Krishna Can Maintain Everyone

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Krishna Can Maintain Everyone

by Anandamaya das

 

 

 

In response to Ananda das's article, Some Home Truths

About Birth Control, I agree with much of what he says, but I would

like to put forth a few additional ideas. A half-feral cat showed up at

our door 8-1/2 years ago, apparently abandoned, and we began feeding

him.Now that he is older and has mellowed out a bit through the aging

process and the hearing of Harinam in our house, he wants to stay

inside more and more, especially in winter, but he refuses to use the

cat box, so we put him out to go to toilet. He also gets some food and

occasional shelter from at least one other householder in the

neighborhood. I strive to keep him as a

pet without getting overly attached. Cats in general set the

example of a miser perfectly, and he is no exception, but he is

gradually responding to our overtures of kindness.

 

 

I certainly do not agree with the euthanizing of " unwanted " animals.

Even if we may no longer be interested in them, they are certainly

interested in their own lives. In the case of an unwanted pet, better

to set them loose if you do not want them. Although many will perish,

some will survive.This is a better chance for them becauseall will

perish if euthanized.Lethal injection (the mostcommon form

ofeuthanasia) sets in motion a series of negative karmic events for

its proponents and practictioners, thereby making the world an

increasingly cruel place for us all. In the case of pets going feral

and having progeny, as Ananda das rightly stated it, nature will have

its course and many will perish under natural circumstances, so we need

have no fear of feral cats or dogs taking over the planet.

 

 

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad repeatedly stated

that Krishna could maintain

innumerable beings on earth provided we are willing to follow His laws

and not take more than our allotted quota (Sri

Isopanisad).Therefore I wholly disagree with the premise that

householder men undergo vasectomies.The household ashram

(grhastha, not grhamedi) is given for those sincere

jivas who, because of immaturity, cannot wholly control their

senses.Pregnancy is the result of their union, and in fact, repeated

pregnancies are more often than not the result.Progeny raised

asKrishna-conscious devotees becomes service, and thereby the

grhastha ashram becomes sanctified.

 

 

Unfortunately, in modern times, the general public and even some

devotees are swayed by the mammonistic propaganda that to havenumerous

progency will result in them becoming deprived of a " high standard of

care and a chance for advanced education. " Advanced education,

according to Srila Prabhupad, means practicing Krishna consciousness,

not necessarily attaining advanced material degrees for improving our

livelihoods.This is certainly an illusion, as we frequentlly see

people with advanced degrees in relatively humble occupations for which

they are overly qualified.

 

As for the issue of care, the same standard of care would be there in a

larger population because approximately the same percentage of the

population would go into the medical field.Additionally, each

jiva being born into the material nature brings with him the

requisite karma sufficient for his maintenance. So a householder with

a larger family would still find sufficient wealth to maintain his wife

and progeny because the children would essentially be attracting wealth

to the family sufficient to cover their own maintenance. In other

words, the system is designed that all our needs can be readily met

provided (1) we are not sinful, whichwill produce lack, and (2) we do

not take more than our quota of goods and services. -- Please Chant: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare And Be Happy