Compromising Srila Prabhupada’s teachings – breach of trust
Pragosha Prabhu, July 10 2009, New York: This particular case of Devamrita das and his embracing the philosophy (if that is a good way to describe it) of veganism – is a perfect opportunity to highlight Srila Prabhupada’s careful arrangements for the management of the Krishna consciousness movement – as he described it “under the banner of ISKCON”.
As I have tried consistently to point out whenver possible – Srila Prabhupada very carefully and most expertly – provided all of his 4,734 disiciples the needed “means” to infiltrate the existing world with the simplicity of Krishna consciousness.
He left nothing to chance in this department.
From 1970 to 1977 – upon incorporating his particular mission – he systematically put both the powers and the disabilities of his representatives in place – and placed them in the public record.
The list of so-called “problems” that have visited ISKCON since 1978 is long. However – what is not really understood by the men and women who committed their all to His Divine Grace from ’67-’77 is that most, if not all, of these “problems” had already visited Srila Prabhupada’s mission in some way or other – and he had both dealt with them in an exemplary fashion at that time – and had likewise taken the trouble to leave us the means to deal with them if or when they again manifested.
When various speculators had shown their true colors during his stay with us – he dealt their various speculations swift and lethal blows.
This promotion of the vegan philosophy by Devamrita das is merely the remnants of New Vrindavana again showing its effects once more.
FoodInc Trailor:
[flashvideo filename=http://prabhupadanugas.eu/wp-content/video/Food.flv /]
Kirtanananda das and his cronies from New Vrindaban were saturated with deluded need to see themselves as the elect or chosen – amongst ISKCON devotees: their need to “innovate” was hyped by them as simply employing the “utility is the principle” maxim – when it was really just their need to appear as wiser than their guru. Kirtanananda das was and is contaminated with Mayavada conclusions.
Veganism is hokum and denies a simple reality that is easily understood by even a child: “Daddy – what is that for?” as he looks upon some tool in his toolbox. “Mommy what does that do?” as she spies a spatula in the kitchen. It was the American architect Louis Sullivan who expressed this very succinctly in a simple and relevant poem:
It is the pervading law of all things organic and inorganic,
Of all things physical and metaphysical,
Of all things human and all things super-human,
Of all true manifestations of the head,
Of the heart, of the soul,
That the life is recognizable in its expression,
That form ever follows function. This is the law.
The function of the cow and the bull – fully reveals or explains their form. Their function vis a vis mankind in general likewise establishes why they were created by Lord Krishna. Even disregarding the Vedic statements on these most important members of society – mankind has always recognized their role in some capacity as servant. The Vedic culture is of course the most refined and informed as to the full measure of these animals’ ability to contribute to the general welfare of mankind – for as we all know – the essence of the Vedas is encapsulated in Bhagavad Gita, and therein – the general welfare of mankind is clearly expressed as only possible – where mankind is engaged in legitimate sacrifice and such sacrifice includes the offering of not just the acceptable but what is perfect foodstuffs to the Lord for His satisfaction. Such perfect foods are foodstuffs in the mode of goodness and begin with ghee, milk and yogurt.
In addition to these by-products from the cow and bull – they play other significant roles in their service to mankind; principally their daily production of sacred dung – “new earth” and their highly beneficial cow urine. Serving mankind in this way – these highly advanced entities are engaged directly in the service of Lord Krishna and from this body they can advance to the brahminical platform when they attain human birth.
To adopt veganism is to adopt vegetarianism under a more atheistic philosophy – but masked by a purported “concern” for the suffering of the animals in the present system. It denies the purpose of the Lord behind HIS creation of the cow and bull in the first place.
We are not vegetarians. We are aspiring Vaishnavas, and we do not single out the butcher and his market (the meat eaters) in our efforts to share Krishna consciousness. Devotees are naturally ‘vegetarians” but only in the sense that we only accept the remnants of Krishna’s breakfast, lunch and dinner. Since He does not accept meat or fish – we – confining our meals to HIS remnants only – likewise naturally do not consume such. However if HE DID CONSUME SUCH then – confining our meals to HIS remnants would obviate our consuming such as well. Vegetarians, on the other hand, are not naturally devotees, and this nonsense veganism is the perfect example of this reality.
