December 28, 2014. Adventures in New Jaipur, Prabhupadanuga Farm in Fiji
OUR SMALL PLANT NURSERY
In the photo below, the Kumbalau peninsula and Yanawai Bay are in the background, with our nursery plants in the fore. Before planting them out somewhere in the farm or grounds, they are given protection and watering until they grow big enough in their pots to stand up to the elements and the ever-fast competition of grass and vines. Sandalwood, palms, Malabar chestnuts, and a few assorted fruits are shown. Many hundreds have graduated ! Underneath are shown a sole passion fruit hiding under the trellis and an enthusiastic eggplant bush.
THE LAST JOB FOR MR. KOBELCO AND DINESH
December 6: The excavator’s paint job completed (we did it ourselves on the farm), it was arranged that our machine operator Dinesh would come from town with Khalid and his flatbed truck. This was the day that the Kobelco would be leaving for garage repairs and advertising on sale. The plan is that the excavator will not come back. On the way towards the highway for loading, the “digger” tackled one last small job- a mini landslide on the road. What would have taken 5 men many days to do with shovels, the digger cleaned up in 20 minutes.
After loading, Shyam and I ceremoniously mock-saluted the faithful excavator. It had done so much- build roads, extract gravel from the river, pull up the ashram building’s 17 foot posts, clean the overgrown beach, pastures, and fields, make the temple and cottage sites, press fence posts into the ground, dig septic pits, cut a road into solid rock, and so much more. To develop the farm would have been virtually impossible without the digger, as men today are so much reduced in strength and vitality that hard work is left for machines to do. After 3 years operating the Kobelco, Dinesh also said his farewells, and Khalid pulled off. So far a good sized ad in the main newspaper (Fiji Times) has brought us only two phone calls… I would be very reluctant to bring the Big Machine back to the farm, but we must be open to the directions of Supersoul through the purified, honest intelligence. We’ll see if it sells.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Are village participants required to “buy in” to have use of a cottage?
No, there is no price tag, at least on the first few cottages. To shift from the modern world into a simple living village, it would be very good to have a bit of savings upon which to rely during the “transition phase” wherein a member adapts to a new way of life without heavy dependence on the generation of money from the outside artificial economy. So to get the project up and running, and being that most devotees are not especially well-off, we are for now covering the costs of the basic cottage construction. They will be turn-key ready except for a solar electric system, which should be sized according to each family’s “needs,” and could cost from US$200 to $2000 and up.
We have been asking for some donation from each new member, depending on their means. The cottage’s construction cost is only about US$9,000. Once someone visits and thorough discussions are concluded, and is accepted as a member, they can choose a cottage on a lot which will be theirs to use indefinitely. We aren’t “selling” subdivision plots; the title remains intact for the deities; it is the future involvement and contribution of the member to the village that is important. We can give a written lease to the cottage, although it seems that plain trust is sufficient. Each case is individual, and this is not a real estate development- it is meant to be a gathering of Prabhupadanugas who seriously want to devote themselves to Prabhupada and his formula “simple living, high thinking.”
- What is the use/reward process; does it include land for cultivating, other facility, cows?
According to varna, or appropriate activity, some will be farmer-vaishyas (other vaishyas are traders, merchants) and thus some land in addition to the cottage lot can be arranged for their agriculture. Vaishyas should be economically independent, producing crops, profits, and living necessities. All the varnas should keep at least their own home garden, and a large area is reserved for these garden plots, away from the cows and protected from the ocean salt air. Each case should be uniquely accommodated. Brahmanas are supported by charity; some by the project administration, others by the village at large. Ksatriyas are engaged by the chief administrator in management and protection, and renumerated. Sudras or general workers most often should be employed by others and in return given the necessities of life.
In Vedic society, varna proportions might be roughly 1:5 in a pyramid of 1 brahmana, 5 ksatriyas, 25 vaishyas, 125 sudras, but we can expect our Vedic village to have a less broad based pyramid with more on the “top” due to the effect of brahminical training as desired by Prabhupada. At least that is my perception. Prabhupada emphasized that it is the responsibility of the administration that everyone is properly engaged in their natural varna without cheating.
Sort of like the Oklahoma Land Rush or the attraction of immigrating to America, formerly the land of opportunity (degradation today), Vedic villages should attract participants with the opportunity of a wonderful life of both spiritual and material advancement (but not the kind promoted by modern society). The facilities are devotee association, temple programs, the presence of the Supreme Lord in His deity forms, the granting of a cottage and lot, the use of additional land if warranted, opportunity to live simply and cooperatively with other spiritually-minded people, fertile lands in a pure environment in a safe and favorable location, with developed infrastructure with roads, water, guest rooms, and with Prabhupada in the center (actually in the center, not just symbolically !)
