GBC has agreed to active participation in cow protection

[Guest guest]

> > [Text 2398841 from COM]

 

> > Janesvara (Dasa)

> > > -- but if Krsna's devotees don't make some arrangements to train and

support devotees who are protecting cows, we may find that in a couple years

there are hardly any cows left. And this will benefit no one and all will be

lost for everyone. How can those claiming to be "leaders" not make this a

priority when they claim to be the "leaders" of a culture which clearly

prioritized it. It is very clearly NOT a priority in the minds of these

so-called leaders - there is only talk.

 

 On 12 Jun 1999, Hare Krsna dasi wrote:

Sometime I need to address this problem of painting all of ISKCON's leaders

with the same brush. Several of them have worked to provide a substantial

amount of funding which is the only reason why this varnasrama book can be

written. A number of other ones are quietly starting self-sufficient

communities at different parts in the world. Admittedly, some are afraid of

varnasrama -- but I think you might be surprised at how many of ISKCON's

leaders are really supportive of varnasrama. They are cautious, but they are

pushing things forward. Gradually, you will see the results of their quiet

efforts. Anyway, that's for a later time.

 

Comment:

Yes we understand they are supportive of the concept of Varnasrama, and yes as

individuals they have made steps to back that up. But as a group their voice

in this matter has had a rather small volume. Cow protection receives even

less notice from them than varnasrama. Varnasrama is the next step, Srila

Prabhupada indicated and it is obvious that the cows' makeup the central core.

 

 

 But as for cow protection -- we certainly have to admit that their

have been devastating and embarrasing shortcomings over the years. But again,

please don't say that our leaders, especially the GBC, are indifferent to cow

protection. This past spring in Mayapura they all voted to approve a

comprehensive set of cow protection standards which was even longer than all

the rest of the by-laws put together.

 

Comment:

What they have done it is attentive step in the right direction, the cows have

suffered over the years, and I know 25 years on two different ISKCON farms.

The farms (I am excluding those farms were GBC and sanyassis resided) were

visited rarely and when they did visit it was even rarer for them to look for

the cowherd and walk with them and ask about the conditions. Children where

abused, women mistreated and they raising a big stink, lawsuits and talks

about editing the books to give a more favourable light towards women. These

are some of the things that come to mind. The cows are the dearmost of

Govinda, but you see no big protest about their conditions. Very little.

They're breeding, decreased, because it is such a burden to care for them

without the proper support.

 

 I personally am adverse to kicking sand in someone's face when they

have just begun to reform their actions. I prefer to give them a chance to

stand up and demonstrate their sincerity first. At least you should give the

GBC until August 15 before you call them negligent on cow protection.

 

Comment:

We are not saying bad things just expressing our doubts based on past

circumstances. We are waiting, for them to show us that they care. Then if

they do it will indeed be glorious and we can move forward. Then signs of

mourning can be removed. It will be a strengthening and an encouragement to

us, just by this simple act, just 6 hours out of 8,760. But we are cautious

not to get our hopes up to much, otherwise the heartbreak maybe too much, it

has happened for too long.

 

 One aspect of what they endorsed obligates them to visit each of

ISKCON's farms and traveling ox program 4 times per year. The need to

schedule 1-hour private meetings with the herdsmen and teamsters at each

visit, and also inspect the cows' facilities. They also need to submit a

report to ISKCON's Ministry for Cow Protection and Agriculture quarterly. The

first one is due by July 30. So allowing 2 weeks for slow mail, let's at

least give them until August 15 before we put them down for not being sincere

about cow protection. We may be pleasantly surprised at how conscientious

many of them are about fulfilling their promise on this matter.

 

Comment:

If they do not perform as expected, are we to just to avert our eyes and turn

away back to the chores? That will only put us in their boat. There is need

for a stronger stand, denouncing those who do not act is required. Because

they are the leaders their behavior must become exemplary how else will the

rest of the devotees understand the importance.

 

 At least we owe it to them to give them a fighting chance to prove

their determination to set things right as far as cow protection goes.

They've said they will do this. Now let's give them a chance before we

criticize them more. It's only fair.

