Can we get back into this discussion

[Guest guest]

On 17 Feb 2000, ISCOWP Balabhadra Dasa & Chaya Dasi - USA wrote:

>

> We did not receive the attachment. Can you send it in an e-mail? We are

most interested. I don't think COM does well with attachments.

 

It can be found in the file section, I have downloaded to my computer but as

yet have not found time to read it.

ys, Rohita dasa

[Guest guest]

On 17 Feb 2000, Syamasundara das wrote:

 

Dear Prabhus

Continuing our discussions on ISKCON land use

Free land rent for cow protectors.

1. Maintaining goshalla oxen. Assuming somebody wants to work land with oxen

from an existing goshalla, then they should get the necessary land to maintain

the oxen without any rent. In the Uk that would be about 2.5 acres (assuming

0.5 acres for grain). Any further land use would require some token rental

arrangement.

Comment:

There is no need for house land to exceed 1 acre, it should be purchased

outright not rented or leased. In ISKCON it has been ascertained that unless

it belongs to one person (family) it will not be taken care of properly. On

this one acre is situated the family home, storage sheds (incl. livestock) and

a family garden. Land for agricultural use should all be leased with payment

coming as produce or equivalent, produced according to season. Pastures you

would graze communally with your neighbours and individual could lease crop

land solely or in common with others. This view is based on the description

Srila Prabhupada has given of village life, using the terminology of western

land use.

2. First and second year of use no rent required to get started.

3. Farming equipment could be rented from the goshalla at a reasonable rate,

thus taking away the burden of high start up costs for the prospective ox

powered farmer.

4.In some scenarios it may be better to have housing dealt with separately

from land. Land use is bound by agricultural practice. Housing is bound by

ownership and/or rental policy. As a village develops some of the residents

will not be strict HK's, thus the village space should be clearly not part of

the visitor areas. It is a private space. A space the larger communities

should allocate for especially those who are contributing to the agricultural

and cow protection areas.

Comment:

>From management level I get this kind of feedback they see housing and

agricultural lands as separate. Housing they would prefer to sell or give in

exchange for services rendered; whereas for agricultural lands they would

prefer to lease for a season or a defined period of time.

5. If ISKCON can give a livelihood base and a house for its members then it is

more likely to succeed in getting land based industries off the ground. This

can be achieved by very liberal housing policies and practically give away

land rent.

6. As the agricultural sector becomes successful then the rent can be adjusted

to a win win scenario in consultation with the land holders and the Ministry

of Agriculture and Cow Protection. Right now ISKCON should be super generous

and supportive of the land based devotees.

Comment:

I agree with you with the exception that those who are the recipients should

give some service in return otherwise they will not appreciate the advantages

they have been given.

The deity should be seen as the owner of the temple land, true He maybe

represented by some management board acting in His interest and on His behalf.

By setting up an agricultural lease system and giving produce or equivalent

cash will instill in the user that he is the servant of the Lord. And is this

not the function of Varnasrama to gradually elevate its constituent members

'back to Godhead'?

Ys, Rohita dasa