The “cost” of being a vaishya participant is the Vedic tax from the Manu Samhita of 25% of income or production going to the administration for funding its operations of community benefits and development. This tax also supports the ksatriya class. Brahmanas and sudras are not taxed, but subordinate ksatriyas who have their own field of administration are taxed, although how this applies to the village is not yet understood. It may sound make-believe, but this is the Vedic system described in the Vedic histories. For now, we are going with 20% to help jump-start the project.
Prabhupada wanted that his farms were not commercial enterprises but that members would simply strive for their basic necessities, the varnas cooperating as the different parts of the societal body. This is the “daivi” aspect of our varnashram system, that we are not to live as karmis, but as Vaishnavas, saving our time after basic needs are provided for spiritual activity and advancement. Food, housing, clothing, medicines, education, and recreation are the basic needs. Incidental extra prodution can be bartered within the community, then “sold” outside (although this is the exception, not our primary or even secondary purpose). We not going to develop businesses aimed at “making money” beyond what may be needed to obtain basics that the village cannot yet produce. However, Prabhupada said something like, “If you cannot produce it locally, you do not need it.” This is a very radical and profound concept and is our guiding principle with “money”- of course, as addicts to our former way of life in a very artificial world, especially our addiction to money, it will take a “transition” period, a healing process, a time of adjustment and learning to reach this goal. Therefore we encourage incoming members to liquidate and gather their savings to endure the conversion from modern man to Vedic man.
Re: cows- Mismanaged breeding of cows can quickly result in a burden to the project, as pastures and fences become insufficient with rising numbers of animals. If we have unrestricted private ownership of cows, the project would become responsible for animals left behind by devotees who “move on.” For the immediate future, probably our best arrangement is to trade the milk from the cows we already have with other members who could also help with the cow program by milking, butter-making, fence repairs, etc. One farm dairy should suffice everyone.
- What level of financial independence is expected?
Vaisyas should be financially independent and productive, producing food, necessities of life, and valuable services. We aim to break away from the outside world’s money game up to the zero point, as Prabhupada stressed that the Vedic economy is based on barter, not money accumulation. In times of need or duress, the administration must see to the welfare of the members but it is not that we advocate communism or socialism. As Vaishnavas we should also be ready to help each other, as each member is part of the village family. I have milk, he has okra, let’s trade, or he milks my cows and gets some milk in exchange. There may be those who choose not be independent, and the administration may decide to provide them with basic necessities so they can serve fulltime with deities, teach children, various work. Sudras should be engaged by others as employees who are in turn provided their necessities (pocket change, clothes, nice food). Lesser ksatriyas will work under the administration and have special terms agreed upon for their renumeration. Brahmanas and vaisyas are independent.
We must study how daivi varnashram was described by Prabhupada and simply try to implement it. A transition or learning phase will require some money, and therefore we recommend members to come in with at least some savings. Recent world developments indicate that very soon it may be very difficult to obtain money or that money already obtained will be confiscated, invalidated, etc- and then we will be forced to learn self-sufficiency in a crash course of stark necessity.
However, the old ISKCON model of city temples where everyone works and is taken care of- this is an ashram situation, not for a village based on varnashram. There is another model (Gita-nagari) of pure spiritual communism wherein all members surrender everything and receive basics in return. We also will not adopt a system of universal salaries for everyone.
- How is the property arranged with private and public areas?
All the property is under management on behalf of the deity. “Public” areas would be the river and ocean for swimming, the temple, the roads, the water supply, the parks, and cooperative gardens. It is not that whatever farm assets I find are available to anyone. Unless something is officially negotiated for someone’s use or lease, it remains under the care of the project management. One could not just go into someone’s orchard and pick fruits as he likes. Whose orchard is it? One must plant their own orchard or barter to get fruits. The principle is that the administration sees that everyone and everything is properly engaged or utilized. The project will thrive when the ambition to prosper is dovetailed into the daivi varnashram system of organizing our community. Administration and brahmanas temper the material ambitions.
- Do you have a map of your property?
Please go to Google Earth 16-47-58 South, 179-03-59 East, I think in 2012 Google updated and you can see some roads, the main dharmashalla (although more of the up to date development and features will not be shown), plus the map on the website is good.
