 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
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