I loved reading the article “For those who love Cows,” which i do very much.The report was complete and comprehensive.It looked as if the article was well presented and covered just about all the components about Cow protection.So for me the question still stands ,
“Why doesn't Cow protection work in Iskcon?”
Perhaps you may not agree with the premise that the question alludes to.Perhaps you think Cow protection is alive and well and living in Iskcon.
My answer is that you would be wrong. Cow protection in Iskcon is more akin to a Cow protection show or Cow protection zoo.In Iskcon the Cows are looked after well.They have all facility and in some places great Cow sheds where they live.Great amounts of attention is assigned to looking after them and there are many viewing visitors,so why do i think it does not work.
Cow protection like many other subjects can not exist on its own.Lets say we built a really fantastic Aeroplane or Train.The plane is superb,magnificent,excellent,inside there are really comfortable seats with loads of room for each passenger.There is first class Prasadam served throughout the plane ,its got enough room to stretch your legs,and there is a choice of Videos to watch about Srila Prabhupada,Iskcon,Temples etc.The engines are quiet,what more do we want?
How does an Aeroplane exist and function as a plane /Before it can get into the air it has to take off down the runway controlled by the pilots.
This is why Cow protection does not work in Iskcon.
There is no runway and no pilots for the plane so it is stationary,it cant move,so even though it looks like a plane it cant function as a plane.
In Iskcon even though the Cow protection programmes look like Cow protection they cant function like Cow protection because they are not integrated into a bigger organism.
All the points in the article “For those who love Cows” were correct.Just like the example of the aeroplane but the missing point was how does Cow protection function.In what dynamics does Cow protection need to function as an integrated component of the whole picture.Thats what has always been missing in Iskcon.
Where are the dependants and infrastructure of Cow protection in Iskcon?
They dont exist.
Unless we start getting to grips with the definition of what Cow protection is in its most practical and pragmatic form,and unless we understand how Cow protection is just an integrated part of a bigger,holistic,picture then our Cow protection programme will never be anymore than descriptive words on a page and a well maintained and loved Cow protection show/zoo.
Its no good to us having really amazing facilities of Cow sheds and milking parlours and draught machines for Bullocks unless we marry them up to what they are for.Its like having a plane with no runway and no pilots.
When we start to understand how cow protection works,what dynamics it has to be surrounded by and used for then we can engage Cow protection in a practical way to illustrate how to Farm and produce Food without killing the animals.If we just get donators to pay for the Cows upkeep then we have demonstrated nothing but Cow protection zoos.
What do we need for Cow protection to work properly.
1. Community dynamics.
2 Symbiosis of that Community on Cows and Land.
3 Cows and Bulls and Land.
4 Economy based on all these .
Then there is a hope that Cow protection and Community will exist as an integrated economy based on symbiosis.This is where Cow protection exists in its most manifest form,because the Cows also want to be part of the Community.To make it work the humans have to change their lifestyles to depend on the Cows and land in economic symbiosis with each other otherwise how do you depend on the Cow?
Its up to the managers of Iskcon Cow protection programmes to get to grips with this most important programme of Iskcon’s so there is enough Milk and produce for all of Iskcon not just a select few members of Iskcon that reside in the Institutions of Iskcon. Iskcon members also exist outside of the Temples and who is catering for their needs.This is where Iskcon can bring ALL the members of Iskcon together by creating the proper Community dynamics to facilitate Cow protection.With this seed planted then the internal economy of Iskcon is assured and the Iskcon branded products can be marketed world wide. Gokula’s Non-Violent Dairy Products-implementing service,jobs and opportunity for all the devotees working together in the mode of goodness.Retail outlets,Garden Centres,On line sales etc.Made by devotees from Non-Violent Dairy produce for devotees,the ever expanding dynamic of business based on Cows and Land secures the future economically,socially medically,politically and spiritually for ALL the members of Iskcon.This is what our goal is all about.This is what Cow protection is all about.
your servant ,Dusyanta dasa.UK.
Comments
So true.. Maybe something like the kibbutz volunteer program could be set up. The none full time devotees could become involved in such a project. If something like that was available I'd devote 4 hours of my time.
thx for posting