- Lastly how much of the land is arable, is pasture, or is forest?
We have maybe 75 acres cleared out of 857, the rest is mostly original rainforest except for 100 acres of secondary growth which would clear easily… Maybe 200 acres fairly flat, the rest is more sloped. It will be very hard to run out of arable land… We so far have 6 pasture paddocks, about 25 acres… We must be very careful about breeding cows too freely…
- Is there any requirement regarding proficiency in English for moving there?
Yes, the government will require for all residency visas at least some evidence of knowledge of English which is often easily available from school records or any kind of official letter or certificate from a private tutor or school. Although devotees have a universal language in the maha mantra, English can be quickly learned through help from the villagers.
- What about electricity, water, septic, washing machines, insects, heating or cooling?
Unless one is ready to live without electricity (oil lamps…), each cottage will need its own solar power system with some panels, inverter, batteries- the size of this system is determined by what one decides is “needed” in appliances. For a cellphone, laptop, and 4 ceiling lights, a very small system is only a few hundred dollars; larger systems can go up to thousands. We have a nice local friend who is expert in the solar business. A simpler style of local washing machine that does not spin-dry is compatible with a medium sized solar system, but conventional refrigerators are big power consumers and would require a LARGE system. Before the 1940’s most Americans did not have a fridge, and although handy, it is ultimately unnecessary. Benjamin is bringing two cooler boxes that are low power users. No house heating or cooling is required due to Fiji’s mild climate, but we close the windows on cooler nights or use a fan in the humid season; most often there are nice sea breezes. Daytime cool season averages 78 F and 83 F in the hot season. The main seasonal difference is at night; it was 68 F here one morning, but 75 F by 10 am. Table fans (50-75 W) use little power. We add the hours of daily use & total watts of the items to calculate the required photovoltaic system size & cost.
Water comes from the village reservoir by gravity feed to large storage tanks above the cottages, so the pressure is good, and it is free. We drink it without any problems, although a $40 countertop water filter is commonly used here.
Each cottage has its own septic system already in place. As for insects, the ants can be a nuisance if you leave food out for them, but they don’t bite. No Asian termites, no snakes or scorpions, no carpenter, army, or fire ants here. Mosquitoes are universal but the ocean breezes help with them much of the time, and the cottages are mosquito proof with window screens. Wasps in the bush and forest make nests during certain months, but their sting is not as bad as wasps I have experienced in the USA! All in all, Fiji is a very BENIGN environment. About the only native mammal is the squeeking, high-peeping fruit bat (3 foot wingspan)…
- How big are the cottages and how finished are they?
They are 20 x 26 feet, 520 square feet with a small covered front porch. One bathroom with a corner ceramic sink, toilet, shower, kitchenette in corner of main room, kitchen wall shelves and shelf under the kitchen counter, two bedrooms (10×12 ft), a covered and open laundry area for washing machine and 2×2 ft concrete laundry sink, hardwood doors, all floors and bathroom walls tiled, glass louvres & screened windows. Extras can be added by residents as they like, such as additions, back porch, sheds, book shelves, furniture, etc. The power system is not included, as each person will “need” a different sized system. The cottages are actually attractive, roomy and cozy- with concrete slabs and smooth plastered walls, sturdy metal roof, all built to storm standards. Furniture and solar is all that is lacking. They are first world standard for families.
- How about private cars?
Cars are not prohibited, but obviously if everyone had one, then we might want to restrict their use in some ways within the farm, such as where to park, and we might consider that to be a failure in simple living. Everyone will want to go to town sometimes, but perhaps sharing a vehicle might be more practical. Gradually we want to try and utilize the oxen for transport. It is our challenge in the Vedic village to reorient ourselves to the simpler Vedic ways of living. But cars can be good while they are still parts-supported and available for going to preach or shop. Of course, we aim to reduce shopping drastically as we learn to live more simply!
- How important is it to wear devotional clothing in the village?
For all temple programs devotional clothing should be worn, saris and dhotis, but otherwise they are not necessary, although preferred, and everyone’s dress should be very modest, both women and men.
- How about a health or injury crisis, being 60 km from Savusavu town?
