Cleveland Nama Hatta Farm Community Project
Krsnanandini-devi dasi
The Cleveland Nama Hatta Program is officially recognized as a non-profit spiritual organization in the state of Ohio as of February 5, l998. We have Bhagavad-gita class every Sunday which consists of kirtana, sharings and announcements, class, and feasting. Every other Saturday we hold Hari-nama sankirtana and distribute prasadam in downtown Cleveland for approximately 3 hours. On the last Saturday in March for example, 10 devotees distributed prasadam to about 85 souls. We served rice & peas, baked macaroni and cheese, cookies and two kinds of salads, 2 kinds of nectar, and pasta with vegetables. We regularly invite sadhus (saintly persons) to come and share their insight, experience and realizations with us. We host the Annual Lord Have Mercy Festival (Saturday, July 18,1998 this year--be there!) We have also been serving prasadam on the first Saturday of each month at a local neighborhood center for the group called MANTALK - a consciousness-raising men's support group coordinated by Tariq, one of our Cleveland Nama Hatta members. One of our main projects is the Cleveland Nama Hatta Farm Community Project.
This rural community concept is inspired and desired by our beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:
"Now, our next program will be to organize farming land to set an example to the whole world how people can be peaceful, happy and free from all anxieties simply by chanting Hare Krsna maha-mantra and living an honorable life in Krsna consciousness." (Prabhupada letter to Kartikeya, 10/19/75) "Getting and managing a farm is a good proposal. I am encouraging farm projects everywhere. That is a very important solid program. So do this enthusiastically and Krsna will be pleased." (Srila Prabhupada to Uthala dasa, 1/13/77)
His vision for a society of souls whose lives are centered around the Supreme Lord, is simultaneously the motivation and the power to get this community going. Srila Prabhupada saw that city life was not conducive to the highest standards of spiritual life. The Vedic scriptures concur; they state that cities are in the modes of ignorance and passion, whereas simple rural communities tend towards the mode of goodness. Certainly, most devotees appreciate Srila Prabhupada's vision. Yet due to fears, insecurities, conditioning, or feelings of inadequacy, many of us do not appreciate the idea of living in a rural setting or perhaps being pioneers. Some of us have become complacent.
Srila Prabhupada showed us how to preach. By preaching, we spread Krsna consciousness - making new devotees and encouraging other servants of God to progress to higher standards in their spiritual practice. Once the new devotees are made - once they begin the process of devotional service and purification - there is a need to provide the social and spiritual set up that protects and stimulates these devotional creepers. This is the extreme importance and necessity of establishing Krsna conscious farm communities. Being Krsna conscious means living simple, uncomplicated lives but thinking high. It means depending more and more on nature and the natural systems for our livelihood. It means decreasing material desires, unnecessary desires for material gratification.
"The less we are anxious for maintaining our body and soul together, the more we become favorable for advancing in Krsna consciousness." (Srila Prabhupada to Hayagriva, 6/l4/68) Our wise guru has stated that most existing educational institutions do not promote God consciousness and are "slaughterhouses." Yet so many of us send our children, (the children entrusted to us by Lord Sri Krsna to give loving, custodial care) everyday to these "slaughterhouses" because we don't feel we have any alternative.
Most of us devotees would not dream of eating foodstuffs without first offering them with love and devotion to Krsna. Yet, how can we in our hearts continue to be satisfied to offer to our dearest Radha-Krsna, foodstuffs which are not only handled by non-devotees but may well contain poisons and/or be genetically altered with animal genes? We want to offer the best foodstuffs to Krsna. So let's grow it ourselves if we can.
And that's why we've established the Cleveland Nama Hatta Farm community investment fund.In our community we will:
-have schools ["Actually, I have no desire to start the school in any city. City life especially in this age of Kali-yuga is much polluted..." (Srila Prabhupada to Satyabhama, 12/27/68)];
-protect some cows;
-develop simple cottage industries that will be an economic base for us;
-research and set up our village according to the guidelines of Vedic scriptures and instructions from Srila Prabhupada to become as self-sufficient as possible by working to generate alternative energy sources;
-become less wasteful;
-maintain cultural, recreational activities that promote spiritual advancement; and
-support and continue our preaching activities in nearby cities.
We envision a village with 108 acres in common for schools, temple, parks and cultural,recreational, and guest facilities. Each family will have 5 acres so that as families grow, they can expand nearby.
A committee has been formed to research many of the specifics, set up field trips, and investigate suitable land areas. Because we wanted to begin by investing in ourselves, some devotees have committed to make regular monthly contributions of $30 or more; others donate as they can. We appreciate all donations and we’ll keep all contributors informed of our progress.