This was Srila Prabhupada’s clear teachings to us, and Devamrita das is duty bound to pass on this exact teaching of our parampara. His authority is “representative” only.
Now – in lieu of the fact that Srila Prabhupada not only expected – HE DEMANDED – that all men who functioned in HIS ISKCON MISSION in an “official” capacity – as “fiduciary” agents of Srila Prabhupada – would swear to and sign his mandated “Oath of Allegiance”, if Devamrita das represents himself as an “agent” of ISKCON and has indeed signed his OATH OF ALLEGIANCE to Srila Prabhupada as “The Supreme Authority for Krishna Consciousness – under the banner of ISKCON” (Original Oath of Allegiance -1977) – then his “coming out” as misrepresenting ISKCON and HDG Srila Prabhuapda with his own adoption of this atheistic hokum called veganism – immediately places him in a state of violation of his sworn oath. He is now in “breach of trust” in his relationship with Srila Prabhupada – and all devotees who come under his leadership.
This matter provides further evidence of why Srila Prabhupada arranged the management system of ISKCON as he did.
Devamrita das is presented as sannyasa, guru and also it would appear as GBC. He is wearing three hats – and is likely also represented “legally” as “president” of whatever “corporation” serves as his means of receiving “tax exempt” contributions from the public.
I will guess that he is in fact NOT incorporated as ISKCON Inc.
I will also guess that he is in fact listed as a corporate officer of some kind – probably president.
If he is entitled as GBC man as well – then the whole thing is a mish mash of hokum – all meant to provide him the means to reach in and control the flow of money and manpower in whatever center he is “selling” his noxious blend of Mayavada – all for the purposeful end of creating a “rapport” with a yet to be fleeced segment of the unsuspecting public. Their impulse to see to the end of the suffering of domestic animals who are presently misused and abused – is being capitalized upon by this New Vrindavan hustler.
But under Srila Prabhupada’s excellent system of checks and balances he provided us – this charlatan’s nonsense could be dealt a swift and lethal blow.
We need not worry about him however. We just need to set up the system and in time – all such bogus hokum – will reveal itself for what it is and will be dealt with swiftly – with little to no fanfare at all.
Just some observations,
Praghosa
Prabhupada’s own example
— On Mon, 7/6/09, Ameyatma das (ACBSP) wrote:
From: Ameyatma das (ACBSP)
Subject: Re: ISKCON Australia: “Go Vegan if you cannot keep your own cows!”
To: istagosthi@googlegroups.com
Date: Monday, July 6, 2009, 3:07 AM
Devamrita is a fool.
First, Srila Prabhupad gave the instruction that our farms supply milk. Barring that, he, from his own example, had us buy the milk from the existing dairies. That is his own example. What is wanted is we get milk from our own cows. The only alternative he showed by his own example was until that is possible, then we must buy the milk, because milk is needed. Milk is required to form and maintain the finer brain tissues. Without those finer brain tissues one will not understand the finer aspects of Krishna-Prem. Krishna is NOT a vegan. Gopal – Govinda wants His milk.
He [Devamrita] is simply concocting and making more chaos.
Rather then promote vegan, why doesn’t he set up working farm communities and carry out SP’s actual instructions, rather then concocting some non-sense.
If I had the time, I would love to do a streaming Vaishnav News video broadcast, news and commentary … the mass devotees need to have a place to go to hear opposing views.
Ys,
ameya
Devamrita supports veganism
gaurakishor@gmail.com wrote:
>Dear Prabhus,
> PAMHO AGTSP!
> Just got this reply from an Australian devotee, Vijaya-Govinda das
> (http://www.krishnacore.com/), who
>supports that Vaishnavas should stop buying milk from karmis.
>Any idea?
>ys,
>gd
>Vijaya-Govinda das, July 06: You need to also read Prabhupada’s clear
>statements that ISKCON temples and restaurants should be supplied with
>milk from the farms where the cows are not mistreated or slaughtered.
>So Devamrita Swami, in reaction to the lack of such farms in
>many areas (incl Australia), is going in the next best direction – veganism.
