsi-go-raksya vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam. That you must produce enough food grains by agriculture and give protection to the cows. That means if you have got enough food grains to eat and if you have got enough milk to get fatty substance, then your whole economic question is solved. Annad bhavanti bhutani. If you get sufficient food there is no question of agitation. Everyone is satisfied. Animal and man. So you must produce. That is recommendation in the Bhagavad gita.
► Conversations, November 2, 1976, Vrindavan
Prabhupada: How they can defeat us? We have got so solid ground. How they can defeat, these rascals? We consider them simply rascals and fools. What do they know of religion? What do they know of God? They know slaughterhouse and killing and illicit sex, and killing the fetus. That's all. What do they know? They are not even civilized. We have come to make them civilized. They should understand. They are not civilized. They do not (know) how to eat even. The first principle of life is eating. They do not know how to eat. We are teaching them how to eat. They simply challenge, that's... When men are uncivilized, they do not how to grow food, they kill animals in the jungle and eat. When they are civilized, they know how to grow food now and the nice food grains, fruit, flowers, now why should say, "You eat the meat." The meat-eating is meant for the most uncivilized persons. That means they do not know even how to eat. How to eat, how to sleep, how to have sex. Nothing. They're having sex like cats and dogs.
► Conversations, November 2, 1976, Vrindavan
Prabhupada: No, we don't care for Indians and Europeans. We care for Krishna, that's all. I didn't care for anyone. I simply care ... protection, that's all. That is wanted. Guru-Krishna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija. We want two favours. One from guru, one from Krishna. That's all. We don't want anyone's favour.
►Conversations, August 14, 1976, Bombay
Prabhupada: So people are being trained up to become mad, pramattah. And do anything, bring money. This is the modern civilization. Nunam pramattah kurute vikarma. Things which are forbidden, they are doing that. Why? Indriya-pritaya aprnoti, only for sense gratification. They have no other ambition. Bring money and gratify senses. This is modern civilization. This is the exact explanation--nunam pramattah kurute vikarma. Black money, white money, this money, that..., never mind, bring money.
Indian Doctor: (laughter) By any way.
Prabhupada: Yes, this is modern civilization. Big man, big rich man means bring money some way or other. This is big man. This is Kali-yuga. Because if you have got money, you have got respect, you have got honor, you are recognized. So therefore they are after money. Bring money, that's all right. When I shall get money, I may have done black money, force money, this money, nobody will remember it. Bas. This is modern civilization. Bring money and enjoy sense. Nunam pramattah kurute vikarma. What for it is, struggle so much working hard? Yad indriya-pritaya. Only for the satisfaction of the senses. They have no other ambition. Because most of them, they do not believe there is next life. Most of them, 99.9 percent, they do not believe. Big, big professor, I have talked with so many big, big men in Europe.
►Conversations, August 17, 1976, Hyderabad
Interviewer (5): You have some project here. Can you kindly explain what is that?
Prabhupada: Our project is Bhagavad-gita, learn Bhagavad-gita and apply it practically in your life.
► Conversations, August 17, 1976, Hyderabad
Prabhupada: Our project is Krishna consciousness. Come here, live peacefully, keep your body fit, and work for yourself, you produce your own food, you produce your own cloth, don't be very much anxious for artificial necessities, and save time, and be advanced in spiritual life.
► Conversations, July 31, 1976, Paris
... little cottages, grow little vegetable, little barley or wheat and milk. That is sufficient. We don't require much. We don't want luxury. We want just to subsist. Yavad artha prayojana. We hate the idea of luxury, unnecessary.
► Conversations, August 2, 1976, Paris
... of how to utilize the whole land. The situation is very good, good prospect. I want that self-independent here, as far as possible. But you have got enough materials. With woods you can make cottages. Then land becomes clear, then utilize it.
► Conversations, August 2, 1976, Paris
Prabhupada: Plan is that we have got woods. Cut the woods, make small cottages, and engage them for growing fruits, flowers, grains, and make the complete arrangement nicely...
► Conversations, August 2, 1976, Paris
And if there are several brahmanas, so each one of them will cook his own food. In Calcutta, mostly the rich men they used to keep the collector's darwans, they ... family, they used to take, accept the job. But each of them, even in police, I have seen, they are cooking separately. They take bath thrice, cook their own food, very strictly. The government had to give them a big hall for cooking. So, it will not take much space, say, little space. One small oven and demarcated: "This, you see, is mine, and then I, you get, this is yours, this is yours." So within that space they'll sit down and cook dal, chapatis, rice, one vegetable, and cook, and immediately all the utensils will be cleansed and washed, and the space washed and kept. You'd like to eat, they cook so nicely, although simple. And I have got practical experience, if you cook your own food, whatever it may be, it is healthy.
► Conversations, August 2, 1976, Paris
And they can make hundreds of devotees. In this way we can expand. Are you realizing that there is no civilization? Actually civilization we are introducing. Except Aryan civilization, Vedic civilization, there is no civilization--animal society. What do you think? Are you convinced about it?
► Conversations, August 3, 1976, Paris
... peas, grow fresh. Eat very nicely, keep strong, drink milk, chant Hare Krishna. Bas. Don't depend on this outside work and then gradually become debauch, thief, rogues, prostitutes. Is that civilization? They cannot imagine that ... go without all these things. Do they not? Slaughterhouse, brothel, cheating, diplomacy, roguery, drinking--without this, no civilization. We are quite opposed. We want to show it is possible, yes. You can stop all this nonsense and still you go on as a perfect civilized man. With character, knowledge, satisfaction, everything......
► Conversations, August 3, 1976, Paris
Prabhupada: So show the simple example that how by simple living and thinking of Krishna, one can become perfect and happy.
