Dear friends,
I am a vegetarian. I see a big vegan movement happening today and have often wondered, why are they leaving dairy out? Krishna loves cows and dairy products. Ayurveda says milk is amrit. Ghee is a special substance for humans, etc. But I have discovered a problem. Cows only produce milk when they give birth. Obviously the milk is for the calves to develop strong nervous systems. In order for humans to obtain an abundance of milk and dairy products, the milk must be stolen from the mother cow who would otherwise have given it to her calves.
I thought that there was still a way to consume dairy in an ethical way. Certain dairy products are labeled "from happy cows" and "pasture raised." But this is a lie. Once again, because the milk is stolen. The calves don't get the precious milk that they would have otherwise gotten.
I spoke with someone who works for an "ideal" dairy farm called Radiance Dairy in Vedic City, Iowa. It was inspired by the late great Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. But even these people take the calves from the mother after 3 months. The mother would have nursed the calves for at least 10 months. So even in this "ideal" situation, more than 70% of the milk is being stolen from the calves.
I am conflicted on this because dairy is such a big part of Ayurvedic diet. It is in the scriptures. I was under the impression that mother cows produce an abundance of milk all the time. But no, they only produce a limited supply when they give birth.
Krishna could not possibly sanction theft from mother cows. Any milk or dairy product that is consumed by humans must be a very rare and precious commodity, unlike the abundance we have today. It cannot possibly be a staple to human diet. In this case, I must exercise my own critical thinking over the sacred scriptures. I think I will be forced to go vegan.
What do you think?
Jai Guru Dev and Hare Krishna
Prahrada
Replies
Hare Krsna
Krishna could not possibly sanction theft from mother cows
Milk is necessary for growth of calves.
By Krsna's arrangement when cows are protected and satisfactorily taken care of, they produce excess milk than required by calf. I have not read it in scriptures but traditional cowherd community consider that half of the milk produced by a cow is for the calf and the other half is for Krsna.
Animals cannot directly serve Krsna. Humans can serve Krsna. When animal's contribute to humans in serving Krsna, then those animals get elevated to human form of life.
So when milk of cow is used in sacrifices for pleasure of Krsna, then cows and calves are automatically satisfied.
I think first 10 days the calf is given all the milk from cow, thereafter calves are to be given half.
The key is to take care of the cows responsibly. Krsna has made human society interdependent. Krsna himself used to take care of cows full time. So the cowherd families are rewarded in form of milk, dung etc. for the effort. Just like in agriculture.
YS Bharat
Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
PAMHO.
Vedas sanction drinking milk - it is called one of the amrits in the material world. Krsna Himself demonstrated by drinking milk of cows, having milk products and distributing to not only His gopa friends, but also to monkeys around. What I know is - all the milk that is produced by cow, if the calf drinks, it will die. It is designed in such a manner that even after calf drinks the milk, there is sufficient milk for human needs.
What you have described is the influence of kali even in this area. It is highly recommended that one has milk and milk products from cows. Maybe we could find some non violent cowshed from which to source our milk (there are lots coming up nowadays).
There is an entire branch of Ayurveda - called panchagavya ayurveda - the treatment is based on panchagavya - the 5 cow products - cow milk, curd, ghee, urine and dung. The doctor will scold you if you take multi vitamins - he says , isnt there cow's milk - why do you need multi vitamins? The amount of cow's ghee he expects one person to consume in a month - I was surprised, even to cholestrol patients.
Scriptures do not recommend us to go vegan. Its your wish what you will do.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD