cow protection article (sent to Chakra, Dipika, VNN)

[Guest guest]

Here is the article - the original attachment didn't make it into the

conference. This was sent to Chakra, Dipika, and VNN this night.

 

---------------------------

Fulfillment: A Call for Cow Protection and the Establishment of

Brahminical Culture

 

A funny thing occurred recently when the “Last Call for Global Excellence

Award 2004 Nominations” notice appeared in the Cow Conference; we all

discovered

that there was no mention of Cow Protection as one of the categories.

 

Before I go on, I would like to point out that is was eventually found to be

a simple oversight resulting from no one yet nominating anyone in that field.

 

However, it got us thinking: why is there so little support for cow

protection in ISKCON these days? There is talk of simple living/high thinking,

there is

plenty of talk of warm milk and prasad swimming in ghee, but there is little

talk of fulfilling the final leg of Srila Prabhupada’s mission, and if there

is, it is for the most part, only talk.

 

“Without protection of cows, brahminical culture cannot be maintained; and

without brahminical culture, the aim of life cannot be fulfilled.”

SB 8.24.5 (purport)

 

So we are all working together, in various ways, in various missions, on

establishing brahminical culture, but how do we expect to accomplish this

without

the very foundation of brahminical culture – cow protection? This is not

simply a “vysha issue.”

 

Now, cow protection doesn’t just mean having sufficient milk, it doesn’t

mean Govardhana Puja, it doesn’t even mean cows and bulls – it means

establishing a system whereby those who maintain the cows and engage the bulls

in working

the land to produce grains and foodstuff, not only for the deities and

devotees, but for the cows and bulls themselves, will be able to do that

service in

a supportive and sustainable way indefinitely. In reality, it means a Vaisnava

community; how can it be considered a Vaisnava community without cow

protection?

 

I am sure that I’m not the only one who joined this mission to the call of “

We have self-sufficient communities based on cow-protection!”, only to find

later that it was only so much wishful thinking and propaganda. Eventually we

get jaded and may even find ourselves repeating the same half truth about

Varnashrama Dharma and the next 10,000 years. This is voluntary blindness to

the

real state of this aspect of Srila Prabhupada’s mission. In order to progress,

we

must first accept the fact that we are currently in denial; then admit that

this aspect of Srila Prabhupada’s mission is critical to the fulfillment of the

 

rest (again, that being to establish brahminical culture). Cow protection

based on ox powered agriculture is also essential to draw our children back to

that which is natural and sattvik – just to make a material balance in life,

what to speak of the pleasure it would give to them to get their hands dirty

now

and then and see where real food comes from. And what pleasure it would give

their Lordships. It would be at once educational and ultimately purifying for

any community as a whole.

 

It can, of course, be left for Srila Prabhupada’s follows somewhere down that

10,000 old year road; or we can do it. As we were the ones asked, it is only

fitting that we do it. If anything, we should offer it completed, as a gift to

the devotees yet to come.

 

It is not an understatement to say, that except for in a few rare locations,

real sustainable cow protection (according to the Minimum Standards of Cow

Protection as published by the GBC Ministry for Cow Protection and

Agriculture),

is practically non-existent. Nor is it blasphemy or aparadha to admit to

ourselves and to each other, that many of our leaders, throughout ISKCON’s

history,

though expert in many other aspects of Srila Prabhupada’s preaching mission,

have had little or no vision for how to fulfill this most important ‘next step,

’ (cow protection, as indicated in so many of Srila Prabhupada’s

instructions, is actually a ‘next step’ that is essential for us to maintain

our present

footing). If some individuals do have or have had such a vision, entangled in

management or absorbed in preaching, they are not willing or able to put

forth the time and energy to bring that vision into focus. We must remember

that

in a world full of turmoil and frustration, the organized exhibition of genuine

 

simple life, is preaching!

 

The movement itself has shifted from a movement based on preachers and

monasticism, to one of families and communities trying to balance practical

life

with love of God. Naturally, most people are not willing or cannot practically

live in a commune. But Srila Prabhupada did not ask for communes, simply

communities, where goodness naturally leads to the sincere cultivation Krishna

Consciousness. As in many cultures, the center of our devotee communities is

the

temple, and the center of that temple is the altar, whereupon Sri Sri Radha

Krishna stand and bestow their infinite mercy upon those people of faith who

gather together before them and chant their names. We must know that engagement

 

of the cows, bulls and land is not a project separate from this ideal. Instead

it is an integral part of pleasing Srila Prabhupada and thus Sri Sri Radha

Krishna.

