In the name of economic development

[Guest guest]

Taraka Prabhu -- Very nice quote!! I especially like the part where Srila

Prabhupada says: "People do not know what they are doing in the name of

economic development."

 

I've always thought it was appropriate that the accepted symbol of capitalism

is

the Golden Arches of the MacDonalds hamburger stands. Any time a politician or

business person wants to demonstrate that a third world country is progressing

nicely on the path to free-market capitalism, they always note how MacDonald's

is opening new branches in that country.

 

But here Srila Prabhupada notes the more sinister aspect of this phenomenon.

They think they are doing very nicely by slaughtering the cows and improving

profitability -- but in fact "They do not know what they are doing in the name

of economic development." Elsewhere, Srila Prabhupada notes that the modern

economic system is based on animal slaughter.

 

Unfortunately, sometimes this is even true in ISKCON. Even after all the

struggle by members of this conference, we still see a few farms where cows are

bred to provide milk -- rather than being bred to provide working oxen. The

economic plan is that the milk will be sold and the profits can be used to

support the temple.

 

But further down the road, it actually means that more animals are produced

than

the land can sustain, and there are strong allegations that in some Hare Krsna

farms the bull -- the father of religion, as attested elsewhere in this

Bhagavatam chapter -- is given or sold to others, and ultimately slaughtered.

 

Again, as Srila Prabhupada notes: They do not know what they are doing in the

name of economic development. It is not that milk cannot be sold under Srila

Prabhupada's plan, but that the main purpose of cow protection should be

self-sufficiency, not market-oriented milk production.

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi

 

"Taraka (das) ACBSP (Gita Nagari, PA - USA)" wrote:

 

> Dear Prabhus:

>

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

>

> It seems to me the Cow conference has been... well, rather inactive lately.

> Wouldn't you agree it's time to inject a little life? I thought I would

> attempt to contribute some relevant quotes on a daily basis and see if that

> gets some conversation moooving. I'm thinking quotes that pertain to cows,

> farming, self-sufficiency, etc. Let's see how long I can keep this up. Hare

> Krsna. I hope this meets you in good health and I beg to remain,

>

> Your servant,

> Taraka dasa

>

> How's this for starters?

>

> TRANSLATION

> Although the cow is beneficial because one can draw religious principles

> from her, she was now rendered poor and calfless. Her legs were being beaten

> by a sudra. There were tears in her eyes, and she was distressed and weak.

> She was hankering after some grass in the field.

>

> PURPORT

> The next symptom of the age of Kali is the distressed condition of the cow.

> Milking the cow means drawing the principles of religion in a liquid form.

> The great rsis and munis would live only on milk. Srila Sukadeva Gosvami

> would go to a householder while he was milking a cow, and he would simply

> take a little quantity of it for subsistence. Even fifty years ago, no one

> would deprive a sadhu of a quart or two of milk, and every householder would

> give milk like water. For a Sanatanist (a follower of Vedic principles) it

> is the duty of every householder to have cows and bulls as household

> paraphernalia, not only for drinking milk, but also for deriving religious

> principles. The Sanatanist worships cows on religious principles and

> respects brahmanas. The cow's milk is required for the sacrificial fire, and

> by performing sacrifices the householder can be happy. The cow's calf not

> only is beautiful to look at, but also gives satisfaction to the cow, and so

> she delivers as much milk as possible. But in the Kali-yuga, the calves are

> separated from the cows as early as possible for purposes which may not be

> mentioned in these pages of Srimad-Bhagavatam. The cow stands with tears in

> her eyes, the sudra milkman draws milk from the cow artificially, and when

> there is no milk the cow is sent to be slaughtered. These greatly sinful

> acts are responsible for all the troubles in present society. People do not

> know what they are doing in the name of economic development. The influence

> of Kali will keep them in the darkness of ignorance. Despite all endeavors

> for peace and prosperity, they must try to see the cows and the bulls happy

> in all respects. Foolish people do not know how one earns happiness by

> making the cows and bulls happy, but it is a fact by the law of nature. Let

> us take it from the authority of Srimad-Bhagavatam and adopt the principles

> for the total happiness of humanity.

>

> >>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.17.3