>He also advocates cow protection on farms, I spoke with him just yesterday
>about just this, but failing that at least we shouldn’t justify
>factory farm hell milk as being pleasing to SP and Krishna any more
>than offering meat would be – similar amounts of violence occur
>producing both and the industries are one and the same these days…
>So why point the finger at people who are trying to follow Prabhupada’s example
>of perfect non-violence? Perhaps it is that veganism is pulling your
>guilt strings and the thought of going vegan is like the meat eaters
>going veg – so even when it makes sense to avoid milk produced with
>violence and death we try to justify it by saying ‘Krishna will help
>those cows we offer milk from’ but what if we kill YOU and offer your
>money to Krishna to ‘help’ you in a future birth. Time we stop this hypocrisy –
>first by stopping supporting factory farms and ultimately by creating farms
>as Prabhupada instructed which produce cruelty free milk for all
>devotees. Peace ;0)
firstly, i became vegan 5 years ago after seeing a truckload of cows full of tears on the truck heading to slaughterhouses. then suddenly all became clear as i watched many of animal slaughtering video, meat, wool, leather, veal ( dairy ), fur, animal testing and so on.
2 years ago with mercy of Lord Krsna, i met few of HIS devotees and since then I am following classes and kirtans, bhajans, activities and so on. I like to mix with them because they promote vegetarianism, but i don take dairy stuff anymore due to the exposure of veal industry.
So when i heard a vaisnahva like yourself who claim tobe, mentioning that ‘veganism is nonsense’ , to be honest I am speechless and don’t know what to say further.
Yes Krishna is not vegan, but a devotee who can say ‘veganism is nonsense’ when Krishna himself doesn’t even said that, that make me think about the author above. There is a yearly fast and I couldn’t remember but that month of fasting you fast from milk, well, doens’t that vegan food you take and is that nonsense I wonder since its the rules from Krishna?
Hare Krsna,
From the most fallen dirt follower,
Thomas
Thanks Thomas, you are very intelligent not to accept the dairy from modern ‘farms’ (ie: factory hells).
Krishna a wasn’t vegan, correct. Krishna also did not live in 20th century Kali yuga where they kill almost every calf to give you your precious milk. Is Krishna such a callous God who demans ‘give me milk’ even if it means the both the calves are killed, often within days of being born, then the mother as well after giving so much of her milk – which is meant primarily for her young.
Prabhupada may have had devotees buy milk from the stores, but his mission was to establish cow protection as he saw the great fault in it. And factory farms in the 60’s and 70’s weren’t as bad as today. Open your eyes, look at the dairy industry on YouTube for example and if you support that you support the meat industry – in fact worse, torture of young cows is worse than slaughter of older ones.
I think it’s simply guilt that makes people attack veganism, and the benefits of milk Prabhupada talks about are NOT in the modern milk which is full of hormones, chemicals, blood and pus. How is that going to nourish the brain? Milk from ISKCON farms may well be beneficial but understand the difference between that and what resembles ‘milk’ in the stores today. Not seeing the distinction there is Mayavada, not being vegan and practicing Krishna consciousness is perfectly valid. Ask Hridayananda das Goswami. He’s hardly struggling with his intellect ha ha ha! Plus the six Goswami’s of Vrindavana were practically fruitarian, was that ‘bogus’ too.
Think about the real issue of non-violence and you’ll see veganism is more in line with Prabhupada’s mood than taking modern dairy and condemning mother cow to the same horrible death as the meat eaters.
