Srila Prabhupada on simple living and high thinking

Prabhupada: In India also, British period, they used to, that, but Indian people are little clever. They would come from the village to the city alone, not with family. They earn money and send to the family. And whenever they like, they go away. They’re not dependent. And if you bring family, you have to work. That system is still going on. The village men, they come but they do not bring their family. Family remains in the village. He earns, he lives some way or other and sends money there, and the wife who is intelligent. He (she) accumulates the money and when there is enough money he (she) purchases land, investment. So… In after few years, when they have got enough land, they do not come back. They produce their own necessities. Very nice. Hare Krishna. As soon as they are self-sufficient from the land they no more work. That’s a good idea. Remain in the village with family. (Room Conversation — January 4, 1977, Bombay : 770104rc.bom)
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Prabhupada: Industry means to exploit the work of others and give them one dollar and make profit ten dollars. This is industry, at the cost of others some capitalist gaining huge profit. This is industry. “And let them live in a hellish condition, go to hell. Never mind. You work in the factory, and we make profit.” The Communist is trying to take over the industry and get the whole profit. (laughs) That’s all. The condition remains the same–hellish. But… What is called…? Complacent, he’s satisfied that “I am getting the profit.” All foolish. The Iran is also imitating European method of exploiting. They’re bringing men from village.

In India also, British period, they used to, that, but Indian people are little clever. They would come from the village to the city alone, not with family. They earn money and send to the family. And whenever they like, they go away. They’re not dependent.
And if you bring family, you have to work. That system is still going on. The village men, they come but they do not bring their family. Family remains in the village. He earns, he lives some way or other and sends money there, and the wife who is intelligent. He (she) accumulates the money and when there is enough money he (she) purchases land, investment.
So… In after few years, when they have got enough land, they do not come back. They produce their own necessities. Very nice. Hare Krishna. As soon as they are self-sufficient from the land they no more work. That’s a good idea. Remain in the village with family. (Room Conversation — January 4, 1977, Bombay : 770104rc.bom)
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Conversation on Train to Allahabad — January 11, 1977, India : 770111tt.ida:
Hari-sauri: To enter into a city is so imposing on your consciousness
Prabhupada: Up to that point, simply rubbish, all papers thrown here and there. People are living in… Now see here, how it is open and pleasing. Organize this farm project. Farm. (background talking)…
Prabhupada: No, you show example. People will do automatically. When the people find it is very nice, they will take.
Hari-sauri: Should we try to make an effort to have our householders go and live on the farms, a special effort? If it’s ready to do that?
Prabhupada: Why householders? Everyone. Hare Krishna. (japa)
Jagadisa: But for those who are already employed…
Ramesvara: But most people have jobs.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ramesvara: Many people already have their jobs and their families.
Prabhupada: All right, let them not come, but those who are unemployed, let them come.
Ramesvara: But what…? For those people who already have their jobs, instead of…
Prabhupada: That job… They will be very soon jobless. Don’t worry. (laughs) They will come. They will be obliged to come. Now they have got job, but as the days are advancing in Kali-yuga, they’ll be jobless.
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750514mw.per Conversations 380932/530501
Prabhupada: The solution is there. They won’t take it. Solution is there, that everyone produce your own food. There is so much land; utilize it. The solution is there. No. They want to sit down on the table, chair, in a very nice compartment, and making solution. They won’t go.

Amogha: He was saying that your solution was too simple. He said that people will not accept it because it is too simple.

Prabhupada: That is his ignorance. They will say it is primitive. That is the only solution. According to the Vedic system, you cannot use anything which you cannot produce. Suppose this we are using, but according the Vedic system we should not use it because I cannot produce it. Then the whole solution is there. Nobody will manufacture this because there will be no customer. If I refuse this use of this machine, thinking that “I cannot produce it; I should not use it,” then where is the customer? The so-called industry will automatically stop, and he has to go to the village outlying.

Paramahamsa: Some of the orthodox hippies have this philosophy, and they reject all machines and things that they cannot make themselves.

Prabhupada: That is natural. That is natural. It is good. But they are not led by good leader. Otherwise next alternative is this, that you have to give up this artificial way of civilization. Now this land is vacant. We can produce so much food grains if it is utilized. Fruits, flower, vegetables, grains–we can produce.
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770104rc.bom Conversations 460260/530501
Prabhupada: That should be stressed. First business is the neighboring village people, they should come, chant and take prasada. And gradually, when they become interested, then they come, live with us, work with us. In this way they should be induced, bare living and chanting.

Jagadisa: As in Hyderabad.

Prabhupada: Yes. Then our movement is success. Our only motive is how people become interested in Krishna consciousness. We have no other motive. No economic problem… Economic problem is… What is economic problem? We produce our own food and cloth, barely, and spiritual life… On the farm it is easier. And if they are dispatched to the city for livelihood, there are big, big roads and big, big cars and big, big anxieties. Then wine, meat, and so on, so on…, suicide, their spiritual life finished. These rascals are protesting. They have no ideas of spiritual life. They think this is life, to be merry, enjoy and drink. “Eat. Drink. Be merry.” How they are committing suicide, they do not know. Nature’s law is very stringent. They are foolish rascal. There is no education for them. Still, if we try, many men will be saved. So write very elaborately how to do this. Increase. And in your country, we increase this farm project.