 

Comment:

It is also fair for us to say that we are hurt, we have not drawn and

quartered them only expressed our hurt feelings. We wait with expectant hearts

for their feet to tread the earth with us. Forgive us if we are not very vocal

in praise or in telling what the problems are, because it will be a shock if

they do come and show they care. They must also be patient with us for we have

much baggage accumulated for so many years. Only those cowherds who have daily

worked with the cows really know the full extent of what kind of tolerance the

cows have mustered to meet the conditions. Then when the GBC have shown their

true colours, can we turn to the local management and ask their help to heal

the hurt. There needs to be a change of heart of all the devotees and the

leaders must be the ones to show it first.

 

So many unengaged, acting the part but not doing the deed. We must become an

agrarian society for varnasrama to work. The only education worth having is on

how to remember Krsna all other is simply a waste of time.

Ys,

Rohita dasa

[Guest guest]

Rohita and Janesvara prabhus,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

You have both written good comments full of patience and heartbreak. You are

willing to give the GBC one more chance. That is laudable. But you are also

heartbroken about the neglected state of Krsna's cows and cowherds in so many

places for so many years. Maybe Balabhadra prabhu should forward a copy of

this

to the GBC, just so they can see how important this is to us.

 

It would be good if sometime in August, Chaya and Balabhadra could post a list

of

the farms and list the GBC's who have turned in reports -- also a list of farms

who have not turned in reports, together with their GBC's.

 

What will we do for those GBC's who neglect to fulfill their pledges in the

matter? I guess it is obvious that the only kind of recourse that we have at

our

disposal is publicity.

 

Just like the local town of Bowdoinham, here in Maine. Whoever does not pay

their

town taxes gets their name published in the paper. Very effective.

 

So, how else we could respond to someone who after so many years of cow neglect

in

ISKCON would fail to fulfill his or her pledge in the matter.

 

Let's just hope that the slackers are few and that the conscientious friends of

Krsna's cows and cowherds are many.

 

Again, very nice letters from both of you, with many points very well taken.

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi

 

"WWW: Rohita (Dasa) ACBSP (New Talavan MS - USA)" wrote:

 

> [Text 2402886 from COM]

>

>

> > > [Text 2398841 from COM]

>

> > > Janesvara (Dasa)

> > > > -- but if Krsna's devotees don't make some arrangements to train and

> support devotees who are protecting cows, we may find that in a couple years

> there are hardly any cows left. And this will benefit no one and all will be

> lost for everyone. How can those claiming to be "leaders" not make this a

> priority when they claim to be the "leaders" of a culture which clearly

> prioritized it. It is very clearly NOT a priority in the minds of these

> so-called leaders - there is only talk.

>

>  On 12 Jun 1999, Hare Krsna dasi wrote:

> Sometime I need to address this problem of painting all of ISKCON's leaders

> with the same brush. Several of them have worked to provide a substantial

> amount of funding which is the only reason why this varnasrama book can be

> written. A number of other ones are quietly starting self-sufficient

> communities at different parts in the world. Admittedly, some are afraid of

> varnasrama -- but I think you might be surprised at how many of ISKCON's

> leaders are really supportive of varnasrama. They are cautious, but they are

> pushing things forward. Gradually, you will see the results of their quiet

> efforts. Anyway, that's for a later time.

>

> Comment:

> Yes we understand they are supportive of the concept of Varnasrama, and yes

as

> individuals they have made steps to back that up. But as a group their voice

> in this matter has had a rather small volume. Cow protection receives even

> less notice from them than varnasrama. Varnasrama is the next step, Srila

> Prabhupada indicated and it is obvious that the cows' makeup the central

core.

>

>  But as for cow protection -- we certainly have to admit that their

> have been devastating and embarrasing shortcomings over the years. But

again,

> please don't say that our leaders, especially the GBC, are indifferent to cow

> protection. This past spring in Mayapura they all voted to approve a

> comprehensive set of cow protection standards which was even longer than all

> the rest of the by-laws put together.

