Page 2 - NWFFBook.pub
P. 2

Ancient Vedic Wisdom for Modern Sustainability

     The proverb “Old is gold,” describes the priceless value of ancient
     Vedic wisdom which perfected the life style of “simple living, high
     thinking.”  The  Vedic  sages  understood  the  ultimate  purpose  of
     human  life  –  using  the  incredible  abilities  of  highly  developed
     human  senses  and  the  mind  to  focus  on  self-realization  to  free
     oneself from the cycle of birth and death. To facilitate this noble
     cause,  the  sages  lived  a  disciplined  life  that  was  self-sufficient,
     peaceful  and  happy  due  to  its simplicity  and  natural abundance.
     Nature  under  the  guidance  of  Lord  Krishna  (God)  cooperated  to
     help  them  achieve  their  goal  because  they  gave  up  all  material
     desires  and  pursued  their  spiritual  quest  through  rendering  pure
     devotion and loving service to Lord Krishna.

     When  members  of  Krishna  Consciousness  purchased  a  large
     property  in  the  hills  of  West  Virginia,  Bhaktivedanta  Swami
     Prabhupada, the Founder/Acarya of the Hare Krishna Movement,
     wrote them the following letter in which he begins by compliment-
     ing the farm land that was purchased:

     “……I understand the spot is very beautiful, and the hills may be
     renamed as New Govardhana. And if there are lakes, they can be
     renamed as Syamakunda and Radhakunda. Vrindaban (the holy
     farm community where Krishna appeared 5000 years ago south of
     New      Dehli)    does     not    require    to    be    modernized
     because Krishna's Vrindaban is (a) transcendental village. They
     completely     depend     on     nature's   beauty     and     nature's
     protection.

     The community in which Krishna preferred to belong was Vaisya
     (farm) community, because Nanda Maharaja (Krishna’s farther)
     happened to be a Vaisya king, or landholder, and his main
     business was cow protection. It is understood that he had
     900,000 cows and Krishna and Balarama (Krishna’s brother) used
     to take charge of them, along with His many cowherd boy friends,
     and every day, in the morning He used to go out with His friends
     and cows into the pasturing grounds.

     So, if you seriously want to convert this new spot as New Vrinda-
     ban, I shall advise you not to make it very much
     modernized. But as you are American boys, you must make it just
     suitable to your minimum needs. Not to make it too much
     luxurious    as    generally   Europeans      and    Americans      are
                                        2
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7