Hay4sale, was ... RE: Horses on ISKCON owned or rented land

[Guest guest]

A moral maze.

 

1. If we are land holders, especially of ISKCON land we have a

responsibility to use all the land. Srila Prabhupada mentions for

Bhaktivedanta Manor that all the land should be growing something it does

not matter what (dont take this out of context please).

 

2. If we have excess produce we can sell it.

 

3. If we have excess land for our own use then we must use it or grow on it.

 

4. If we have much excess produce then this inevitably will go into the

non-ISKCON world. If persons then go on to kill animals or murder or do

other sinful things are we then implicated because we have produced food for

them?. Personnally I think not.

 

5. I loosly recall a quote where Srila Prabhupada mentioned that when we

purchase food we are relieving ourselves of the Karma of its production. The

transaction of money seems to have some nulifying element to it.

 

6. If we draw a line that foods and crops can only go to devotees or those

who are without sin then this would be a further obstacle to our farm

projects.

 

7. I am of the view that our first priority is to produce for our temples,

restaurants and congregation and if there is surplus this can be sold in the

general world.

 

8. Our ISKCON lands can not be used for grazing cows destined for slaughter

and that is a clear standard. If we have excess land and we sell the hay

either made by ourselves or by the farmer is that going too far. My view

would be that this is not ideal however it is a practical consideration in

being able to utilise all or more of the land.

 

9. In September this year Bhaktivedanta Manor is taking on an additional 50

acres of land. This is more land than the herd will need and thus there is

excess. My thoughts have been to grow hay and sell it to a hay merchant. Who

he sells it to is his buiseness. At some point we would grow into all the

land and there would be no excess.

 

10. If there is a small scale farming enterprise that supports Cow

Protection by working oxen and ensuring a livelihood for the Herdsmen and

Woman and this enterprise involves growing foods for sale should we not

encourage it. Should we not encourage it even if it is not the highest

ideal.

 

11. Later on when we have significant support from our own temples and

congregations we may see that we do not need to sell our excess outside our

own circle to make it work. However at the moment I lean towards supporting

farming enterprises and especially those that are directly involved with Cow

protection even if their funding is based on selling to non community

members.

 

Some more thoughts for consideration

 

ys syam