A History of Cow Abuse in ISKCON

[Guest guest]

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