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ISKCON and the use of Milk - My Personal View Point

In the United States, a 2003 Harris Poll and a 2000 Zogby Poll found that 4-10% of the American population calls itself
"vegetarian" with 0.9% considering themselves "Vegan."

Many people view veganism as simply a restrictive diet, a list of products and ingredients to avoid. Actually, it is part of an affirmative, compassionate philosophy of life. Veganism is the embodiment of ahimsa—non-violence towards and respect for all sentient beings.

The most powerful tool there is for making a better world is a positive example. If you do not think vegans are making a difference, just compare the world currently to that of only 20 years ago. Vegans used to be extremely rare, but today almost everyone knows at least one vegan person. Society is becoming more vegan-friendly all the time and slowly but surely ISKCON, like many other Hindu-based faiths, is also taking a careful look at the logic of veganism.

So where does veganism fit in with India's Vedic culture that prides itself on cow protection and the glory of milk?

It is perfectly consistent, so long as the central purpose behind the choice is to increase one's devotion to God.

"But," someone may ask, "isn't milk necessary for spiritual advancement?" Scripturally, this is not accurate. Devotion is not dependent on any material cause or circumstance. Nothing is needed to be Krishna conscious (God conscious) except love.

Milk is said to contain subtle mental nutrients that can assist in developing spiritual knowledge. However, there is a gulf of difference between modern milk and ideal milk. Modern milk comes from cows that live in fear, are pumped with antibiotics and hormones, and fed ground-up cows, road-kills, chicken manure, and a host of other ghastly products to increase milk production. This so-called "milk" is then homogenized, pasteurized, refrigerated and polluted with Vitamin D3 (which in rare cases can be fish oil). The cows that produce this so-called "milk" live a continuous cycle of impregnation, birth and milking in order to produce milk for human consumption. They are milked for 10 months of the year, and for seven of those months, they are also pregnant. After giving birth, the cow's offspring is taken from her (males are killed as “veal” and females are raised as milkers). The cow is then put back into intensive milk production. After 3-4 years of dedicated service (exploitation) they are slaughtered.

The ideal milk, glorified in the ancient Vedic scriptures, flows from cows who are loved like "mothers," protected and allowed to graze on grass in open fields.

In any case, Lord Krishna clearly states in the Bhagavad-gita that He gives the intelligence to understand Him to those who serve Him with devotion: bhajatam priti-purvakam dadami buddhi yogam tvam. Thus, the point remains that we don't need anything to become Krishna conscious (God Conscious), except love.

My personal opinion is that members of ISKCON should be "Krishna-Dairians," in that they will abstain from all commercial dairy products, but gladly accept those dairy products produced from milk flowing from protected cows. This is certainly much more consistent with the founder’s (Srila Prabhupada) vision of ISKCON developing self-sufficient, independent farming communities. As opposed to "dependent" temples that exist by the "mercy" of industrialization.

Considering this, maybe becoming a "Krishna-Dairian" is a step in the right direction?

Comments welcome

- Paul Turner
Director of Food for Life Global

Related links:

History of Butter & Ghee

Real Milk - View point from India
Hot Milk Vs Cold Milk

Commercial Milk

Dr. McDougall on Commercial Milk
Medical Studies on Commercial Milk (PCRM)


 
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