History of cow abuse in ISKCON

[Guest guest]

Dwibhuja Prabhu wrote:

 

 

Again not to sound to redundant, but could you please show me where in this

planet where cows are being maintained up to the standard you find in

ISKCON.

 

I cannot say of others reports, but the farm I am on I have first hand

experience of: there have been old cows put into a paddock where the grass

was eaten

down to dirt level, at the end of a long drought when regrowth was slow. I

was

feeding them lucerne that I had purchased, and to avoid confrontation with

our farm

manager had let them out into an area of long grass when he was not there. I

was

physically unable to shift them back as they were still ravenous and would

not go.

Subsequently the farm manager found out, became angry and wrenched the feed

bucket out of my hands, strewing the contents on the ground.He put a whole

herd in

our most intense summer heat (around 40 degrees celsius), in a paddock

without

shade. Such heat means to be out in the sun is exquisite torture and these

animals were

standing in the water all day.

He caused the death of one milker who slipped into one of

the ditches that he dug, hurt her leg, was taken up to the barn in the front

end shovel of

his tractor, was not once examined by a vet, nor turned over once, nor given

sufficent

food or water, for the 3 weeks leading up to her death. Her pressure sores

started after

one day, but 3 weeks! I was forbidden to approach her or any other cow,

after having

received very violent treatment from this man.

He dragged an old cow using the tractor

a long way up to the barn, where she slowly died while he was hassling the

GBC to

allow him to put her down. But he had put her into a pot-holed field in the

first place

which is why she hurt her leg in the first place.He refuses to let anyone

know how 2

cows died, and one has disappeared in addition.

This man very recently had two

bullocks chained together so tightly they could not lie down, one had the

chain digging

into its neck, and they were like that for a week. Presently they are still

chained but

looser due to threats of legal action.If you think our farm is isolated you

are wrong. At

New Govardhana the situation has been worse. There 4 bullocks have died due

to

being chained together for very long periods. They have lost count of the

number that

died from starvation some years back, and the neighbouring farmer a

beef-farmer said

"I may kill my cows but at least I look after them while they are alive."

How much

evidence do you want? This is only a partial summary of the recent abuse at

New

Gokula, so I have every reason to believe that accepting the fact that there

is the

possibility of misinformation in Hare Krsna's analysis, there are probably

far more

unreported abuses which would more than compensate.

 

....We recently had a vet come to

look at our cows because some people

said they saw skinny oxen in a field. We knew we were doing everything

right to the best of our knowledge...

 

If you are doing this, fantastic, but do not assume

that it is like that everywhere else. There are bullocks on our farm with

abscesses the

size of a football, that are recieving no medical attention. If you think I

am

exaggerating the cow ministry has photos.

 

....So

your proposal sounds good on paper in relationship to the gold philosophy

but practically could you show me where it is happening now...

 

Just because it is not

happening now and animals are being abused, doesn't mean that it should

never

happen...what is the meaning of progress? Why you want a "now" example,

straight

out of the wretched kali-yuga? ISKCON is not a positive alternative society

or I could

give you numerous examples, but it is supposed to be modelled, at least our

farms are,

on Vrindavan life.

 

....could you show me how this transition

could take place. I mean this not challengingly...

 

I think I did already and it does not

require drastic changes. First and most important step is that every devotee

on every

farm be made aware of what Srila Prabhupada desired us to do on the farms:

live

simply, using produce from the cow and bull, using for food, fuel and

transport.Next

step is to give facility to do so, for those who want to. That is also not a

problem,

because we already have the land and animals, all that is needed is training

and

encouragement. The vedic system is that land is not owned but given to the

vaisyas in

return for a percentage of produce. Cows and bullocks, however, are owned.

So that

can happen on our farms also. There can be a communal grazing area, made up

of

individually owned animals, which are separated for working. Each family

requires

only one cow milking at any time, the cow can be kept close to the house,

just like in

India. It will milk for about 4 years, but the peak supply is of course at

the beginning of

lactation, so that is when milk can be supplied to the land-giver...in our

case the

temple. During which time, crops can be grown using bullocks, so that when

that is

established then agricultural produce can be given, later when the milk

dwindles. Also,

for the beginner,while his crops are growing, the milk from his cow can be

bartered

with other growers for their grains, not that everyone's cow will be at

peak lactation.

