making a profit from cow slaughter?

[Guest guest]

On 18 Jun 1999, Jitakrodha das wrote:

 

 On one of the other conferences there was a mention of a multilevel

marketing company being offered to devotees. This particular company uses cow

slaughter by products as well as selling beef products. I am not looking for a

debate on the company but I wanted to see what the philosophical understanding

is.

 

 Can a devotee be engaged in a self employment situation, where people

are ordering products containing beef and other slaughter products, direct

from a company and then the company send the devotee a commission check. That

is if the devotee gives that profit to the service to Krsna is it purified?

 

Comment:

When I was at the Bridesville farm in British Columbia (Canada) there was a

disease quarantine area. Within that area, all cows tested for the disease

(blood test - viral) any animals having the disease were bought from the

farmer. Based on the carcass value (evaluated by livestock inspector from meat

industry), show value (livestock judge) and physical conformation (vet). The

animals testing positive were removed to government land, killed and carcass

burnt. It was the only means they knew of at that time to control the disease.

It was 99% fatal within 48 hours for sheep; cows got high fever and remained

carrier for life.

 

We asked Srila Prabhupada by telephone (he was in New Vrndavan) what to do,

his reply was.

1. They are government man, do not interfere with their work.

2. They are also demons, watch to see that they do not take advantage.

3. Refuse their offer of reimbursement, it will bind you to their karma.

 

 My understanding was that this is not a bonafide way for a devotee to

earn a living. It was my understanding that one who kills the cow, prepares

or serves the meat, sells the meat incurs karma. Would this also apply to only

be involved by taking the profits?

 

Comment:

That is my understanding also.

Ys,

Rohita dasa

[Guest guest]

Dear Prabhus:

Pamho. Agtsp. Perhaps this will help. I seem to recall Srila

Prabhupada mentioning this elsewhere but I can't find it at the moment. As I

recall that description includes he who transports the meat, but my memory is

particularly faulty. Here, however, are direct quotes from Sastra:

 

SB 1.7.37

TRANSLATION

 

A cruel and wretched person who maintains his existence at the cost of

others’ lives deserves to be killed for his own well-being, otherwise he will

go down by his own actions.

 

Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport:

...According to Manu, the great author of civic codes and religious

principles, even the killer of an animal is to be considered a murderer

because animal food is never meant for the civilized man, whose prime duty is

to prepare himself for going back to Godhead. He says that in the act of

killing an animal, there is a regular conspiracy by the party of sinners, and

all of them are liable to be punished as murderers exactly like a party of

conspirators who kill a human being combinedly. He who gives permission, he

who kills the animal, he who sells the slaughtered animal, he who cooks the

animal, he who administers distribution of the foodstuff, and at last he who

eats such cooked animal food are all murderers, and all of them are liable to

be punished by the laws of nature...

[Guest guest]

Dear Jitakrodha prabhu:

Pamho. Agtsp. The more I think about it, the more I begin to see the

extreme gravity of this issue. It is essential that every devotee have a

thorough understanding of this. I have also seen instances of devotees making

dreadful mistakes for the sake of money. It is very good that you have raised

this question. I hope that you will pass along some of the quotes concerning

this business.

I should also mention that Srila Prabhupada did say that sometimes

devotees could accept employment of such an undesirable nature when there was

no alternative. That if it was a question of starving, you accept what work

you can get. This I read recently but sorry I don't have the quote. Here are

some others that are pertinent:

 

>From the purport to SB 4.25.8:

 

...When animals are killed in a slaughterhouse, six people connected with the

killing are responsible for the murder. The person who gives permission for

the killing, the person who kills, the person who helps, the person who

purchases the meat, the person who cooks the flesh and the person who eats

it, all become entangled in the killing...

 

>From a lecture on SB 5.5.1-2, Stockholm, September 7, 1973:

 

...Not only you directly make all these thing then you are condemned to go to

the hellish condition; if you associate with such person, then also you’ll be

liable. If you associate. Just like some rascals they say, “Yes, we are

eating meat, but we are not directly killing. We purchase.” They think that

“Let me enjoy meat-eating. Those who are killing in the slaughterhouse, they

will be responsible. I am free.” No. Because you are associating with such

persons, according to Manu-samhita when an animal is killed, eight persons

become condemned with murdering charges. Eight persons. One who kills, one

who orders, one who purchases, one who cooks, one who eats—so many. That is

the law. Just like one man is murdered. That murdering is committed by one

man, but if has got many associates who has induced him, who has supplied him

the weapon, or giving, so many assisted—all of them are arrested. This is the

law...