 

We should know the land, cows, and bulls to be nothing less than the

paraphernalia of the deity; as are the products of their proper engagement

(milk,

ghee, vegetables and grains). We would not consider spraying air freshener on

or

around the lord as a substitute for the finest oils or incense, while the

finest incense instead lay in the drawer unlit, fading, and collecting dust. We

 

would never consider it satisfactory to leave the deities’ silver cups and

plates

blackened with tarnish and covered with cobwebs in the cupboard, while

instead serving their Lordships with a paper cup and plate. How have we found

it

acceptable, in this day and age, 30 years after receiving the instructions and

inspiration, to let the cows, bulls, and land sit idle and in a state of

neglect, while we buy gallon after gallon of milk from the store, blocks of the

 

cheapest yellow stained butter boiling into ghee, products that have come at

the

cost of another cow’s life. What example does this set for the world and for

the

historic record? Sure, there is some spiritual benefit for the cow who

suffered to produce such milk, and of course, there is the ‘

milk-equals-a-better-brain-for-me’ thing, but what of our actual, eternal

spiritual benefit – the

kind that comes by true and continual service to the instructions of Sri Guru,

for the pleasure of the Lord and His pure devotee? Would the Lord not be more

pleased to have fresh milk from His own personal cows? Would the cow not be

more

saved to take its next birth under the protection of Sri Gopal? Would the

fire not be more pleased to accept grains and ghee, not just purchased, but

produced with devotion? And what of the bulls? They have no milk to give – we

cannot offer their “product” as it sits frozen or refrigerated in the store

waiting for purchase, nor is it an acceptable offering; they must be engaged in

 

tilling the soil, “or else you will make a plan to kill them,” says Srila

Prabhupada to his followers.

 

As a movement, we need to focus on this goal – now is a good time. I believe

that in doing so, we will find solutions to many of the other problems that

trouble us as a worldwide community. We do not have to ask whether Srila

Prabhupada would be pleased; it was, in fact, his real final instruction, his

dying

wish, practically his last breath.

 

Yours in service to Sri Guru,

 

Gopal dasa

(the disciple of Varsana Swami)

dasgopal (AT) aol (DOT) com

[Guest guest]

I think it is a very well written article and let us know if it gets

published at those sites. I will publish it in our next newsletter and then

the newsletter gets published on our site.

 

Visit us at: www.iscowp.org

 

 

> [Original Message]

> <Dasgopal (AT) aol (DOT) com>

> Cow (Protection and related issues) <Cow (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

> 1/28/2004 2:40:05 AM

> cow protection article (sent to Chakra, Dipika, VNN)

>

> Here is the article - the original attachment didn't make it into the

> conference. This was sent to Chakra, Dipika, and VNN this night.

>

> ---------------------------

> Fulfillment: A Call for Cow Protection and the Establishment of

> Brahminical Culture

>

> A funny thing occurred recently when the "Last Call for Global Excellence

> Award 2004 Nominations" notice appeared in the Cow Conference; we all

> discovered

> that there was no mention of Cow Protection as one of the categories.

>

> Before I go on, I would like to point out that is was eventually found to

be

> a simple oversight resulting from no one yet nominating anyone in that

field.

>

> However, it got us thinking: why is there so little support for cow

> protection in ISKCON these days? There is talk of simple living/high

thinking,

> there is

> plenty of talk of warm milk and prasad swimming in ghee, but there is

little

> talk of fulfilling the final leg of Srila Prabhupada's mission, and if

there

> is, it is for the most part, only talk.

>

> "Without protection of cows, brahminical culture cannot be maintained;

and

> without brahminical culture, the aim of life cannot be fulfilled."

> SB 8.24.5 (purport)

>

> So we are all working together, in various ways, in various missions, on

> establishing brahminical culture, but how do we expect to accomplish this

> without

> the very foundation of brahminical culture - cow protection? This is not

> simply a "vysha issue."

>

> Now, cow protection doesn't just mean having sufficient milk, it doesn't

> mean Govardhana Puja, it doesn't even mean cows and bulls - it means

> establishing a system whereby those who maintain the cows and engage the

bulls

> in working

> the land to produce grains and foodstuff, not only for the deities and

> devotees, but for the cows and bulls themselves, will be able to do that

> service in

> a supportive and sustainable way indefinitely. In reality, it means a

Vaisnava

> community; how can it be considered a Vaisnava community without cow

> protection?

>

> I am sure that I'm not the only one who joined this mission to the call

of "

> We have self-sufficient communities based on cow-protection!", only to

find

> later that it was only so much wishful thinking and propaganda.