Ideally, we should have some supplies and procedures within our village to handle almost all situations, as well as devotees experienced or knowledgeable in basic health and medicine. To set up our own village clinic with a real doctor and nurse is an ideal target. There is a government health clinic 10 km from us, but the nurses there can only do simple things. We have a good friend in town, Dr. Ishaque, who runs a private clinic (the “American Hospital) which is 80 minutes by car from the farm. Dr Ishaque can take care of almost any situation except serious injuries. The Suva Private Hospital in Suva is first class and even does cancer treatment. There are government hospitals in Savusavu and a larger one in Labasa (100 km). We also have a speedboat which can reach town in under 30 minutes. We want to attract and train devotees to be Ayurvedic physicians, although allopathic is very practical to a degree also. For all basic medical services Dr Ishaque charges very little. We go for B-12 shots (F$10), full blood tests (F$150), diabetes tests (F$5).
But our family has lived remotely in Hawaii, a Panamanian island, and Fiji for 14 years now, and only once did we rush to the hospital (it was a one inch cut on our boy’s forehead). Most bad accidents happen in the city or with machines… One tends to worry a lot about “emergencies” at first, but how can we not take up living on the farm ? Emergencies are almost always satisfactorily accommodated within a few hours even when living “remotely.”
- How about privacy?
The village has little business in members’ private lives provided the spiritual standards and common-sense village rules are followed.
- How about health insurance?
Few people have health insurance in Fiji, including my family, because it is my choice. Insurance, cars, imported foods and so on would greatly increase our dependence on earning money, and prolong our need to support our farm life with the outside economy. As our village grows, so also the support network amongst members will grow, and it will be ever easier to reduce our dependence on the outside world (which is getting very hellish and appears about to collapse anyways!)
- How about our children’s education?
Prabhupada boldly characterized karmi schools as slaughterhouses of the soul, and one of the project’s basic principles is that we will not send children to public schools. We can do cooperative homeschooling or correspondence courses until the village grows sufficiently to support a gurukula. My children are homeschooled and have never gone to public schools- and they are far ahead for their age. We have a full curriculum and materials for homeschooling up to grade 8, all of which is available to village members. Cooperation amongst parents also makes educating our children easier; there are amazing benefits from training children at home and in the Vedic village. Even our little boy, who is a tough case for schooling, is doing very well at home. Sridevi is a retired schoolteacher and can give all guidance- homeschooling is not really so difficult, and the rate of homeschool progress generally is much faster than in public schools. New members’ children from foreign countries would learn English quickly from our other villagers.
- How about getting money for that which we cannot yet produce in the project?
IMHO, the modern inflation era is at an end; deflation is next, and already happening. Values should plummet (as commodities are now doing), and cash will become the best investment of all as its value rises. Money in banks will be lost as the financial system’s counter-party liquidity freezes- do not trust your bank to give you your money when asked. Keep currency cash-notes safely outside the bank. Each incoming member of the village should come with some savings to cover incidental expenses while becoming ever more self-sufficient. There is nothing against earning money in the farm; maybe we will have our own barter exchange or private currency. Prabhupada said if we produce more than we need, we could sell or barter for other things. But Prabhupada did not want our farms to become commercial operations just for money. We should develop cottage industries- cloth, furniture, soap, medicines, cooking oil, blacksmith, spices, etc. I sell lemons, water cress, firewood, and dalo outside to help pay expenses in developing the project. We definitely discourage the idea of working to make money in town on a regular basis, otherwise how is that simple living? Limited business on the internet could bridge the transition to simple living. Savings could also tide us over. Going cold turkey from modern life to simply living off the land is possible too. But the idea is that given the already existing temple, cottages, infrastructure, farmland and so on- we should be very intent on reducing our dependence on money and outside supplies as much as we can. The farm is not meant for continuing our previous ways of artificial living.
- How about hot water and cooking?
I suggest that hot water is probably unnecessary here because of the climate – we do not have hot water, and we have become accustomed without it. It is much simpler. But it can be added to a cottage via a solar hot water panel and tank for reasonable cost. The “cold” water here is in a sun-warmed tank and is definitely not cold, but still refreshing for showers. In the warm season it is almost lukewarm. For cooking, one may use an outdoor kitchen with wood on a concrete table, or a butane stove inside the kitchen.
QUOTES
- 1. “Therefore, for the sake of the people in general, I am requesting you to pursue this farming life with great enthusiasm. Help people to see this traditional, natural way of living. You must help them see how they can become happy, how they can go back to Godhead. So advance this project — plain living, high thinking. This modern civilization is so nasty, a nasty civilization, artificially increasing the so-called necessities of life. Anartha — unwanted; unbeneficial “improvements.”