Now what happens to the grains and milk products given to the temple? Some

is used

in offerings to the Diety, which in due course feeds the hard-working

pujaris, and

gurukula teachers (brahmanas), the temple authorities (ksatriyas), the farm

workers

(sudras),thus you have the varnasrama system of vaisyas supporting the other

varnas,

and being supported by them through spiritual direction, facility such as

land, and

labour. Also in the case of grains and ghee, these can be stored for times

of emergency,

and can also be sold where there is excess. So money is not at all required

in this

system- IDEALLY. But actually it is required, because in kali-yuga there is

taxes etc.,

so guest-houses- spiritual retreat style, can be maintained for supplying

money for such

purposes. Also such funds can be used to help vaisyas-in-training, until

such times as

they can support themselves, by growing a wide variety of things...anyway

you get the

idea. I suppose details will have to be worked out later, but the first step

is to stress

SP's instructions, then pray to Krsna to help us through the obstacles. But

modelling

after Vrindavan, where cows were individually owned, was definitely his

instruction,

therefore desirable.Trouble with these communal herds is there is an

overwhelming

tendency for devotees to ignore them, not know their names, and not be aware

of their

disappearance or death. They just don't cross the mind, they're kind of

impersonal

blobs out on the field.

 

....At a time when we need cooperation and

contributions to cow protection, we are getting some philosophical reply

which this will be the problem until we develop a different system...

 

This is all about

cooperation and contribution. That's what varnasrama is exactly, for

philosophy you go

to the books. This is the practical application of it, using basis of books

and words

ofspiritual master

Thankyou for your ending: I

say serving Srila Prabhuada's lotus feet turns everything to Gold.

 

Yes, and the way to

serve him, is by asking him what he wants us to do, and he has made it very

clear what

he does want us to do and that is develop varnasrama, so according to the

description

in sastra as to how that varnasrama works in relation to ownership,

responsibility, etc.,

and how it could be applied in our current situation, is what I have based

my reply on.

If we continue as a society to ignore SP's clear directions on how our farms

should be

run, and insist that someone try it and prove it first, then we will not be

in a mentality

to be part of the solution. The very first step is faith...ys, niscala

ys, niscala.

 

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[Guest guest]

I appreciate as I am sure everyone does some positive enlightenment about

the wonderful job so many devotees are doing in Iskcon in relation to cow

protection. Quite frankly some of the horror stories Niscala Prabhu potrays

could come from any farm because when a cow goes down in a bog, just how do

you propose getting him to the barn. The point I was making however is that

normally a non-devotee cow program versus an Iskcon farm program. The

remark about I may kill my cows but I don't starve them reflects the karmi

mentality. If they are weak simply kill them. If you don't have enough

pasture sell a bunch for slaughter and then fertilize.

It is important to note the special arrangement in regards to cow

protection in Iskcon. We have unique problems and sometimes people may not

be understanding of these. First the big farms simply may be overloaded

with responsibilites and therefore may just able to provide the basics. For

the mother earth type this may seem callous. However even in the most

difficult times those who are devoted to Srila Prabhupada and Krishna will

always understand that this leiving entities deserve the best care we can

give them, but if we can't give them the best that still doesn't mean that

it is better to kill them. I have seen many cows leave their bodies in the

dhama. It isn't so bad if they have lived a nice life in association of

devotees. I have seen cows with huge lumps on their side live for many

years with this. The vets said just put them down. The whole world is full

of disease, it doesn't just go away because they are cows. If you have one

or two then probably no disease. But try 200 then see what you see. Pink

eye,cancer etc. If you don't have a good cowherd, actually several then you

are in for big trouble. Once you get a dedicated crew everything can work

out.

This is where I emphasize that a crew is needed now. Not that we see that

it wouldn't be nice if the householders had a cow and sent milk to the

dieties. However the cow has a calf and then the calf has a calf. So where

eo they all go. It would compound the problem at this point. We have a

program now and probably most big farms where breeding is stricly regulated.

Give each householder a cow and they will want to breed them. Otherwise

they won't have a use. So it will be a long time before I would want to

give cows out because they stand a much better chance of making it under the

strict guideline of the temple than depending on the individuals.

I know this will change in the Vedic culture setting but you and I won't

be around then at least in these bodies. It just won't happen for a long

time. It will happen when there is need of oxen. When there are prototypes

functioning. When someone can see the benifit. That has to be our goals.

