Join Estelle Willemse as her time as a wwoofer at Khula Dhamma eco-village near East London to learn the ins and outs of eco-friendly, sustainable living, comes to an end…yet gains a new beginning [for part 1] [part 2] & [part 3]

I returned to Khula Dhamma after completing the 10 day Vipassana course recently. I am feeling enriched, blessed and filled with gratitude like never before. I wish the whole world could enrol in this course, as I have found it to be the most practical, essential & universal teaching to bless mankind. It is a technique of self purification through sustained self observation, and the 3 trainings include sila-morality, samadhi-mastery of the mind & panna-wisdom through insight. Practising correctly directly enables us to experience liberation & inner peace.

I was humbled to return to the beauty of Khula Dhamma, which now truly feels like home. Me and some fellow residents & vipassana students were welcomed with warm arms & smiling faces. Another beautiful face has arrived in the meantime & it was fun-filled introductions once more.

This is my last full day at Khula Dhamma as a woofer as I will be returning now to Cape Town. After much reflection I have decided to pack my belongings and move here permanently around the end of January ’09. This place has found deep roots in my heart, and I wish to continue may stay here for as long as the universe permits me.

This experience has taught me both the importance and the benefits of living in harmony with nature. The blessing received internally and externally is priceless, and I can not imagine returning to the conventional way of living, plugging back into the grid. This has been the experience of a bright tomorrow. A new tomorrow that benefits all. A tomorrow beyond caste. Beyond race. Beyond religion. Beyond politics. Beyond borders. A fundamental shift toward the consciousness and direct experience of peace.

The community of Khula Dhamma is a perfect example of the fruits of this consciousness. From the start the vision has always been one of love, harmony and wisdom towards fellow beings, animate and inanimate, and now after some growth the community is blossoming with new life, love & harmony. As within so without.

From a practical perspective, all resources are thoroughly thought through & wisely managed. A rough guide on green ways to manage the daily necessities:

ENERGY : solar panels, car batteries, candles, daylight-saving
COOKING : solar cooker, fire, gas
WATER : bore hole, solar pump, rain water collection tanks
BUILDING : local materials used, such as rocks, earth, clay, timber, grass, cow dung etc.
WATER-HEATING : ‘donkey’ – fire made under metal barrel
FOOD PRODUCTION : permaculture gardens, supplemented with local organic goods
WASTE DISPOSAL : recycling of metal, glass, plastic, paper; all organic matter is composted ; compost toilets; as much materials are used and re-used
CLEANING : organic & natural cleaning products as well as toiletries are used as the drainage feeds banana plantations around the house.

The whole community shares a passion for green living and a thorough understanding of the interconnectedness of every action taken. They follow strict vegetarian (mostly vegan) diets to minimize the environmental impact and cause as little suffering as possible.

A better living example for the future of humankind, I struggle to find.

"History has demonstrated that change is initiated by the passion
of individuals. That is what is needed here and now – non-governmental action by
compassionate individuals."
- Margaret Mead

"I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent
less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her
sweetness and respecting her seniority. "