In today’s materialistic world, greed is one of the most crippling diseases that society suffers from. For this reason Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) a nonprofit organization situated in rural Maharashtra, has decided to setup an ashram with a difference. The aim of the ashram called Center for Sustainable Living (CSL) is to create an environment where spirituality, high technology and agricultural techniques are taught and practiced with the vision of creating a model society. The motto of the center will be spirituality, sustainability and simplicity and the theme will be to promote simple living and high thinking.

A small workshop is planned to start this center. The CSL workshop hopes to demonstrate that happiness and contentment can be achieved through spiritual practice (based on ancient Indian philosophical thought) coupled with rewarding work and research, for the benefit of the self and the larger community.

The major difference between this sustainable center and other existing ashrams will be the central role of technology within its philosophy. The implementation of ecologically friendly technologies, such as solar power, power generation from biomass, rainwater harvesting, together with organic agriculture and internet will be a part of the working, teaching and research practices of the CSL. In the past, technological development has been considered the enemy of spirituality and this is a view that the CSL will aim to rectify. The focus of the center will be to create a model whereby a simple, satisfying and suitable life style could be sustained from the land. Thus the focus will be to optimally produce food, fuel and fertilizer from the same piece of land with the use of best tools of science and technology. These products will then be used to power a life style, which is based on the spiritual values.

NARI has done pioneering work in developing technologies for sustainable development. Besides it has developed a new paradigm of development which is based on the principle that spirituality, sustainability and technology go hand in hand (http://education.vsnl.com/nimbkar/suspri.html). All these ideas will form the basis on which this center will work. The center will have lectures, discourses and discussions from leading experts in the area of development, spirituality and technology. This will be coupled with actual hands on experience on sustainable technologies being developed and used at NARI.

We are looking for participants and volunteers with strong intellectual and ethical bent of mind to take part in the program and to help it fructify. Hard work and idealism will be the central themes in our teachings and practices and in return we hope the participants will learn how to improve the quality of their own lives and those around them. The center will be a fully residential place and we hope to have a maximum participant strength of 30.

Volunteers will help prepare an action plan for the center. Besides they will also help in raising funds and running the center.

We are looking for funding for the center from philanthropic organizations. The amount required is about Rs. 75 lakh (~ US$ 150,000/-) for buildings and initial working capital to start the center. Subsequently the fees and agricultural produce will help it run on a sustainable basis. We welcome contributions of any amount for the center. All contributions to NARI in India are 125% tax free. They can be sent to the following address:

The President, Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), P.O.Box 44, Phaltan - 415523, Maharashtra, INDIA

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