Guest guest Posted November 16, 1999 Report Share Posted November 16, 1999 On 08 Nov 1999, Hare Krsna dasi wrote: > > > Hare Krsna dasi 8 Nov 1999 > > A History of Cow Abuse in ISKCON > > ***ABSTRACT: A recent incident of cow abuse in ISKCON has led to focus on > the alleged perpetrator of the crime, but cow abuse in ISKCON has been > widespread and on-going. ISKCON's history of cow abuse should be analyzed > carefully, not simply to vilify certain individuals, but to examine how > organizational weaknesses lead to situations that foster abuse. ... > 3. In about 1993 or 1994, I heard that through neglect, an ox wandered > into the hay barn at Gita-nagari, fell partway through the floor boards > and was slowly electrocuted to death by the barn's electrical system. > Also around that time, I had my heart broken to learn that Burfi, our > handsome Brown Swiss lead ox at Gita-nagari for 12 years - who had even > pulled a cart in front of the White House - was left for a number of days > to die in a mud hole in the freezing winter weather. > ... Reformation of cow protection in our society is an extremely important task. I can't imagine that any follower of Srila Prabhupada could sell, give or whatever, cows for slaughter as described at Murari. I think I met that devotee years ago. I'm appalled. There is a sad legacy in ISKCON of failure, abuse and neglect in nearly all areas: Book distribution, Deity worship, protection of children and women, fund raising, and on and on. Having said that, the above quoted "fact" concerning the ox falling through the floor in Gita Nagari is a gross misrepresentation. This was pointed out a couple of years ago when the same author posted the same misinformation. I can only assume that the balance of the 650+ line post is of the same character. It is gossip on the National Inquirer/VNN standard. Maybe we need a Grocery Checkout Tabloid Conference. There is more than enough gossip in my remote corner of the world that I don't need it on a global level. This kind of lack of objectivity, poor reasoning and demagoguery is far more pervasive and possibly closer to the core of ISKCON's problems than the particular issue of the day. It certainly promotes apathy, as one doesn't know what to believe. The Vrindavan incident of late is another good example. Should I believe these reports? The male chauvinist boor version? Or the feminist G.I. Jane version? Should I still care? I actually prefer the Inquirer as I KNOW that story about the baby switched at birth with an alien is just crap. It doesn't pretend to be anything else. I'm interested in hearing about problems in our society and what is and/or what should be done about rectifying and atoning for the sins of the past. I just wish that these kinds of sensationalized misrepresentations would not dominate the discussions. Thank God I've seen enough good in our society to be able to put all the bad into perspective. The good has and still does exist. Some times I wonder if some of our COM commentators ever get out? I'm more or less useless, but even I go to the temple sometimes. We've had one great festival after another down here. I even got 3 loose ox back in their fields just a couple of days ago. One solution to the particular problem of cow protection is to give the Cow Protection Minister real power. Big title looks good on the business card but that's about it. How about giving the minister power to levy sanctions on neglectful GBC's, TP's or whoever. Real sanctions that could actually motivate. Your servant, Jiva Goswami das Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 16, 1999 Report Share Posted November 16, 1999 Martin wrote: > [Text 2772861 from COM] > > I would say that this ISKCON was founded by Srila Prabhupada and in my > experience it functions nicely if we are in the fire so to speak. Yes, it works great communally for some people for some time, but being "in the fire" is not easily sustainable for most devotees. > So It > would seem prdent to understand how to increase our attachement to the > devotional process, not just consider it useless because some people find it > not to their likeing. Here you seem to be equating devotional process with communalism. I don't think that is valid. Devotional service is not limited by socio economic paradigms. However, you will find little in sastra to support communalism and much to support private ownership, although not exactly in the sense Americans percieve ownership. Limited forms of communalism will always have their place, but not as an organizational vehicle for a greater mobilization of larger populations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 16, 1999 Report Share Posted November 16, 1999 > On one hand you are crying Do I come accross as weepy? > the GBC has to > make sure that cows are being protected and on the other you are saying they > should be controlled by Grhasta. Where did I say that? I think you are trying to challenge me on a point I'm not making. > Please just give > me your vision of how to protect comws without communal cooperation. Through the establishment of Trusts with cows as the beneficiary and the Trustees acting as ksatriyas allocating resources. > You > can call it communism if you want but the cows have to be protected by those > who do it to please Krishna and unfortunately show me the person right now > who can do it alone. As I have never advocated that position(doing it alone), I feel little need to defend it. > Cow protection is not like that in reality. It is not profitable in the > mundane sense. I agree. New Vrindaban is certainly the example of abysmal failure where trying to make a profit from cows is concerned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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