► Conversations, August 12, 1976, Tehran
Prabhupada: No, that work is recommended. Your question is how Krishna is giving you instruction. Just like food, Krishna says annad bhavanti bhutani. You produce anna. Krishna never said that you produce tire tubes. Never says.
► Conversations, July 14, 1976, New York
... So we get enough milk, enough food grains, enough fruits. So there is no economic problem. Our purpose is to save time from unnecessary necessities of life, to save time and utilize the time for developing Krishna consciousness. And so far the body is concerned, as much as is required, take and maintain the body. That's all.
► Conversations, May 11, 1969, Columbus
Prabhupada: Yes. Farming, agriculture, that is nice. There is a proverb: agriculture is the noblest profession. Is it not said? Agriculture is noblest, and Krishna was farmer, His father.
► Conversations, May 27, 1977, Vrindavan
... There will be more water for gardening, and it will be moist, and then produce fodder for the animals and food for you. And animal gives you milk. That is ... .. Don't bother about big, big buildings. It is not required. Useless waste of time. Produce. Make the whole field green. See that. Then whole economic question solved. Then you eat ... is beneficial. Even the stool is beneficial. Therefore I am asking so much here and..., "Farm, farm, farm, farm..." That is not my program--Krishna's program. Annad bhavanti bhutani. Produce greenness everywhere, everywhere. Vrindavana. It is not this motorcar civilization.
► Conversations, June 10, 1976, Los Angeles
Prabhupada: All fresh vegetable, fresh milk, this is celestial. Who has got the opportunity in the city? Automatically.
► Conversations, April 23, 1976, Melbourne
Prabhupada: Production.... You take the total land as God's property, and all the population, they are sons of God. Then whole problem solved. Everything solved. If economic problem is solved, then social, political, religious, philosophical, everything is solved.
►Conversations, April 27, 1976, Auckland
Prabhupada: Not only one, hundreds of temples you construct. Village to village, town to.... At the same time, man. And it will revolutionize the whole rascal situation. At the present moment, it is rascal situation. They're simply satisfied by driving the motor.... putputput! (Prabhupada makes the sound of a roaring motor). They are thinking, "Oh, how highly I am situated." All crazy. But this has been taught to them that "This is civilization. If you have got a motorcycle and you can come like the wild cat, (all laugh)
then you are civilized." They are thinking how great civilized they are; we are thinking how wild cat he is. And what is the difference between wild cat and running dog and this motorcycle? Put-put? What is the difference?
► Conversations, January 20, 1976, Mayapura
Prabhupada: A devotee will never accept materialism, even if he dies of starvation. You'll see so many still. They are sticking ... that. They don't care for any bodily care. "Some food comes; I shall eat. Never mind." Still you'll find. They are sitting in their place and chanting or meditating ...
Prabhupada: Hm? Yes. So you have to preach all over the world that "You are simply wasting time by so many department of knowledge. You are so foolish, rascal." Srama eva hi kevalam. Simply wasting time. I think I explained that to that gentleman last morning? He said in one hour, two hour you should devote... Not two hour. Twenty-four hour. Did I not say? Yes. Because that is the only business. We have no other business. Our Society is practically demonstrating that this is the only business and no other business. We therefore do not try even to earn our livelihood. That is the natural instinct of every animal. But we do not try even for that. Is it not?
Prabhupada: Yes. Let them see practically. We are not busy how to go to the office, how to reach the business place. We are not interested. We are simply interested for mangala arati, for class, for chanting, dancing. That's all. Practically see. We are not going to any office or any business.
► Conversations, November 3, 1975, Bombay
Prabhupada: No, no, no. That is not the fact. If you are actually spiritually advanced, you don't care for it. Deha smrti nahi yar samsara bandhana kahan tanra. It is just like Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. He had no spiritual... er, material con... He was eating ... quantity of butter. That's all. How he was living in Vrindavana? So when one is perfectly on the spiritual platform, there is no bodily necessities. That is the sign.[not to be imitated, however] Therefore our civilization is to decrease the bodily necessities, not to increase. Control. Control, from the brahmachari, control, control, control. Ultimately completely control. That is perfectional stage. Tyagena. (renunciation)
► Conversations, July 31, 1976, Paris
Prabhupada: Vasan danto guror hitam. The beginning of life is how to become cent percent obedient to guru. That is Gurukula. That training should be given. The whole process is that our life will be successful when we strictly follow guru and Krishna. Guru means Krishna; Krishna means guru. Not Mayavada, but guru means one who follows Krishna, he is guru.
► Conversations, November 2, 1976, Vrindavan
Prabhupada: No, we don't care for Indians and Europeans. We care for Krishna, that's all. I didn't care for anyone. I simply care ... protection, that's all. That is wanted. Guru-Krishna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija. We want two favours. One from guru, one from Krishna. That's all. We don't want anyone's favour.
Conclusion: The above quotes were selected from the Make Vrindavana book which came entirely from Srila Prabhupada’s conversations. Over and over Srila Prabhupada stresses the great importance of making one’s own personal lifestyle as simple as possible. Of becoming economically independent from the system called "the rat race" -by its own occupants. And of the benefits that this lifestyle provides to oneself--the most important of which is ---more TIME for spiritual life.
Since real life is spiritual life, the best way towards that goal is to minimize one’s daily wants and needs, and a very important step of that is done by growing one's own food. Our philosophy is summed up thus:
SIMPLE LIVING AND HIGH THINKING.
Either of them is hard to obtain without the other.
The greenhouse full of over wintered greens and seed starts for this years planting
skagit valley daffodils in bloom now
