Actual Cow Protection means Ending hypocrisy

[Guest guest]

Aroon Prabhu,

 

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

 

You state, " If all these negatives could be erased in a Vrindavan-like

setting, I for one would be very happy as a lacto-vegetarian."

 

Even though we may not agree on the details of method, it seems clear that we

all

agree that ISKCON authorities need to be awakened to the fact that it is not an

opulence to offer the Deities milk and ghee from slaughtered cows.

 

A greater opulence is to offer Them milk from protected cows. And the greatest

opulence is to offer the Deities milk from protected cows who are also the

mothers of working oxen. Both the milk from protected cows and the grains

produced and ground by protected oxen should be understood to be a most opulent

offering for the pleasure of Krsna -- because these two items are the emblems

of

devotional sincerity and thus are potent offerings for spiritual progress.

 

It is valuable, that as a member of the Indian community, you are signalling

that

Indians are becoming increasingly frustrated with the contradiction of a

movement

which proclaims the value of cow protection, but offers Krsna milk from

slaughtered cows.

 

>From the perspective of most of us on the cow conference, we are increasingly

uncomfortable with the contradiction of a movement which proclaims the value of

cow protection, but which for the most part does not even have any cows, and in

the cases where it does, very often does not bother to train cowherds or to

maintain its cows to the Minimum Standards of Cow Protection required by its

own

corporate laws.

 

To some degree, my feeling is that "Hindus" in the Hare Krsna movement are

sometimes exploited. They are desirable for their wealth and their uncritical

acceptance of things like ISKCON's current negligent practices with regard to

cow

protection

 

While speaking out as a member of the Indian community, you are serving

valuable

notice to the leaders of ISKCON that Indians will begin to hold ISKCON's

leaders

accountable to the high standards presented by Srila Prabhupada -- including

the

standard that actual cow protection is essential for real progress in spiritual

life.

 

It is said that in Kali Yuga, Dharma, the Bull representing Religiosity, stands

on only one leg -- the leg of truth. If we allow ISKCON to proclaim its pious

beliefs in cow protection, while either neglecting the welfare of the cows, or

in

some cases even abusing and killing them, then we are losing our claims to

truth

-- and thus sawing off the last leg of Dharma which is upholding religious

principles in this fallen age. You are serving notice that you want them to be

truthful about their actual practices and their failure to practically apply

the

principles of cow protection. (In some cases products of the cow slaughter

industry are sold for profit without even being offered to Krsna -- such as in

the ghee which many ISKCON gift shops sell.)

 

Thus, although our specific perspectives may be slightly different, our

fundamental conviction is the same -- actual cow protection is essential for

spiritual progress, and a continuation of hypocrisy on this matter is not

welcomed. Your determined actions on getting this message across to ISKCON

leaders will be a benefit to our society in the long run.

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi

 

 

 

Chalissa1 (AT) aol (DOT) com wrote:

 

> Haribol

>

> My humble obeisances to Srila Prabhupada:

>

> The article was published in several of the weeklies in the Chicago area. I

> grew up in India & life as a vegetarian revolved strongly in the use of dairy

> products. This was decades ago when I do believe that the cows were treated

> much better than they are now. In the west ofcourse it is heinous the crimes

> to dairy cows as well as in the slaughter-houses & worst of all is the ritual

> slaughter. If all these negatives could be erased in a Vrindavan like

> setting, I for one would be very happy as a lacto-vegetarian

>

> I am an Animal Rights activist & have sent out 400+ CD's of the "Meet Your

> Meat" Put out by PETA ( People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) to any

> one with a CD burner & willing to make atleast 4 copies to give to their

> carnivore friends. Please let others know and send their mailing address to

> Chalissa1 (AT) aol (DOT) com & I'll gladly sent them a copy.

>

> I am convinced that where moral & ethical values are on our side we will

> prevail.

>

> Your humble servant

>

> Aroon

 

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BOWDOIN COLLEGE

Department of Theater & Dance

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