Eventually we

> get jaded and may even find ourselves repeating the same half truth about

> Varnashrama Dharma and the next 10,000 years. This is voluntary blindness

to

> the

> real state of this aspect of Srila Prabhupada's mission. In order to

progress,

> we

> must first accept the fact that we are currently in denial; then admit

that

> this aspect of Srila Prabhupada's mission is critical to the fulfillment

of the

>

> rest (again, that being to establish brahminical culture). Cow protection

> based on ox powered agriculture is also essential to draw our children

back to

> that which is natural and sattvik - just to make a material balance in

life,

> what to speak of the pleasure it would give to them to get their hands

dirty

> now

> and then and see where real food comes from. And what pleasure it would

give

> their Lordships. It would be at once educational and ultimately

purifying for

> any community as a whole.

>

> It can, of course, be left for Srila Prabhupada's follows somewhere down

that

> 10,000 old year road; or we can do it. As we were the ones asked, it is

only

> fitting that we do it. If anything, we should offer it completed, as a

gift to

> the devotees yet to come.

>

> It is not an understatement to say, that except for in a few rare

locations,

> real sustainable cow protection (according to the Minimum Standards of

Cow

> Protection as published by the GBC Ministry for Cow Protection and

> Agriculture),

> is practically non-existent. Nor is it blasphemy or aparadha to admit to

> ourselves and to each other, that many of our leaders, throughout ISKCON's

> history,

> though expert in many other aspects of Srila Prabhupada's preaching

mission,

> have had little or no vision for how to fulfill this most important `next

step,

> ' (cow protection, as indicated in so many of Srila Prabhupada's

> instructions, is actually a `next step' that is essential for us to

maintain

> our present

> footing). If some individuals do have or have had such a vision,

entangled in

> management or absorbed in preaching, they are not willing or able to put

> forth the time and energy to bring that vision into focus. We must

remember

> that

> in a world full of turmoil and frustration, the organized exhibition of

genuine

>

> simple life, is preaching!

>

> The movement itself has shifted from a movement based on preachers and

> monasticism, to one of families and communities trying to balance

practical

> life

> with love of God. Naturally, most people are not willing or cannot

practically

> live in a commune. But Srila Prabhupada did not ask for communes, simply

> communities, where goodness naturally leads to the sincere cultivation

Krishna

> Consciousness. As in many cultures, the center of our devotee

communities is

> the

> temple, and the center of that temple is the altar, whereupon Sri Sri

Radha

> Krishna stand and bestow their infinite mercy upon those people of faith

who

> gather together before them and chant their names. We must know that

engagement

>

> of the cows, bulls and land is not a project separate from this ideal.

Instead

> it is an integral part of pleasing Srila Prabhupada and thus Sri Sri

Radha

> Krishna.

>

> We should know the land, cows, and bulls to be nothing less than the

> paraphernalia of the deity; as are the products of their proper engagement

> (milk,

> ghee, vegetables and grains). We would not consider spraying air

freshener on

> or

> around the lord as a substitute for the finest oils or incense, while the

> finest incense instead lay in the drawer unlit, fading, and collecting

dust. We

>

> would never consider it satisfactory to leave the deities' silver cups and

> plates

> blackened with tarnish and covered with cobwebs in the cupboard, while

> instead serving their Lordships with a paper cup and plate. How have we

found

> it

> acceptable, in this day and age, 30 years after receiving the

instructions and

> inspiration, to let the cows, bulls, and land sit idle and in a state of

> neglect, while we buy gallon after gallon of milk from the store, blocks

of the

>

> cheapest yellow stained butter boiling into ghee, products that have come

at

> the

> cost of another cow's life. What example does this set for the world and

for

> the

> historic record? Sure, there is some spiritual benefit for the cow who

> suffered to produce such milk, and of course, there is the `

> milk-equals-a-better-brain-for-me' thing, but what of our actual, eternal

> spiritual benefit - the

> kind that comes by true and continual service to the instructions of Sri

Guru,

> for the pleasure of the Lord and His pure devotee? Would the Lord not be

more

> pleased to have fresh milk from His own personal cows? Would the cow not

be

> more

> saved to take its next birth under the protection of Sri Gopal? Would the

> fire not be more pleased to accept grains and ghee, not just purchased,

but

> produced with devotion? And what of the bulls? They have no milk to give

- we

> cannot offer their "product" as it sits frozen or refrigerated in the

store

> waiting for purchase, nor is it an acceptable offering; they must be

engaged in

>

> tilling the soil, "or else you will make a plan to kill them," says Srila

> Prabhupada to his followers.

>

> As a movement, we need to focus on this goal - now is a good time. I

believe

> that in doing so, we will find solutions to many of the other problems

that

> trouble us as a worldwide community. We do not have to ask whether Srila

> Prabhupada would be pleased; it was, in fact, his real final instruction,

his

> dying

> wish, practically his last breath.

>

> Yours in service to Sri Guru,

>

> Gopal dasa

> (the disciple of Varsana Swami)

> dasgopal (AT) aol (DOT) com