Impressions from five famous eco-spiritual communities

Our visits to several eco communities have proved to be much more important to us than expected. It is really valuable to come and see by yourself how the surroundings look and experience what is taking place. We have made more visits than planned (according to our EU Leader application), as we have travelled to several places in India, too:

Conclusions

From our experiences and observations we can learn following important guidelines to be used in Vedapark. It is important that:

1. There is a fundamental world view which the inhabitants can endorse, and that these values are stable and timeless. Vedapark’s world view is based on the humanistic science of the Veda which is considered to be most ancient, complete and comprehensive knowledge of life that exists
2. There are arrangements and ceremonies to enrich life
3. There is innovation concerning the interaction between nature and human technology
4. There is a distinctive feature which we are known for and which attracts people and attention: our characteristic feature is the Vastu architecture
5. There is a big and beautiful garden based on permaculture and Vedic Organic Agriculture
6. There is a very silent and comfortable atmosphere
7. There is absence of electronic smog from mobile phones and electrical appliances 
8. There is a minimum need for internal transportation by car
9. There are as few rules as possible
10. There is a relatively fast construction of the whole village with a high quality standard, to avoid the impression of a building site for years 
11. There is full understanding of financial conditions when leaving the village, considering the interest of the individual as well as the continuation and growth of the village. This point has proved to be a common issue of conflict
12. There is a limited increase in the price of houses to avoid debt for newcomers. A home is considered a human right and not an object of speculation:
13. Vedapark has come to the conclusion that it is best that the inhabitants build on a plot which is rented on a long term basis (say 100 years) or just rent the home. Long term rent of the plot has the advantage that it place a self regulating ceiling over price increases of the house
14. In some cases one can buy the building site when Vastu is followed when constructing the house
15. By sale of the house Vedapark should have an option on the house
16. There is a close cooperation with the nearby communities and international contacts as well
17. There are facilities in two other places on the planet in a warmer climate
18. There is a simple way of doing things, e.g. in connection with the routines around the meals that is: the preparation, serving and dishwashing
19. There is a possibility and habit of eating together every day

We have visited following holistic communities: Damanhur, Sieben Linden, Friland, Auroville and Sri Vast Foundation. For each of them we have noted strengths and weaknesses. This is presented in Danish only, a Swedish translation is coming soon, and an English version is pending until a translator steps forward to help with this. Read more