Self-Reliance and Self-Sufficiency
key words: ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada
As devotees, it is important to reach out to other individuals that follow principles of self-sufficiency, or simple living and high thinking.
Many people in the United States, as well as other countries, are dissatisfied with dog-eat-dog, mainstream values. Most of these dissatisfied folks just accept things as they are, but then there are some that have actually created alternative societies or intentional communities. Indeed, the Hare Krishna movement exists alongside other alternative societies, and it might be useful for devotees to share information and insights with these other communities. The following link is one of the best directories on intentional communities:
http://directory.ic.org/iclist/geo.php
Of course, not all intentional communities have a spiritual basis. Also, some communities are already established, some are just now forming, and others are re-forming. The above directory categorizes intentional communities by type as well as by location. For example, if you search the community list by state/country, you will find 12 communities listed for West Virginia, and that list includes the New Vrindaban Hare Krishna ashram!