Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Vision for New Mayāpura - A Vaikuṇṭha Community in France
Śrīla Prabhupāda personally visited the New Mayāpur community in France in 1975 and 1976 to establish a practical alternative to the "horrible" factory-driven civilization of the cities. In 1975, he inaugurated the project by installing the Deities of Śrī Śrī Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma, bringing the spirit of Vṛndāvana to the French countryside. Centered on a 250-acre property with a large castle, he envisioned the community as a "first-class place" where devotees could live peacefully by growing their own food and protecting cows. Far removed from the anxiety and pollution of hellish city life, the community was designed to allow residents to live simply and fully absorb themselves in pure devotion as sincere servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Encouraging the Devotees through His Personal Presence
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s visits to New Mayāpur were primarily driven by his desire to encourage the devotees in their spiritual lives and oversee the development of the community around the newly installed Deities. Despite his advanced age and the physical toll of international travel, he made the journey to this remote village to personally ensure the residents were ecstatic in their service. He took a fatherly interest in their daily lives, even suggesting a practical, self-dependent breakfast of puffed grains, fruits, and milk to keep them healthy and satisfied.
Escaping the Horrible City Life
Śrīla Prabhupāda viewed the peaceful rural environment of New Mayāpur as a necessary refuge from the artificial demands of modern society. He described the factory-driven schedules of urban life as "horrible" and "hellish," noting that such an existence robs the human being of the peace required for spiritual culture. By settling hundreds of miles away from these centers of anxiety, he urged the devotees to abandon the rushed life of the city and instead utilize the "outdoors" of the French countryside to focus on the real business of life: chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and following the philosophy he provided in his books.
- 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.
Establishing Agricultural Self-Sufficiency
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s vision for the 250-acre French estate was centered on absolute independence from the materialistic economy. He instructed the devotees to utilize the land for the production of fruits, flowers, vegetables, and grains in "ample quantities," emphasizing that the community should be fully self-sufficient. Rather than seeking luxury, the residents were encouraged to build simple cottages and depend on the milk of protected cows. For Śrīla Prabhupāda, this agricultural life was the necessary foundation for a peaceful, spiritual existence, free from the artificial complexities of the modern world.
- 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.
Moving from Salary to Sincere Service
At New Mayāpur, Śrīla Prabhupāda challenged the conventional concept of employment, emphasizing that the institution is maintained by the sincerity of its members rather than financial incentives. He taught that the community should be comprised of "sincere servants" of Kṛṣṇa rather than "hired men" working for a salary. For the residents—especially the gṛhasthas—the priority was to maintain neat and clean homes and to remain fixed in the consciousness that all material necessities would be provided "automatically" by the Lord if they remained absorbed in His service.
- 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?
Dedicated Time for Spiritual Culture
The fundamental purpose of the farm's simplified lifestyle was to liberate the devotees' time from the struggle for existence. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasized that New Mayāpur was a place for "training" in the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, where residents could abandon the habits of "silly jackals" and instead follow Kṛṣṇa. By minimizing artificial comforts and personal luxuries, the devotees could "save time" to dedicate their energy to chanting the mahā-mantra and discussing transcendental literatures. In this remote village, the daily routine of hearing and chanting was the "real business" that transformed the community into a sublime spiritual environment.
- 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
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s visits to New Mayāpur in 1975 and 1976 transformed a simple 250-acre French estate into a foundational model for "simple living and high thinking." Far from a mere theoretical project, New Mayāpur was a place where Śrīla Prabhupāda personally encouraged his students, ensuring their happiness and even guiding their daily habits. By instructing the devotees to grow their own food, protect cows, and reject the industrial "hell" of modern life, he provided a tangible path to self-sufficiency. Ultimately, he taught that the external simplicity of a 'remote village' was the key to saving time for the soul’s real business: absorbing the heart in the mahā-mantra and the transcendental message of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Through his fatherly guidance, he proved that a Vaikuṇṭha atmosphere is manifested wherever the devotees prioritize spiritual culture over artificial material necessity.
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 click this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.