I pray that somehow the devotees on this conference can start to come

together to propose an arrangement that might be mutually benificial to all.

That is find a way to send a crew around to each farm with cows and

establish an oxen program which can provide sustenance to some householders

perhaps and most importantly show how the oxen can be utilized. That would

be a big start.

 

YS

Dvibhuja Das

 

WWW: Jiva Goswami (Dasa) SDG (Newnansville FL - USA) <JivaGo (AT) FDT (DOT) Net>

COM: Cow (Protection and related issues) <Cow (AT) bbt (DOT) se>

Thursday, November 18, 1999 6:52 PM

History of cow abuse in ISKCON

 

 

>[Text 2790561 from COM]

>

>On 18 Nov 1999, Noelene Hawkins wrote:

>

>> Dwibhuja Prabhu wrote:

>>

>>

>> Again not to sound to redundant, but could you please show me where in

this

>> planet where cows are being maintained up to the standard you find in

>> ISKCON.

>>

>

>I don't know precisely what you mean by the "standard you find in ISKCON".

>I'll assume you mean a standard of humane treatment wherein the

cows/ox/bulls

>can lead a contented life with adequate food, shelter and medical care,

free

>from abuse and neglect from any source. Even better of course would be to

also

>perform meaningful service to society: milk, power, fertilizer, progeny,

and

>companionship. I'm sure someone else can and has presented a more

substantial

>standard than that, but it is somewhere in the ballpark.

>

>So for examples of cows being maintained up to at least the first portion,

>please visit Alachua, Florida. There are dedicated, experienced devotees

>tending to their care and the effect is obvious. A first class operation,

at

>least as I can see.

>

>A second example is Gita Nagari in Port Royal, PA. It may not quite be a

>poster child for perfection in cow protection just yet, but if one wants an

>example of hopelessness turned to hopefulness, Gita Nagari is your place.

>

>There are devotees who have worked with the cows for upwards of five years.

>There is Mother Kaulini of course who has been with Radha-Damodara forever.

>The cows stay out all year, but are Brown-Swiss and they have proper

shelter

>and food. The cow program is reasonably funded (Adopt-a-Cow) and the

>herds-persons are well regarded and supported in the community.

>

>The present situation and the history is far more complex than in Alachua.

The

>present management and the bulk of the present devotee population inherited

a

>huge herd from their predecessors. Ridiculous breeding practices in the

80's

>created a large herd of basically big pets. Nice pets, but a lot of them.

>

>Compounding that is the history of poverty and personal strife amongst the

>devotees and the resulting degradation and dismantling of the farm's

>buildings, equipment and soul. The late 80's and early 90's were not good

for

>Gita Nagari.

>

>If your mental picture of Gita Nagari is circa 1985, you will be dismayed

to

>see it today. If your picture is circa 1992-93, 1999 looks like a paradise.

>Real devotees, real morning program, real Deity worship, a real school and

>real cow protection.

>

>Of course, if you know where to look, you can find all the tombstones in

the

>graveyard of Failed Ambitions. A useless ox power saw out back, with variou

s

>even more useless prototypes in the grass nearby. Or if you ask what that

>concrete thing-a-ma-jig over there is, someone will say "Oh yeah, that was

So

>and SO dasa. He was trying to Such and Such, but then Whatever, Whatever."

The

>place is full of them. If you want a good laugh, check out the old Gita

Nagari

>Master Plan. Which one of the 4 or 5? Take your pick.

>

>Anyway, we can see what we want to see.

>

>In fact, rather than philosophizing how it all should be done and wallowing

in

>the horror of cows in ISKCON, (both real and imagined) please call Gita

Nagari

>and arrange to visit for a week or more. The number is 717 527-4101. Ask

for

>M. Mangal Artika dd, M Kaulini, or Ekavira das. Bring your tools and bring

>your wallet or purse. Winter's coming and I'm sure they need lots of help.

>Leave your computer behind, you won't need it. Fix some fences and some

roofs.

>Feed the cows and the devotees. Send some cash if you can't go. I think

they

>need a decent 4 wheel drive pick-up with a plow. They can put farm plates

on

>it so it need not be perfect.

>

>YS

>

>Jiva Goswami dasa

>