Peace – yhs Vijaya-Gauranga ;0)
so where did srila prabhupad get his milk from ?
once the milk has been offered to krishna, the karma is taken by krishna himself in the suffering of the cows. no,hridayananda isnt suffering with his intellect – something worse-ask around. i personally wouldnt trust any former close associate of kirtananda or their advice.
all glories to srila prabhupad. hare krishna
Thanks Brajabasi Prabhu,
Your points are correct yet not absolutely true – Krishna takes the karma ‘IF’ He accepts the offering. If someone doesn’t know the ugra karma behind the milk production then, yeah sure, He accepts the offering with love. But what if we KNOW, yet turn a blind eye so as not to inconvenience our own sense gratification (veganism means more austerity) – is Krishna so callous He doesn’t mind the cows being tortured and killed for the offering we are making Him??? Would He not be more pleased if we sourced offerings free from such suffering, or at TRIED to? I think so, which is how the society progresses, otherwise we blindly follow. I’m trusting anyone but my own logic and intellect that veganism is compatible with KC in an urban setting with no access to ahimsa milk. What would Prabhupada do today if he saw his instruction to offer milk from protected cows being neglected? Would he be very happy?? If the karma of milk is removed then we could argue the karma of meat and fish is too, and if you say Krishna doesn’t accept those foods you have to ask why – is is the taste or is it the suffering? If it’s the latter, as I believe, you have a circular argument for offering milk from cows that are suffering greatly due to our buying the produce and using frail arguments to support it. Do we really think about the cows deliverance when we’re eating our dairy, or are we attached to it? That’s the question we must ask. peace…
jay prabhus pamho agtsp i know some vegan devotees and people in general who follow this diet of food most of them turn to fanaticism oh! i can’t eat this or that anyway that’s not acbsp philosophy the food in goodness is the best food and when we see that as the mercy of sri krsna we don’t pay the reaction of karma as you know the bhoga food especially in passion and ignorance make the cells of the body to get older faster and therefore increase diseases and make people to die before i don’t know if you heard the last news regarding a man of over 70 years old in gujarat he stop eating and drinking at the age of 8 the doctors in the hospital are going crazy they can’t understand where from he get the energy to do that without going in toilet also he told to the doctors that he been blessed by a goddess in his childhood to stay alive just by doing meditation ok this is not the case of western country where people are still uncivilized animals stage but acbsp say in the gita that to reduce the food help a lot to progress in skc he were talking about prasada not vegan my pranam ys seva das
AGTSP.PAMHO. Prabhus…”vegan” may not have been Srila Prabhupada’s teaching…but cow protection certainly was…
“What is this?? Ten thousand cows are being killed every day…And you are preaching nonviolence. (chants japa)” – SRILA PRABHUPADA
“It is not that national leaders should be concerned only with human beings. The definition of native is “one who takes birth in a particular nation.” So, the cow is also a native. Then why should the cow be slaughtered? The cow is giving milk and the bull is working for you, and then you slaughter them? What is this philosophy? In the Christian religion it is clearly stated, “Thou shalt not kill.” Yet most of the slaughterhouses are in the Christian countries. This is all a misunderstanding of spiritual life. Every animal should be given protection. That is the Vedic idea.” – SRILA PRABHUPADA, From The Quest for Enlightenment, “The Mercy of Lord Caitanyaâ€)
“….So in this movement, our one program is to respect the cows. We chant this mantra, namo brahmanya-devaya go-brahmana-hitaya ca. The brahminical culture and the cows… Why they have selected the cows? There are so many animals. Why cow protection is so important in Krsna consciousness? Why Krsna personally Himself became a cowherd boy and was taking the care of the cows and the calves? Oh, that is very essential.”(SRILA PRABHUPADA, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.19 — Hawaii, January 15, 1974 )
All glories to Sri Sri Radha Govinda!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!
Dearest Vaishnavas,
Please accept my sincere and humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
As a young boy I became a vegetarian due to reading the books of Srila Prabhupada and my association with the devotees. Srila Prabhupada made it so easy to understand why we should not offer or eat meat. His translations made it clear exactly what was to be offered or not and what Lord Sri Krishna’s preference is.
Aside from this consideration we also engaged in cow protection…again, prescribed by our beloved Srila Prabhupada.
My question is, why is do we buy milk from the local supermarket in order to prepare offerings to God? In doing so, we DIRECTLY support an industry which tortures, rapes and kills cows regularly. WE pay for this. This is not the loving exchange exhibited by Lord Sri Krishna. Lord Sri Krishna actually knew the names of all of his cows. They were his pets, friends and playmates. They were loved and cared for daily. They were NOT attached to machines, branded, tortured and killed. They lovingly provided milk and all the nutrients needed merely because of how nicely they were treated.(SEE: “Krishna’s Cows”, below) Why have we not adopted a lifestyle that shuns this torture of Krishna’s most beloved animals?
