Beginnings in process

[Guest guest]

Chayadevi et al,

 

PAMHO AGTSP.

 

I certainly think a general concept vision is primary

before location specifics are taken on. I would also

recommend a secular-worded approach using the terms

from sustainable development and Agenda 21. Such terms

are so similar to KC terms, but only in semantics,

that it is better not to isolate KC just because of

words, and to bring in the "whole house" vision that

Prabhupada layed out.

 

For those who do not know, a (sustainable Development)

Green Plan would lay out the three pillars of

sustainable development, based on the three factors of

production - land, labour and capital; these are

(land) environmental, (labour) social and (capital)

economic.

 

Prior to the three pillars is needed a general

holistic vision, this is often accompanied with a

brief on-going, iterative mission statement and action

plans. The idea is to lay a foundation on solid

ground, but where the solid ground is flexible enough

to change should the circumstances merit.

 

All these new paradigm types of development are to

head off the top-down, blue-print-imposition models

that can be so dangerous and unworkable - read

communist, socialist,

we-know-best-and-will-impose-it-on-you-ist. ISKCON has

seen this happen and has realised its failures, so has

the development profession. The Green Plan initiatives

are bottom-up, grass rooted, flexible, complex,

iterative, community-stakeholder centred, relying on

diverse partnerships to build common goals that are

NOT set in stone, but can change and adapt to suit

location specifics.

 

I see Chayadevi's approach is very much of this ilk. I

think we all, devotees and non-devotees, have a part

to play in this; and really what it is is what it

should have been from the start way back in

Prabhupada's time - an active rural development

program, or in ISKCON terms maybe - implementing

Varnasrama. I hope you all do not mind my inclusion in

this, though humility is not a great asset of mine and

hard-headedness is, I studied Agroforestry (and rural

development) for some reason, and I think it worth

sharing what I have learned.

 

Mark

 

 

 

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