Living simply is an idea many people are starting to wake up to. The era in which we consumed without regard to where our products come from, or where it is going after use, is over. A new era is dawning, one in which we, as collective humanity wake up to our unique place in the cosmos. An era in which we comprehend the reality of our present predicament & look within ourselves for answers, instead of without. One in which we truly embrace our individual power, become sovereign onto ourselves & create the new world in which we wish to live & leave behind.

At present there is a global mobilization of caring, conscious individuals with a shared passion for social and environmental change and it has been called the largest grassroots movement in the history of humankind. The movement is growing at a rapid pace, and the movement is love. Love for one another as neighbours, as friends, as brothers, as sisters. Love for mother nature & our planetary home, and love for ourselves as divine creators of our collective reality. As mentioned in Paul Hawkens` ground-breaking book Blessed Unrest, `From billion-dollar nonprofits to single-person dot.causes, these groups collectively comprise the largest movement on earth, a movement that has no name, leader, or location, and that has gone largely ignored by politicians and the media. Like nature itself, it is organizing from the bottom up, in every city, town, and culture, and is emerging to be an extraordinary and creative expression of people`s needs worldwide.`

This movement of conscious individuals has sprouted many communities worldwide, communities in which people come together in order to work for the greater good. One of these pioneering communities is located right on our doorstep, in South Africa. Khula Dhamma Eco Community is located near East London, Eastern Cape, and has been quietly brewing with a burning passion for human evolution and the movement towards a sustainable, harmonious Earth Community.

an intrepid trio

Originating in 2003, by means of three friends finding a piece of land, the trio were intent on building a simple life worth living. After two years the trio happily welcomed a fourth (pregnant) member. The initial years were mostly solitary living, with days and nights spent meditating, contemplating, building gardens & humble abodes, these friends were creating the fertile soil in which other kindred spirits were soon to join & grow roots. Around 2007 the flood gates were opened & like-minds from all walks of life streamed in to join the budding community.

It is roughly 2 years after the arrival of the first new member, and the community is blossoming with around 27 residents, including 14 integrating members and 9 lively children.

The community is built on strong spiritual foundations and all who live at KD share a passion and commitment to spiritual growth and service to harmonizing humanity and planet earth. The community is strictly vegetarian, largely self-sufficient and takes great care in ensuring that all measures are taken to keep the environmental impact as low as possible.

changing my being

I am an integrating member at Khula Dhamma Community. I arrived here eight months ago with the intention of learning the ins and outs of eco-friendly & sustainable living. I was blown away by what I found. Nothing could prepare me for the journey I was about to undertake, as it was to completely change every aspect of my being, and the course of the rest of my life.

I arrived as a wooffer (Willing Worker On Organic Farms), and soon found myself immersed in the life so deeply, that the mere notion of returning to a life of thoughtless consumption, waste & slaving away my most precious God-given moments, was quickly nullified.

Here I was able to use a 100% of my time devoted to experiences and activities that brought wisdom, understanding & happiness to my soul. Being able to wander off into nature anytime I felt the need, learning valuable life-skills on a daily basis & sharing a space with individuals who truly value the sacredness of life and all the vicissitudes that come with it, is something worth more than money can buy. How could I ever go back?

the way forward

During the next few months, I will be sharing the knowledge and experiences I`ve gained through embarking on this ecovillage way-of-life. I will, to the best of my ability & with a wholehearted commitment to spreading truth, understanding & inspiration, bring to you practical ways in which one can transition to ecologically conscious, or community living. These articles will include ideas & actions one can take to break free from the bondage of capitalism in order to experience the blessed exchanges life in communion with nature brings.

I look forward to sharing this journey with you, my brothers and sisters.

Blessings

Estelle Willemse