cowherd or coward

[Guest guest]

Gary, when I say that I think devotees should cooperate and create a

dynamic website, I am in no way trying to disaparage your work at

iscowp.com. I work for CareerPath.com right now, and there are 150 people

working on one website--that's what I'm talking about...a massive effort.

I want to dig up some of the Prabhupada disciples that are L.A.ying

around, and see if they can help create more dynamic content: audio,

video, and art. If Srila Prabhupada invested 500,000 in 1976 to do FATE,

how much would he spend now to do a website where the whole world can

see?

 

Madhava, thank you for your suggestions. Did you know that some Gaur

Govinda Swami disciples have a farm in San Diego (herd size: 9)? All

glories to the great-souled Gaur Govinda Maharaja who disappeared in

Mayapur while speaking Krishna katha on the transcendental appearance day

of His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. They're the

devotees who do the Govinda's Bliss Bars.

 

I realize the commitment. Let me ask you a question, though: Is it better

to save a cow from slaughter for 5 years or to not try at all?

 

I also realize that a lawyer is necessary and already approached a

devotee lawyer, Mrigendra Prabhu. He said: "show me your plan." I saw a

poster yesterday (coincidentally) which advertised a February 14th city

council meeting to discuss whether or not zoning laws will be changed to

make it illegal to keep horses and livestock in Los Angeles. I have to

find out what was decided at that meeting. I can't remember where I heard

that Prabhupada used to say: "Who will litigate?" It's very important. I

heard that the devotees were charged by the U.N. with disturbing the

peace (for chanting in front of the U.N.), and their sankirtan

paraphernalia were exhibits in the case. The judge, after hearing of the

disturbance, asked the devotees what they were doing that was causing

such a disturbance. The devotees asked for their instruments back,

chanted the names of God, and the judge looked at the prosecutor and

said: "You should be ashamed of yourself."

 

I want to secure celebrity support here in Los Angeles before I venture

to get an ox. As soon as I'm challenged, I'll need the celebrity

support--just like PETA. It's my religious right to have a cow, you know.

I can support that argument with hundreds of quotes from the Bhagavatam.

Then, the Indians.

 

--

 

krishnaya vasudevaya

devaki nandanaya ca

nanda gopa kumaraya

govindaya namo namah

 

--

 

"The water that washes my feet purifies the three worlds, including Lord

Shiva who catches it upon his head, but I take the dust of the lotus feet

of the devotees on my head. Who will refuse to do the same? I am more

satisfied when the devotees eat foodstuffs overflowing in ghee than when

I receive offerings in the sacrificial fire." -- Lord Vishnu to the

Kumaras.

 

The Indian sages, who taught us what yoga and karma are about, recommend

a lactovegetarian diet based on the principle of ahimsa or nonviolence.

Unfortunately, the Western world is slow to adopt the wisdom of the East,

and only a few take the advice of the sages seriously.

 

Because of the abuses and eventual slaughter that cows face in this

country, dairy products cannot really be seen as a nonviolent foodstuff.

In order to cleanse the dairy products of this impurity, we are asking

that anyone who buys dairy products or food with dairy products in it put

aside an equal amount of money for the protection of cows.

 

There are many ways that money can be used to protect cows. You can set

up a trust and start protecting cows in your community (if you're very

committed) or you can contribute to some of the established cow

protection programs like ISCOWP which sets and maintains international

cow protection standards. A list of farms that meet ISCOWP standards can

be obtained from ISCOWP (www.iscowp.com) so that you can find out if the

milk your drinking is from a protected cow.

 

Krishna can never be satisfied where cow protection is lacking.

 

--

 

That last bit beginning with the "--" is a rough draft for what Madhava's

been suggesting for years: that devotees pay the price of protected milk.

I welcome revisions. The devotee who runs the maha-prasad room in Los

Angeles, Bhaja Govinda, might