Guest guest Posted November 19, 1999 Report Share Posted November 19, 1999 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 various 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 20, 1999 Report Share Posted November 20, 1999 <<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. And who will pay for this crew (sustenance & other expenses) ? Hard times... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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