Conversation New Vrindaban, West Virginia, June 24, 1976
- To GBC Australia, from Srila Prabhupada’s secretary, August 10, 1977:
“Srila Prabhupada was most enlivened to hear the report of New Govardhana farm. His Divine Grace, in the last month or so, has been stressing the importance of these farm projects and said:
“This is the next aspect of Krsna Consciousness which I wish to push forward. If I am able to travel again then I shall visit the farms and make them perfect. On these farms we can demonstrate the full varnashrama system. If these farms become successful, then the whole world will be enveloped by Krsna Consiousness. From your letter I can understand how nice this farm is. I am very happy to see fresh vegetables, fresh fruits,grains the devotees taking sumptuous prasadam and chanting Hare Krsna. This is the actual meaning of human life. It is a very good farm, from your letter I understand.
“Whatever you build you get the building materials locally. If you can manufacture tiles locally, then your house problem is solved. Build up a bamboo frame and on it place tiles. In any event, get everything locally. I wish to make a farm tour and then I shall surely visit your farm.”
I suggested to Srila Prabhupada that he was the farm acharya, but Srila Prabhupada said: “Krsna is the farm acharya. Baladeva is holding a plough, and Krsna is holding the calf. Krsna advised Nanda Maharaja not to perform Indra-puja, but to worship the land, Goverdhana, because it was supplying all foodstuffs for the residents of Vrndavana, and the cows as well.”
So Srila Prabhupada wants you to develop this farm very nicely, as it will be the FUTURE PROGRAM TO PRESENT THE WORLD as the IDEAL of Krsna Consciousness. In the cities we are interested for preaching, but we cannot present the ideal of Varnashrama system. This is ONLY possible at the farms, so they’re VERY IMPORTANT.
- 690511rc.col Conversations 321596/530501 Prabhupada: Cow, yes. And in Vedic literature you’ll find, a man is… Richness of a man is estimated by the possession of grains and cows.
- 690511rc.col Conversations 321562/530501 Prabhupada: From economic point of view, if one man has got a cow and four acres of land, he has no economic problem. That we want to start. He can independently live any part of the world. Simply he must (have) one cow and four acres of land. Let the people be divided with four acres of land and a cow, there will be no economic question. All the factories will be closed.
- 690323LE.HAW Lectures 245873/530501
We have created a civilization that one must earn thousands of dollars, then he can live like a gentleman. Is that successful life? And for earning that thousands of dollars he has to work so hard, just like animal, beast. No. That is not successful life. Successful life is that, that we should make our bodily necessities of life as far as required, not more than that. I want to eat something. God has given sufficient food. You grow. You live anywhere. You grow foodstuff. You grow grains. You grow fruits. You grow vegetables. Keep cows. Take milk. You can live anywhere. You haven’t got to go fifty miles off with a car to attend your office at six o’clock with velocity of hundred miles’ speed. Is that successful life, do you think? So where is successful life? We are proposing successful life.
SUMMARY
New Jaipur is a positive alternative to the rapidly devolving situation in the modern civilization. Nuclear war approaches, and humanity is due for much turmoil which can only be alleviated by establishing Prabhupada’s varnashram Hare Krishna farms. Our Vedic Village farm project retains Srila Prabhupada as the sole diksa guru, via rtvik representatives. As an affiliate of the Hare Krishna Society, we are part of Prabhupada’s transcendental ISKCON which is situated beyond the now-corrupted original institution. There are 857 acres of titled, fully-paid land in a pristine South Seas rainforest environment on Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second largest island. We have openings for a few qualified devotees based on adherence to certain conditions as contained in our Village Constitution (available by email). Anyone who might like to participate, please inquire. Our standard is: chant 16 rounds daily, follow the four rules, contribute a minimum of 8 hours community service a week, attend regularly the morning program, and become a productive participant, one fifth of produce and income going to the deities, Sri Sri Radha Govinda. Some western-standard cottages are available on a donation basis. Vedic villages are the future of the world.
Please consider a visit to New Jaipur, and be our guest in paradise. Several families are preparing for their journey to take up life in New Jaipur; the invitation is open to Prabhupadanugas anywhere. Life here is simple but not austere, with pure Fiji running water, high standard construction, Hawaii climate. We also welcome temporary residents who would like to serve Prabhupada with any skills they may have.
Yours in Prabhupada’s service,
Nityananda das
If you would like to be added to our regular mailings of Vedic Village Reviews or make a donation, please send us an email at srigovinda@gmail.com. Hare Krishna! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
NEW JAIPUR FIJI WEBSITE (in progress): http://www.vedicvillage.org/
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