New Mayapura - Establishing a Vaikuṇṭha Atmosphere
The creation of farm communities is a vital component of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. When a 250-acre property featuring a large castle in France was acquired, Śrīla Prabhupāda envisioned New Mayapura as an idyllic spiritual oasis. Far removed from the anxiety and pollution of hellish city life, the devotees could live simply, produce their own food, and fully absorb themselves in pure devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
A Peaceful Alternative to City Life
Modern urban civilization, with its endless factories and rushed schedules, is described by spiritual authorities as a horrible and hellish existence. The New Mayapura project offers a sublime, outdoor alternative to this chaotic lifestyle. By settling in this peaceful rural environment, devotees escape the artificial demands of society and discover the ideal setting to focus their attention on their true spiritual purpose.
- Bluffing rascals. Don't be misled. Live peacefully here (in New Mayapura), chant Hare Krsna. Now I have given the ideas, the philosophy, in the books; so it is your business to develop all over the world.
- Let them come (to New Mayapura) and work little, grow food, eat and chant. Why should they bother going to the factory, running at five o'clock. Horrible life, horrible civilization.
- This (New Mayapura) is a first-class place. You can develop it into a Vaikuntha. It is already Vaikuntha, Krsna is there. But develop it very nicely, peacefully live. Hundreds of miles away from the hellish cities.
- Now this place (New Mayapura) is very nice. The outside, so pleasing, the outdoors. This facility is nowhere in America, outdoors.
The Principle of Self-Sufficiency
A cornerstone of the rural community is absolute self-dependence regarding life's basic necessities. Devotees are instructed to cultivate the vast land, grow their own fruits, grains, and vegetables, and depend on the milk of protected cows. This simple agricultural lifestyle provides a healthy, satisfying diet without the need for excessive luxury, allowing the residents to exist independently of the broader materialistic economy.
- I am presently en route to Bombay, and I have stopped here for one day. Here we have got a very nice land of 250 acres with a big French castle. They are starting to grow vegetables, fruits, and flowers, and they are keeping cows.
- Gradually develop (New Mayapura), make little cottages, grow little vegetable, little barley or wheat and milk. That is sufficient. We don't require much. We don't want luxury.
- You have got sufficient space. Produce flowers, fruits, vegetables and grains in ample quantities. We should be fully self-sufficient. I like New Mayapur very much.
- Give facility to the people. Here (in New Mayapura) is very nice arrangement. Now make plan how to utilize. You have got enough land. You can utilize for supplying the necessities of life.
Pure Devotion Over Material Comfort
To truly establish a spiritual atmosphere, the residents must abandon the mindset of employees working for a salary and instead act as eternal servants of the Lord. As instructed for the gṛhasthas, keeping homes neat and clean while minimizing artificial comforts brings immense clarity to the mind. By fully absorbing their consciousness in the Supreme, the community members are guaranteed that all material necessities will be naturally provided by Kṛṣṇa.
- Why salary? Krsna's servant. We are eternal servant. That is the beauty of our institution. We have no hired men (in New Mayapura). Unless one is sincere, why he'll work?
- My point is that here in this New Mayapura, if you simply carry on this man-mana bhava mad-bhaktah, then all your necessities will come automatically, don't bother.
- The same comfort and discomfort is in this cottage. But if I think, "Now I am in the France palace, or Bhaktivedanta Manor palace. I am happy," that is foolishness.
- Ask these grhasthas (in New Mayapura) to keep their home very neat and clean. Are they keeping?
Saving Time for Spiritual Culture
The primary purpose of simple living is not mere agricultural success, but to save valuable time for high thinking. The time saved from running factories and managing complex urban affairs should be entirely dedicated to chanting the mahā-mantra and discussing granthas, or transcendental literatures. When the community focuses on this spiritual essence, the daily routine becomes deeply purifying and life becomes truly sublime.
- We should save time (in New Mayapura), as much for this purpose, for chanting, discussing grantha. Not for any personal so-called comforts.
- We can sit down anywhere on the grass here (in New Mayapura), and whatever available we make our food. This is the idea. Life will be sublime. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam. That is real business.
- First of all, you remain here (in New Mayapura) for some time. Be trained up. Because every one of us, we have followed the silly jackals. Now we have to follow Krsna.
- By your transcendental endeavor it is being fulfilled, otherwise who expected that in this remote village (New Mayapura) of France, Hare Krsna maha-mantra would be chanted?
Conclusion
New Mayapura stands as a testament to the power of simple living and high thinking. As Śrīla Prabhupāda beautifully envisioned, the rejection of the modern, hellish factory civilization in favor of agricultural self-dependence allows devotees to save their energy for what truly matters: realizing their eternal relationship with God. By living peacefully, maintaining clean and simple homes, and continuously engaging in chanting and hearing, the residents successfully manifest a localized Vaikuṇṭha atmosphere right here in the material world.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category New Mayapura. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.