Jump to content
IndiaDivine.org

Cowherd-friendly communities

Rate this topic


Guest guest

Recommended Posts

-

Dasgopal (AT) aol (DOT) com

Monday, January 5, 2004 9:30 pm

Re: On the subject

 

> This is true, I was also talking about it with him when I left

> Alachua. I

> have not heard any updates since. The last I heard, it was going

> to be based

> not

> on the temple land, but on another devotee's land . There was talk

> of "buying

> Holsteins" for the milk production. I was not interested in CSA

> when I heard

> that part.

>

> I would prefer to keep it focused on the temple land as a go(and

> ox)shalla so

> that it is attached to preaching and so that guests to the temple

> would see

> the oxen and cows, and guests of the oxen and cows could see the

> temple

 

I think this is where we come to a tricky part about varnasrama.

 

Srila Prabhupada states many times that of the four varnas, only the sudras

should be dependent.

 

When we put cowherds on temple land, we are putting them in a situation which

is not in keeping with vaisya mentality. So -- in general -- one of two things

happens:

 

1. The cowherd accepts a dependent position, where he always has someone over

him telling him how things must be done. Gradually he loses his initiative.

He becomes a sudra. It's not bad to be a sudra -- but in this case it does not

lead to a dynamic, expansive cow program.

 

OR

 

2. He eventually becomes more and more frustrated that he does not have

sufficient freedom to try his own ideas on the project. He sees that there is

no long-term future for himself and his family. Gradually, he becomes

exasperated and leaves.

 

If you have a copy of the Prabhupada Varnasrama book, you should read

Prabhupada's Geneva conversation of June 6, 1974, "Every Man Should Own Some

Land." Even this very phrase of Srila Prabhupada's embodies an important

essence of Vaisya nature.

 

In other places, Srila Prabhupada present more specifics -- how the ksatriyas

should give land to the vaisyas and how the vaisyas should in turn pay their

taxes -- in crops and milk -- to the ksatriyas.

 

You probably won't be able to follow this in detail, but the more you can

accommodate vaisya nature, the more successful your plan will be -- because the

vaisyas will find fulfillment instead of frustration. What they want more than

anything is to expand and develop a program -- not to be told what to do.

 

And of course with all this, training is essential. There are a number of

different training options, some work best for some people, some work best for

others. Tillers trains people in how to work the oxen, so does the 4-H. Also,

you can purchase various ox training videos. ISCOWP has a training video and

there is also a brand new Drew Conroy video on training oxen.

 

But it does take diligence. That little girl that won the obstacle course

competition was probably out there with her oxen every night for an hour.

Maybe it's a New England thing. I know that the man who used to be the head of

our college buildings and grounds crew used to go home and work with his ox

team every night. He said it helped him unwind.

 

ys

hkdd

 

 

(I

> think this would be more in line with what Srila Prabhupada would

> like to

> happen-my opinion). I would be interested in hearing if things

> have progressed.

>

>

> I would like to reiterate that I am very serious. Even my wife

> (Kalavatidevi108 (AT) aol (DOT) com) is willing to again endure the fire ants

> and flying

> cockroaches

> for such a program. She was very attached to Iowa City (hometown)

> until I

> started sending her these posts. (By the way, Mother Chaya, would

> it be OK to

> add

> her to the conference with the above e-mail address?).

>

> With the CSA, the main thing was support. I was waiting and

> waiting, and when

> I heard about the Holsteins and kept working in the warehouse in

> the mean

> time while people seriously considered such ideas. I lost interest

> and became

> more attracted to preaching until a better opportunity presented

> itself.

> Ys--Gopal

>

> In a message dated 1/5/2004 7:57:08 PM Central Standard Time,

> iscowp (AT) earthlink (DOT) net writes:

> What is happening to the program Pancaratna is doing? I though the

> had all

> this in mind also. Pancaratna prabhu is on this conference, can

> you tell us

> how things are progressing in your project in Alachua?

>

>

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

> To from this mailing list, send an email to:

> Cow-Owner (AT) pamho (DOT) net

>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...