There are hundreds of instructions given by Srila Prabhupada on self-sufficiency. We have shared below only some of them, which were given at different times. When Srila Prabhupada was physically present on this planet, devotees used to think that these instructions on self-sufficiency were meant for outsiders; however, when we look more closely, we would realize forthwith that these instructions, which relate to us so much, are meant for us to imbibe and follow.
“We must become self-sufficient by growing own grains and producing our own milk. Then there will be no question of poverty.”
“Why there is poverty? Because they are not producing food.”
“Everyone wants so-called comfortable life, so-called education — sitting idle in the table and chair and talking all gossips, nonsense, and sleeping. They have been trained up in this way…Sudra!”
“Develop these farm communities as far as possible. They should be developed as an ideal society depending on natural products. Not industry.”
“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.”
“I want the world to see by our example that life can be lived naturally peacefully if one is self-sufficient with land, some cows and chanting Hare Krishna. That is the idea of purchasing land.”
“The real business is that you produce enough food grains, as much as possible, and you eat and distribute. That’s all. This is business. He does not require any so high technical education. Anyone can till the ground and grow food. Is it difficult? This is the business.”
“People should serve cows and calves and in return get ample quantities of milk. There is no loss in serving the cows and calves, but modern human society has become so degraded that instead of giving protection to the cows and serving them, people are killing them. How can they expect peace and prosperity in human society while committing such sinful activities? It is impossible.”
“All people are being drawn by giving them… I mean to say attraction for high salary, and they are taking so-called technical education, and all of them working in the factory. Nobody’s working on the field. They are sudras.”
“Now this land is there. Everyone can grow food if he works for two months. Everyone can grow his whole year’s foodstuff. There is so much land. But no, they’ll not grow food. They will grow hammer, manufacturing it. You see? Tire, tube, then atom bomb. Then this and that. They are busy. They are busy fools.”
“For plain living, we must have sufficient land for raising crops and pasturing grounds for the cows. If there is sufficient grains and production of milk, then the whole economic problem is solved. You do not require any machines, cinema, hotels, slaughterhouses, brothels, nightclubs — all these modern amenities.”
“If you can stick to this village life and be satisfied whatever you produce… You can produce your necessities. There is no difficulty. If we keep cows and grow food grains, fruits, vegetables, then we can live very peacefully like that. There is no need of going to the city. That is the plan of God, Krishna. Krishna personally exhibited. Vrindavana village. It is not city. We are trying to go to the village of Krishna — Vrindavana.”
“According to Vedic economics, one is considered to be a rich man by the strength of his store of grains and cows. With only these two things, cows and grain, humanity can solve its eating problem.”
“Our philosophy is that you produce your food anywhere. You stay and keep cows. Take milk. Produce vegetable, food grains, and chant Hare Krishna. That’s all. Simply eat sufficiently, keep your health nicely, chant Hare Krishna, realize Krishna, and go back to home. This is our philosophy.”
“Therefore, I am asking so much here and… ‘Farm, farm, farm, farm.” That is not my program — Krishna’s program. Annad bhavanti bhūtāni (Bg. 3.14). Produce greenness everywhere — everywhere. Vrindavan. It is not this motor car civilization.”
𝐉𝐚𝐲𝐚 Ś𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐡𝐮𝐩ā𝐝𝐚!