The temple I support and attend with my family does not keep cows. Neither did the 3 previous temples in the cities I’ve lived in over the last 20+ years. We live in the city, and the temple is not equipped with the proper facility to keep cows. Does this alone make it acceptable to pay the salaries of those torturing killing cows daily? Does this alone make it favorable to give money to the very thing that goes against what Srila Prabhupada called “our one program”?? Again I ask, why have we not adopted a lifestyle that shuns this torture of Krishna’s most beloved animals?
The average life span of a normal cow can be 25 years. A female cow in a dry lot dairy farm reaches collapse in about 6 years. For this reason they are slaughtered at 5 years. After 5 years of overwhelming physical stress it is common for the cows to collapse on their way to the slaughter. These cows are called, “downers”. If downers cannot walk the rest of the way to their own slaughter…they’re dragged to their deaths. WE PAY FOR THIS TO HAPPEN BY BUYING MILK FROM THE LOCAL GROCERY STORES. WE…who sincerely revere names like “GOvinda” and “GOpala” are paying for this. Is this cow protection?
Consider this: half of the calves born on dairy farms are males. These males are considered to be by-products of the dairy industry. These calves are dramatically separated from their mothers after a day or so. The mothers (who we, as Vaishnavas consider sacred) are then left to roam the feces-encrusted mud lot, audibly wailing and searching for their lost children. And where are these children so loved by the divine blue cowherd boy of Vrindavan? They are locked inside a 22×54 inch veal crate in order to prevent their muscles from developing so that their meat will be tender. They will never see their mothers again, and will never even turn around or lie down. EVER. When they DO get their chance to walk out of the crate…it’s by the use of painful electric prods (because their muscles have not been allowed to develop)and they are led to the slaughterhouse trucks. WE PAY FOR THIS TO HAPPEN BY BUYING MILK FROM THE LOCAL GROCERY STORES. WE…who sincerely revere names like “GOvinda” and “GOpala” are paying for this. Is this cow protection?
The female cows in dairy production suffer through a process called “fresheningâ€. This means the cows are taken to a device known as the “rape rack†where they are artificially inseminated. In other words, they literally have bull semen forced into them by machine two months after giving birth in order to keep them in a constant, painful state of lactation. Over half of all cows suffer from mastitis, a painful infection of the mammary glands which causes their swollen utters to excrete blood and pus as well as milk. It is an absolute fact that this blood and pus ends up in the dairy products packaged for the stores to sell. We then buy this and offer it to the deities?? WE…who sincerely revere names like “GOvinda” and “GOpala” are paying for this. Is this cow protection? Why have we not adopted a vegan lifestyle that shuns this torture of Krishna’s most beloved animals?
It is 2010. We know full well that cream cheese, ice cream, macaroni and cheese, paneer, kheer, pizza, etc. can all be made deliciously using a variety of plant sources like rice and soy. So why have we not adopted a vegan lifestyle that shuns this torture of Krishna’s most beloved animals? WE…who sincerely revere names like “GOvinda” and “GOpala” are paying for rape, torture and murder. Is this cow protection?
Srila Prabhupada Sarasvati Thakur ki jaya! Srila Prabhupada ki jaya! Gaura premanande!
