In this section of the site you will find arguments for an against the use of milk. It is important to understand the distinct difference between traditional milk flowing from protected and loved cows, and commercial milk that is forcibly extracted from exploited cows in industrialized countries. But first, let's give some background on why some FFL projects use milk products in their cooking.

Why Do Some Food for Life Projects Use Milk?

Ancient Tradition

The Hindu tradition is centered on worship of Krishna, the "cowherd boy," and the cow as "Mother." India’s ancient culture has existed on cow's milk for tens of thousands of years. Milk is and always will be an integral part of that culture.

History has proven that cultures can survive for thousands of years and their people live long, healthy lives when there is a symbiotic relationship between man and animal. Hundreds of millions of Hindus have used dairy products for many thousands of years, lending credibility to the notion that dairy products can be safe to consume. To ignore this fact is to allow ourselves to be blinded by our reluctance to even consider evidence that challenges our own personal convictions and the current medical belief.

All Milk is Not The Same

It is important to keep in mind that milk from each different source is unique; that is, cow’s milk and human milk are not one and the same. Taken further, the milk that a brown cow produces is different from that of a spotted cow, and within each herd, every individual cow has the ability to produce a unique blend of milk for its calf.

Similarly, even among breast-feeding women, the milk that each woman produces is not exactly the same. By nature's wondrous design, the milk that a mother produces for her child is perfectly suited to that child. Amazingly, even while breast-feeding, a mother's milk can change according to the needs of the child! Obviously, a more subtle influence is present here—the influence of love. In the same way, if a cow is loved and protected, the milk it offers to humans will most certainly be uniquely beneficial. On the other hand, the commercial milk that comes from mistreated and diseased cows is certainly very harmful. It's important to note that all dairy research is conducted on commercial milk!

You may be wondering, then, why I (a practicing Hindu) decided to choose a vegan diet. The first reason is the same thing that motivates most vegans: I am vehemently opposed to the vicious and cruel commercial dairy industry that exploits cows. It is, most certainly, hypocritical for any Hindu to support it. On the other hand, I have no quarrel with people who love and care for a cow at home or on a farm, and who accept the excess milk the cow offers with love. (By the way, the generalization bandied about by some vegans that a cow must be in calf to produce milk—is not entirely true. Examples to the contrary include one cow at the ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor in England that continued to give milk 8 years after calf!!! How is that possible? The cow felt loved, and so she continued to offer her milk with love.

In a sense, I am a "conditional” vegan or a "Krishna-Dairian"—a new breed of conscious consumer, who will accept milk only from loved and protected cows, and NOT from those that are raised for slaughter, including the cows at organic dairies (another hypocrisy of the modern day).

The popular argument that any vegetarian food blessed by God makes the food acceptable under any circumstances, although weak from the material perspective, does have validity from the spiritual perspective. All our food should be blessed (offered to) by God as a humble act of sacrifice. We come into this world with nothing, and we leave the same. We own nothing, but are merely caretakers of all that is bestowed on us from God. By offering our food back to God before we eat it, we acknowledge our dependency. Such food is consequently purified of any karma, hence the term "karma-free" food.

Because there is violence even in the gathering and preparation of vegan meals, our food is never totally karma-free, or ahimsa (non-violent). If, however, we offer our food to God first, it becomes pure, antiseptic, and spiritually nourishing! Hindus call this food prasada—or mercy. By adopting this spiritual practice, the vegan movement will further its quest for real peace and harmony. Despite our good intentions, if we fail to recognize God as the source of all good things, our efforts will remain dry, mundane and inadequate.

So, although the above argument supporting the use of commercial cow’s milk by certain ISKCON members does have validity, it certainly does not justify financially supporting the commercial dairy industry by purchasing their products. A vegan’s confusion in this regard, therefore, is completely justified.

Food for Life Global encourages ISKCON members to adopt the ideal standard outlined by its founder Srila Prabhupada. From the beginning of the movement he started in 1966, he encouraged his students to develop self-sufficient farms that could supply all their needs, completely independent of modern society, including commercial dairy. Thus far, as a whole, ISKCON has not lived up to this ideal, although there are exceptions, like the beautiful ISKCON project in Brazil, called Gaura Vrindavan, Care for Cows in Vrindavan, Go Seva project in ISKCON Mayapur and many others.

The Challenge of Changing Tradition

Finally, in defence of ISKCON, it is important to understand that it is not easy establishing an orthodox Hindu culture in decadent Western societies. It is even more difficult to preserve the ancient traditions that influenced that culture. While the problem of dairy consumption is a challenge for many ISKCON followers, it is only one of many. For most members, of far greater importance is the promotion of values and morals—such as celibacy, non-violence, and abstinence from all forms of intoxication and gambling—as alternatives to a degraded world.

In any case, through Food for Life Global’s educational outreach, as well through the efforts of the vegan movement, ISKCON is beginning to take a good look at the issue of commercial milk. We are confident that in the not-too-distant future there will be a major paradigm shift, and a commercial-dairy-free diet will at the very least be respected within ISKCON communities.

Food for Life Global respects the vegan movement, and welcomes and encourages its cooperation. To that end, we hope that this discussion of the unique cultural challenges faced by ISKCON and in part by Food for Life will inform and enlighten.

By Paul Turner
Director
Food for Life Global
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