>

> Comment:

> What they have done it is attentive step in the right direction, the cows

have

> suffered over the years, and I know 25 years on two different ISKCON farms.

> The farms (I am excluding those farms were GBC and sanyassis resided) were

> visited rarely and when they did visit it was even rarer for them to look for

> the cowherd and walk with them and ask about the conditions. Children where

> abused, women mistreated and they raising a big stink, lawsuits and talks

> about editing the books to give a more favourable light towards women. These

> are some of the things that come to mind. The cows are the dearmost of

> Govinda, but you see no big protest about their conditions. Very little.

> They're breeding, decreased, because it is such a burden to care for them

> without the proper support.

>

>  I personally am adverse to kicking sand in someone's face when they

> have just begun to reform their actions. I prefer to give them a chance to

> stand up and demonstrate their sincerity first. At least you should give the

> GBC until August 15 before you call them negligent on cow protection.

>

> Comment:

> We are not saying bad things just expressing our doubts based on past

> circumstances. We are waiting, for them to show us that they care. Then if

> they do it will indeed be glorious and we can move forward. Then signs of

> mourning can be removed. It will be a strengthening and an encouragement to

> us, just by this simple act, just 6 hours out of 8,760. But we are cautious

> not to get our hopes up to much, otherwise the heartbreak maybe too much, it

> has happened for too long.

>

>  One aspect of what they endorsed obligates them to visit each of

> ISKCON's farms and traveling ox program 4 times per year. The need to

> schedule 1-hour private meetings with the herdsmen and teamsters at each

> visit, and also inspect the cows' facilities. They also need to submit a

> report to ISKCON's Ministry for Cow Protection and Agriculture quarterly.

The

> first one is due by July 30. So allowing 2 weeks for slow mail, let's at

> least give them until August 15 before we put them down for not being sincere

> about cow protection. We may be pleasantly surprised at how conscientious

> many of them are about fulfilling their promise on this matter.

>

> Comment:

> If they do not perform as expected, are we to just to avert our eyes and turn

> away back to the chores? That will only put us in their boat. There is need

> for a stronger stand, denouncing those who do not act is required. Because

> they are the leaders their behavior must become exemplary how else will the

> rest of the devotees understand the importance.

>

>  At least we owe it to them to give them a fighting chance to prove

> their determination to set things right as far as cow protection goes.

> They've said they will do this. Now let's give them a chance before we

> criticize them more. It's only fair.

>

> Comment:

> It is also fair for us to say that we are hurt, we have not drawn and

> quartered them only expressed our hurt feelings. We wait with expectant

hearts

> for their feet to tread the earth with us. Forgive us if we are not very

vocal

> in praise or in telling what the problems are, because it will be a shock if

> they do come and show they care. They must also be patient with us for we

have

> much baggage accumulated for so many years. Only those cowherds who have

daily

> worked with the cows really know the full extent of what kind of tolerance

the

> cows have mustered to meet the conditions. Then when the GBC have shown their

> true colours, can we turn to the local management and ask their help to heal

> the hurt. There needs to be a change of heart of all the devotees and the

> leaders must be the ones to show it first.

>

> So many unengaged, acting the part but not doing the deed. We must become an

> agrarian society for varnasrama to work. The only education worth having is

on

> how to remember Krsna all other is simply a waste of time.

> Ys,

> Rohita dasa

>

[Guest guest]

Hare Krsna dasi:

 

> Maybe Balabhadra prabhu should forward a copy of this to the GBC, just so

they can see how important this is to us. It would be good if sometime in

August, Chaya and Balabhadra could post a list of the farms and list the GBC's

who have turned in reports -- also a list of farms who have not turned in

reports, together with their GBC's. What will we do for those GBC's who

neglect to fulfill their pledges in the matter? I guess it is obvious that

the only kind of recourse that we have at our disposal is publicity.

 

Comment:

Nice sugestion, mother Chayadevi? Post on Announcements conference, I feel

uncomfortable posting this type of thing on Chakra, etc. they have tendency to

enter the rumour mill and things said end up every where. This process has to

be done with humility and a sincere desire to initiate some reformation.

ys,

Rohita dasa