Harikesa: What happens with all these people who, like for example, myself, I can't live on a farm?

Prabhupada: Eh?

Harikesa: I can't live on a farm.

Prabhupada: That does not make you, what is called, unfit. You can do something like that.

Harikesa: I mean I was born in a city, raised in a city, and feel very good when I'm in a city, but when I'm on a farm, I'm very disturbed.

Prabhupada: Rajasika, you have got rajasika. So that means your mode of nature is rajasika. There are three kinds of--sattvika, rajasika, tamasika.

Harikesa: But what are we going to do with all these kind of people?

Prabhupada: That is already there, three kinds of propensities. Sattvika, rajasika, tamasika. So you belong to the rajasika, that's all. So it can be conquered by sattvika.

Hari-sauri: So we should all aim towards leaving the cities. If everyone becomes sattvika...

Prabhupada: That tendency is there, why these bungalows are here? They do not like to live in the city. They are paying so high rent. Why? The inner tendency is to live like this, with trees, with lawn. (Morning Walk, Teheran, August 12, 1976)

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A mature, non-critical attitude is crucial for proper development of such communities.  We are looking for positive, active people who want to work cooperatively. We are looking for those who are ready to move forward with enthusiasm. As Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur wrote, “Forget the past that sleeps and ne'er the future dream at all; but act in times that are with thee and progress thee shall call.”

Many of us are devotees who choose to participate in ISKCON.  We’re not interested in philosophical debate. If you have a different philosophy, and you feel compelled to debate, then by all means at your disposal please start your own rural agrarian communities with like-minded people. We want to see many such rural communities. We'll even help you get started if we can.

We don't want an attitude of  “us and them.”  We don't use certain terms such as “karmi name.” We have our material names and our spiritual names, if we are initiated. If you frequently use the term “karmi” in a derogatory way then you are probably not suited for such a community. Many of us are still engaged in fruitive work ourselves and are still working on becoming real devotees of Krsna - even if we were initiated years ago.

We are not interested in introducing people to spiritual life without the full intention of supporting each person in such a way that they can continue to make spiritual advancement for their entire lives.  That lifelong commitment to spiritually nourish and care for someone - that’s what we call real preaching. Introducing someone to spiritual life is not difficult and can sometimes be done even by a most neophyte and immature devotee. The real preaching is helping people thus introduced to continue their spiritual growth for their entire lives.

The six loving exchanges between devotees describe the ideal community.  Everything should be an act of sharing, giving, and receiving. If you need nourishing yourself (and we all do) it is much easier to find it in a community like we are describing, and you are most welcome to join us and help develop such communities. But please leave negativity and criticism in the city.

A community should also develop a plan to provide shelter in time of emergency for Supporters living in nearby cities.  It is our opinion that there will be some materially devastating events in the near future in America, although this is not the reason for starting such communities. If we simply do what Srila Prabhupada instructed us to do then we don’t have to be too concerned about this. To the extent that we do not do this, then every devotee should be very concerned.

 Next - On ISKCON's Role