The idea of having farm communities is to get rid of the mad rat race of work, work, work until death and get sufficient time to perform devotional service and preach the message of Godhead to the suffering humanity.
But there's also an increasing number of fanaticism among those who venture into the farm projects that those who cannot work in the farms are unfit for performing devotional service or also there's widespread notion of completely rejecting them by opposing views.
Varnashrama maniac. What is varnashrama dharma? To regulate the modes of nature or to engage the people in the occupational duties according to their tendencies or their acquired modes of nature but keeping Lord Vishnu as the centre of all activities. One should not forget that there's conditioning even in the mode of goodness. Now there's an increasing number of devotees who are conditioned by many factors like I don't use any chemicals, only use organic foods, herbal oil, everything I use is sooo good and natural. All those who use the modern world products are in maya. I am so much in goodness that I can perform devotion so nicely. This is conditioning.
It is not proper to disvalue the devotees who are making their living by other means by other than farm communities. The end result is end of the day is to get food, clothing and shelter. SP mentions in SB that the modes of passion and ignorance are also auspicious if you see at a higher level. Just like the government has educational department in a state, it also has criminal laws department. Both are equally important for the execution of the state. If there's no mode of ignorance, we can't sleep at night time. If there's no passion we can't do our work rather be simply saying I am in goodness I cannot work. Arjuna while fighting needed so much passion to kill the enemies. Not by simply smiling and being in goodness he can do his work. So much passion is required to kill the enemies. In other words, passion also can be easily engaged in the Lord's service without any harm.
Working in farm is also not direct devotional service, it is of course in the mode of goodness unlike the workers in the office doing paper or mind wo
So there's no big reason to be too much puffed up for being in the farm communities.
Quote Starts ---
BG 3.6: Not by merely abstaining from work can one achieve freedom from reaction, nor by renunciation alone can one attain perfection.
BG 3.7: On the other hand, if a sincere person tries to control the active senses by the mind and begins karma-yoga [in Kṛṣṇa consciousness] without attachment, he is by far superior.
BG 3.8: Perform your prescribed duty, for doing so is better than not working. One cannot even maintain one's physical body without work.
BG 3.9: Work done as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu has to be performed, otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kuntī, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage
IN THE BHAGAVAD-GITA (12.8-12) Lord Krsna gives a series of merciful prescriptions for the benefit of people in different circumstances.
The first direction Krsna gives is this: "Just fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and engage all your intelligence in Me. Thus you will live in Me always, with-out a doubt." (Bg. 12.8) This instruction is meant for someone already advanced on the path of bhakti-yoga, someone who has attained the stage of spontaneous attraction to serving Krsna (raganuga).
For someone who has not yet developed spontaneity, the Lord recommends vaidhi-bhakti, or devotional service in practice: "My dear Arjuna, O winner of wealth, if you cannot fix your mind upon Me with-out deviation, then follow the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga. In this way develop a desire to attain Me." (Bg. 12.9). By following this advice, one will become purified and rise to the stage of love of God.
For a person unprepared or unable to practice such principles of bhakti-yoga, Lord Krsna advocates karma-yoga, the sacrifice of one's work: "If you cannot practice the regulations of bhakti-yoga, then just try to work for Me, because by working for Me you will come to the perfect stage." (Bg. 12.10) In the purport to that verse, Srila Prabhupada suggests that we be "sympathetic to the propagation of Krsna consciousness." He writes,
There are many devotees who are engaged in the propagation of Krsna consciousness, and they require help. So, even if one cannot directly practice the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga, he can try to help such work. Every endeavor requires land, capital, organization, and labor. Just as in business one requires a place to stay, some capital to use, some labor, and some organization to expand, so the same is required in the service of Krsna. The only difference is that in materialism one works for sense gratification. The same work, however, can be performed for the satisfaction of Krsna, and that is spiritual activity. If one has sufficient money, he can help in building an office or temple for propagating Krsna consciousness. Or he can help with publications. There are various fields of activity, and one should be interested in such activities. If one cannot sacrifice the results of his activities, the same person can still sacrifice some percentage to propagate Krsna consciousness. This voluntary service to the cause of Krsna consciousness will help one to rise to a higher state of love of God, whereupon one becomes perfect.
-Quote Ends
Take away is one should not think that by being in farm communities one is directly engaged in devotional service, nor the workers in office should think so because both are working but offering the results to the Lord. Definitely there's some purification for the performer. Direct devotional service to the Lord by preaching and selling the books is at a higher level, no doubt about that. Until one gets to that point of dedicating whole of their lives to the Lord, one should practice other means gradually step by step to progress in the path of perfection which is to revive our dormant and spontaneous love for God.
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com
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