A swami's advise on milk

[Guest guest]

Maharaja, I am very sorry that my posting: “A swamis’ advice on milk” has

appeared on Prabhupada disciples’ forum. In fact, it was meant to be private;

absolutely not to be addressed to you. The first lines say it quite clearly:

“Some of you may not have access to Prabhupada's disciples conference, but

here is what I read today […]” But by maya’s trick -or Krsna?- it ended on

Prabhupada’s disciple forum. That unfortunate mistake being made, I understand

that a regular devotee may have felt offended by my exclamation: (Can't

believe that he answered him that!) But I am a bit astonished by your reply to

me.

 

I paste here the letter I sent by accident on Prabhupada’s disciples forum:

(And will go on with my answer.)

 

Some of you may not have access to Prabhupada's disciples conference, but here

what I read today. The exchanges talk by themselves.

 

Dear Vaisnavas,

[…] I have to confront in debate some vegetarians who deny the use of milk in

human diet..

They have some good arguments. I need good reasoning arguments on the virtues

of the milk based on sastra and modern science. Can anyone out there help

please?

--Krsna baladeva

 

Trivikrama Swami answered:

The main reason we offer milk products to Krsna is that He likes them. This is

not a question of debate and is easy to understand as we can also experience

that this prasadam is delicious.

Ys TS

 

Me:

(Can't believe that he answered him that!) […]

 

And then Maharaja addressed me on the forum this reply:

You can't believe I answered in that way because it is hard for you to believe

that Krsna is really a person who is going to eat the food we offer to Him.

But is true He does, and He likes milk products soooo much that He personally

take care of the cows. Perhaps you have heard that His another name is Gopal.

End of letter

Maharaja, Krsna Baladeva was in a situation where he needed some information.

You are perfectly aware that there are heavy groups out there who are

promoting all kind of nonsense about milk, and Krsna Baladeva was confronted

with one of them. You see, let's say for the sake of argument, that I don't

understand that Krsna eats milk sweets, but Krsna Baladeva does.

 

I may not know about Krsna that “His another name is Gopal” but Krsna Baladeva

(and any Prabhupada’s disciple on Com) knows this; he used to keep cows for

the pleasure of Gopal. In my first reply to Krsna Baladeva, I already

mentioned that jokingly: “But how come a cowboy like you doesn't know these

arguments?” So, for you to remind me with such insistence does not help me to

appreciate your qualities.

 

For devotees like myself, who you judge like having a hard time to accept

Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead -and also the karmis who approach

us with their doubts, like these pro-vegans-, would certainly feel more

enthused over the idea of a personal God, if we made an attempt to answer

their questions accordingly. Of course, “that Krsna likes milk” is a beautiful

explanation, but I just find it strange that you felt the need to remind a

senior devotee about it; especially by stressing that: “This is not a question

of debate.”

 

I am astonished, that you and some other devotees have reacted so strongly

regarding a remark which carries by itself no offensive statement.

 

Is this incident a reminder for the devotees not to criticize the absolute

position in which our leaders are situated? Should we understand by this that

our society is bent to forbid its members the right to express their

disillusions? Do you really think that a society, which is so sensitive to

criticism, is a healthy society?

 

However, Maharaja, I think that better than arguments and hammering poetry,

pro-vegans and ignorant devotees like myself (your Holiness verdict), will be

more open to the personal aspect of Godhead if devotees like you -swami, guru

and GBC-, would, on top of an excellent explanation, radiate friendship and

love. The rank and file devotees are thirsty for such behavior. Please,

Maharaja, consider my plea. This is an excellent opportunity for a devotee of

Krsna to show what more than thirty-five years of devotional service can

produce. You are a leader! ! Yad yad acarati sresthas.

 

Akhilesvara dasa