Factory of The Mind

If your children are under the age of 20, it is possible that you may be concerned about their future given the consumerism, social tension and climate change It's not unusual. Circumstances are such. If your own age is less than 40, you may have such fear about your own future as well.  9 years ago, when our children were very young, we too felt that the world in which we lived and the lifestyle was not good enough for our children. We worked hard to create hope and succeeded in creating a better world for ourselves and the kids. We've now opened up an 'Ideas and Paradigms' Store'. You can participate in webinars and workshops in our store. Our store is in the 'Hope Mall'. Hope Mall is an interesting place. Here, you be a seller, a buyer as well as an investor. Hope Mall has its own currency - H-Coins. All stores in the mall accept this currency. As a seller, you earn coins and as a buyer, you spend them. We have another shop - The Space of Hope.  Spaces of...

'How does growing up on a farm work out for a child?' doesn't have one answer. My son (15) and daughter (12) have both lived on farm since they were 6 and 3. Both are now capable of comprehending the fact that they've had a different childhood compared to what they could've had. Both of them have very different takes and ideas about their future paths. Isn't that how it is in all cases? Siblings with the same upbringing and circumstances do grow up to be different.  My daughter doesn't think much about this issue. She has the ability to live in the moment and make the most of it. I think it would be interesting to navigate through my son's mind a bit. He acknowledges that there are advantages of growing up on a farm, not going to a school and isolation. But the flip side troubles him too. Similarly, he acknowledges the importance of good food but loves junk food as well. He can't deny the need to have healthy habits but also can't stay away from ...

Often understood as स्वयं का राज, I think it is स्वयं पे स्वयं का राज.  If the unknown, unidentifiable other defines what success means, what good life means while you often realise that these definitions aren't working for you, but still aren't able to break away, then you are ruled over by something outside.  Does that mean that you can arrive at definitions of your whim or मर्जी? Robert Pirsing, in his book 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance', wrestles with this question: 'Is quality a physical characteristic of the object or a subjective understanding of the onlooker?' He arrives at an answer that quality is a third entity, which exists independent of the subject and object.  So are these definitions. Nature/God or the Universe already has these definitions and one ought to seek them. Once sought ought to live by them.  Many friends say, "I know this is the right thing to do, but it isn't easy to just give up on what is."  It maybe true...

"No one is even listening, forget acting on it. It's so important for them that they ought to stop anything else they're doing and pay attention. It is in their interest."  Sound like coming from parents, teachers, artists, philosophers and activists, isn't it?  Contrast this with people who have been super-successful at not just gaining their attention, but influencing, even directing the actions they take - religious leaders, politicians, marketers, film-makers and others, who don't care much about the interest of the target audience. It's their own interest that supercedes everything else. Why is it the way it is? Take the case of ecology activism. It isn't social service in the sense of charity. Doing what is right for the ecology is for one's own good (as well as collective good). Time and again, we get shocks of natural calamities, pandemics and repercussions of placing financial interests above environmental interests. But nothing places act...

Market is a system of interdependence. When you buy food from a farmer, the price you pay him helps him buy what he needs from someone else. So, let's look deeper and discover the dynamics. You, the urban elite needs good, organic food. You are willing to pay a premium for organic. He buys clothes, education, a concrete house, a motorcycle, medicines, cooking gas and numerous other needs. It is interesting to note that many of his purchases (not all) are for needs, which were craftily 'created' so that he participates in the market. Let's understand this through a story. A particular tribal community lived outside our market system few decades ago. Some good Samaritans noted that there were too many avoidable deaths. They helped the tribals avoid deaths due to infections and complexities during pregnancy and childbirth with basic medication and precautions. So far so good. Then they felt that these people were uneducated, not well dressed, ill-equipped to live in the ci...

Here's an investment opportunity you may find interesting. 1. We have reasons to believe that more affluent people will look at farms as an alternative place to live in. This may remain a niche market, but the size will be sufficiently large to be a viable market. 2. Buying land, building houses, adjusting to local community and finding alternative solutions for regular needs like healthcare, education, social interaction, etc are challanges, which hold farm living aspirants from taking action. 3. Getting a first-hand experience of farm living without having to commit too many resources and having access to the experience of existing farm residents can go a long way in making the transition. 4. Leasing property to live in is likely to be a preferred option over building and owning one. 5. PFL Pvt Ltd offers you two investment options: 1. Invest to develop the market for farm living facilitation 2. Invest in projects to build farm living infrastructure at select farms engaged in sus...

"You're so fortunate, your wife supported you in your farm living journey", I've been told, rather reminded on numerous occasions by people who've admired our lifestyle. Well, that's absolutely true. I am indeed fortunate that Rekha has deep dived into this lifestyle and has been the backbone of our successful transition. She took on to growing food, homeschooling kids and adapting to a new kind of household as if this was the most natural thing to do.  But to say that she has been supportive of my decisions and ideologies would be absolutely incorrect - for many reasons. Firstly, it would belittle her initiatives during the last 8 years. Unlike a city household, which has to largely just adapt to the various systems, on the farm, one has to take the initiative to define the routine for the day, insist on doing non-negotiable activities on time, manage house-keeping, food, cleanliness and a lot more. She did it all despite the absence of a system that compelle...

My wife's experience of living on the farm for over 6 years has convinced her beyond doubt that this lifestyle is the best we (or anyone else) can have and that there is no reason whatsoever to go back to the city.  That, however, does not mean to her that there will be takers to the transition services Palaash Farm Living hopes to offer. She's even dismissive of the idea that farm living will be acceptable to many people. Even if few people do end up buying into it, the numbers wouldn't sustain a venture, she's sure.  Her stance has been validated by every person in our direct circle and some beyond it as well. Despite an overwhelming admiration and endorsement of our decision to live on the farm, 2-3 have moved to the farm, but none because of our pursuation or guidance. Not one of these would have paid for the facilitation service.  However much I wish I wouldn't, I fully agree with my wife that the probability of 'success' is near zero. Such ventures don...