Vaishnava dasanudas …
“Of all kinds of gifts, the gift of cows is applauded as the highest. Cows are the foremost of all things. Themselves sacred, they are the best of cleansers and sanctifiers. People should cherish cows for obtaining prosperity and even peace. Cows are said to represent the highest energy both in this world and the world that is above. There is nothing that is more sacred or sanctifying than cows.” [From the Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva, Sections LXXXIII – LXXVII – LXXVI]
“We have to keep some cows. Never mind we are to take payment from others. That is not cow protection. Cow protection means just like Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He is tending the cows. He is going, taking the cows personally from His royal palace going to the forest whole day, working there. Is it not, cowherd boy? And taken some little fruit, mother, whatever mother has given. They are playing that. So this is cow protection, not that “Somebody will give money and we shall keep some third class cows and feed there and become cow protector.” We must tend the cows very nicely so that they give us sufficient milk. And with that milk we shall live. (SRILA PRABHUPADA, Srimad-Bhagavatam Class 2.9.3 — Melbourne, April 5, 1972)
KRISHNA’S COWS:
Nanda Maharaja had 900,000 cows. Visvanatha Cakravarti gives this description of the cows of Vrindavana. Krishna knew every cow by name. If any cow was missing Krishna would immediately chase after the missing cow and call her by name. The cows were divided into herds by color, either black, white, red, or yellow. In each color there were 25 further divisions making a total of 100 herds. There were also eight herds of cows that were spotted or speckled or had heads shaped like a mridanga or that had tilak marks on their foreheads. There was a total of 108 different herds of cows. Each of the 108 herds had a herd leader.
“Thus when Krishna calls out, ‘Hey Dhavali’ (the name of a white cow) a whole group of white cows comes forward, and when Krishna calls ‘Hamsi, Candani, Ganga, Mukta’ and so on, the twenty-four other groups of white cows come. The reddish cows are called ‘Aruni, Kunkuma, Sarasvati, etc., the blackish ones ‘Shyamala, Dhumala, Yamuna, etc., and the yellowish ones are Pita, Pingala, Haritaki, etc. (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.35.19 purport)
“As described in the Brahma Samhita (surabhi apbipalayantam), Lord Krishna on His planet, Goloka Vrindavana, engages in tending the surabhi cows. These cows are the Lord’s pet animals.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 8.8.2 purport)
From: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s Purport to ÅšrÄ«mad BhÄgavatam 1.17.3 – “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 ÅšrÄ«mad-BhÄgavatam. The cow stands with tears in her eyes, the śūdra 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.”
The cows used for milk production during the time of Lord Krsna’s physical existence on earth were treated with the utmost love respect and care.
But these modern-day farms terribly ill-treat these cows, literally treat them like objects instead of living beings.
These cows who are reared by the animal agriculture industries live under horrendous conditions.
Please find out more about this.
While the teachings of Lord Krsna may not support veganism, it is common sense that Lord Krsna will only want us to use the milk and milk products of cows who are treated with tender loving care.
If people are aware of dairy farmers who raise cows for milk production in their own personal farms and they treat these cows humanely, with love, then this is the place to go to get your milk supply.
Being responsible for the suffering of any living being is not the teaching of Lord Krsna.
However, our material body needs to eat to survive, so for this the good and kind Lord has bestowed on us several varieties of plant foods.
Although the level of consciousness in plants is very very minor (they do not have a fully developed nervous-system like animals, in fact animals have the same level of consciousness as humans so when we inflict any kind of pain on them, they would suffer in the same way physically as a human being will suffer.), nonetheless plants DO suffer because they are also living beings, and secondly, when we harvest these plants, we may unintentionally kill many tiny insects, etc, who are also living beings so this is why Lord Krsna has advised us to offer all food to Him before consumption so that we may become free of all sinful reactions which we may have unintentionally caused upon ourselves in harvesting, buying, cooking, etc, these foods.
The above also explains why Lord Krsna would give the same level of consciousness to animals but extremely small level of consciousness to plants – because we are meant to consume plant based food and not animal based food.
The only exception being milk and milk products but only if we are 100% certain that these cows have been treated with utmost love.
With all due respects—Srila Prabhupada spoke of the benefits of milk–you can choose to be vegan–that’s your right but it goes contrary to the inspired words of His Divine Grace–trust Him not your own self-centered reasoning.
David says: With all due respects—Srila Prabhupada spoke of the benefits of milk–you can choose to be vegan–that’s your right but it goes contrary to the inspired words of His Divine Grace–trust Him not your own self-centered reasoning.
Although Srila Prabhupada has authorized us to purchase non-violence-free milk products at the local grocery store in order to properly prepare delicious offerings to Lord Sri Krishna, we shouldn’t use this as an eternal license to ignore his instruction to do our best to protect mother cow and father bull/ox. What do you think of my http://feedacow.com/ idea?
vegan nonsense