In this topic, the founder of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada said in his lecture recorded on 2 May 1973 in Los Angeles, states-
”Human prosperity flourishes by natural gifts and not by gigantic industrial enterprises. The gigantic industrial enterprises are products of a godless civilization, and they cause the destruction of the noble aims of human life. The more we increase such troublesome industries to squeeze out the vital energy of the human being, the more there will be dissatisfaction of the people in general, although a select few can live lavishly by exploitation.
The natural gifts such as grains and vegetables, fruits, rivers, the hills of jewels and minerals, and the seas full of pearls are supplied by the order of the Supreme, and as He desires, material nature produces them in abundance or restricts them at times. The natural law is that the human being may take advantage of these godly gifts of nature and thus satisfactorily flourish without being captivated by the exploitative motive of lording it over material nature.
The more we attempt to exploit material nature according to our whims, the more we shall become entrapped by the reaction of such exploitative attempts. If we have sufficient grains, fruits, vegetables, and herbs, then what is the necessity of running a slaughterhouse and killing poor animals?
A man need not kill an animal if he has sufficient grains and vegetables to eat. The flow of river waters fertilizes the fields, and there is more than what we need. Minerals are produced in the hills and the jewels in the ocean. If the human civilization has sufficient grains, minerals, jewels, water, milk, etc., then why should we hanker after terrible industrial enterprises at the cost of the labor of some unfortunate men?
But all these natural gifts are dependent on the mercy of the Lord. What we need, therefore, is to be obedient to the laws of the Lord and achieve the perfection of human life by devotional service. The indications by Kuntī-devī are just to the point. She desires that God’s mercy be bestowed upon her and her sons so that natural prosperity will be maintained by His grace.
Kuntī-devī mentions that the grains are abundant, the trees full of fruits, the rivers flowing nicely, the hills full of minerals, and the oceans full of wealth, but she never mentions that industry and slaughterhouses are flourishing, for such things are nonsense that men have developed to create problems.
If we depend on God’s creation, there will be no scarcity, but simply ānanda, bliss. God’s creation provides sufficient grains and grass, and while we eat the grains and fruits, the animals like the cows will eat the grass. The bulls will help us produce grains, and they will take only a little, being satisfied with what we throw away. If we take fruit and throw away the skin, the animal will be satisfied with the skin. In this way, with Kṛṣṇa in the center, there can be full cooperation between the trees, animals, human beings, and all living entities. This is Vedic civilization, a civilization of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.”
Here Srila Prabhupada was describing the Vedic Sanatan Varnashram Farm community, whose purpose is to follow the orders of the Supreme Lord by the scriptures and keep this Vedic society organized. This society can be organized based on ”Simple living and High thinking” Purpose. But is it possible in Now a Days? Yes, of course.
Many such Kṛṣṇa conscious farming communities are functioning smoothly in every corner of India under the guidance of Srila Prabhupada’s beloved disciple Srila Bhakti Vikasa Swami Maharaj. Chief among which is the Nandagram Farm community located a few miles from Vadodara Gujarat. Where 20-25 families are living their life together in Vedic form. As we used to see in the Vedic period, rural life is living this simple life without any modern comforts, depending on the Mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa completely. At the same time, it includes animal husbandry, protection of the environment. In fact, such a society can always be engaged in worshiping Lord Hari by remaining free from natural calamities and epidemics. This devotees is not a part of this modern society, so they are always living a stress-free life and happier. The children living there are being taught the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana since childhood. There are many such farming communities, Nand Gokulam, Kurmagram, Gaurgrama, Badrikashram, Navagokul Farm (Czech Republic), etc.
They are not given an education that exploits and abuses modern nature and society. It is understood that urban materialistic life is not natural. And it is true that we are given such subversive teachings from childhood that how to violate the nature? How to pollute the air by removing petrol from the sea? How to put fertile land with chemical medicines and make it barren? How to cut down the trees of the forest and open the industrial areas and innocent animals that are living in the forest should go to the slaughterhouse and kill them. The creatures living in the sea, the creatures living in the land, the creatures flying in the sky are all our property and we are taught how to use them as we want. There is no objection to the government, society, family, so how can a wise man become a part of this society. Therefore, to make his life worthwhile, he should take refuge from the Bonafide Guru (Master) and continue on the path of self-realization and always chanting the pure name of Almighty Magnanimous Lord Kṛṣṇa –
Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare