“So you get from all the farms all your necessities, then it will be successful. Fodder, milk, grains, vegetables, and animals and man will be satisfied, and you can chant Hare Krishna. No unnecessary cow killing, and no unnecessary needs of the body.”
Letter to: Rupanuga: — Ahmedabad 29 September, 1975
September 18, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Hare Krishna,
Couple points.
Firstly, I really appreciate your realizations on cow protection. I remember a post some time back where you said that we cannot sustain cow protection with a profit oriented outlook. Ultimately we must have a model where we equally protect all cows and not only the ones that produce profits for us. This can only be done through a compassion model. It made a real impression on me.
Secondly, I am trying to get a hold of Jaya Prabhupada das. I adopted a calf that was born in the summer but have not gotten any information about the calf. So would you know how to reach him (email, phone, etc.)?
Finally, so many members of our movement (myself included) are quite habituated with urban lifestyle. Yet varnasrama dharma is needed and cannot truly manifest without agricultural economy and rural living. What are your ideas on reconciling this?
Thanks.
Your servant,
Premavatar das
September 18, 2007 at 5:26 pm
I have sent his email to you privately.
Yes, the reality is there won’t be a large movement of devotees to farms. That is too much in opposition to the overwhelming tide of the macro society where recently even China reached teh tipping point of the majority of people off the land and into the cities.
What we have espoused is spending vacation time working in cow protection programs or supporting them monetarily.
Either capital contributions to endowment funds or regular donations. Donations could be fixed or based on consumption.
Like every time you use some milk products , set aside an equal amount or a dollar a gallon or something and send that in to a cow protection program.
Vicarious cow protection.
Thanks for your interest.
September 19, 2007 at 10:08 am
That makes sense.
It would be nice to have some wealthy devotees to bankroll such projects though it’s not entirely necessary. I was in Utah a few weeks ago and they have amazing facilities for their preaching purposes and congregation. Most of the funds comes from the requirement that every member of LDS Church must give tidings of 10% of their income. Rupa Goswami demands 50% but even if we can manage a committment of 10%, it would make a big difference.
September 20, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Tapahpunjah recently visited The Sanctuary in upstate New York recently, an animal rescue place that has all kinds of animals, not just cows.
They have 120,000 members who each give $10. a year.
I am also impelled to point out that Rupa Goswami didn’t give 50% of his income — he gave 50% of his equity.
A large majority of gifts to institutions come from people 60 years or older.