“Persons who are advancing in Krishna Consciousness should therefore take instruction from this pastime and also be very interested in cows and the holy name of Visnu”
–Srila Prabhupada (in ‘Krsna – The Supreme Personality of Godhead’, Chap 6, Putana Killed, Pg-60)

The Sankirtana movement Srila Prabhupada implanted all over the world is creating a revolution by making more and more receive sublime way of living in Krishna Consciousness.
The more preaching of holy names going on, more the devotee community is increasing and educated people living in cities are taking part.

The central to the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is however, “Simple Living – High Thinking”. And central to “Simple Living – High Thinking” is Cow.
In other words, when there is no “Simple Living – High Thinking”, then there will be no Cow protection. Similarly, when there is no Cow protection there will be no “Simple Living – High Thinking” too.

Devotees, Cows and Land are “Made-For-Each-Other” :
Majority population of devotees (98%) lives in the cities centered on the temples. And temples are run based on the support of the devotees. All the required supplies for the temples are purchased from outside. Within this framework adopted by the present communities, the temples as well as the devotees are exceedingly finding it difficult to practically follow Krishna Consciousness and most of the philosophy tends to remain tenets.

As understood, unless there are Cows and “Simple Living – High Thinking” way of life, natural path to Krishna Consciousness does not emerge, and definitely not in Cities. Cities as we all know are becoming amazingly sinful. All regulative principles are broken ubiquitously. With such drag of Maya, our consciousness as well that of our children can only be imagined to be healthy in Krishna Consciousness.

Regulated lifestyle, Cleanliness, Simple living and so on are a list of things that cannot be followed in cities. Deaths due to Road accidents, Marriage divorces, Bodily afflictions due to lack of exercise/ pollution, etc, heavy economic expenditure to meet daily needs, etc, and so on affect devotees verily. Sinful acts like: Cow Killing, Meat eating, Intoxication, Gambling and Sexual tendencies are ubiquitously found. Yet while all these are witnessed, the devotee communities in the cities are a silent witness and a meager fraction to prove imagined perfection of “Simple Living – High Thinking” and Cow Protection.

Statistics of Suicidal rates, Marriage divorces, Accidents, Deaths due to Heart attacks/ Kidney problems/ Liver problems/ Cancers etc, give an alarming figure. All this is available over websites and conveniently fit the theory of “Devotees, Cows and Land are ‘Made-For-Each-Other”.

One may wonder, how all this is connecting to Cow?

Let us further dwell on the subject over Srila Prabhupada’s purport:

“Perfection of human civilization is made possible by utilizing the gifts of nature in their own way. As we find herewith in the description of its opulence, Dvaraka was surrounded by flower gardens and fruit orchards along with reservoirs of water and growing lotuses. There is no mention of mills and factories supported by slaughterhouses, which are the necessary paraphernalia of the modern metropolis. The propensity to utilize nature’s own gifts is still there, even in the heart of modern civilized man. The leaders of modern civilization select their own residential quarters in a place where there are such naturally beautiful gardens and reservoirs of water, but they leave the common men to reside in congested areas without parks and gardens. Herein of course we find a different description of the city of Dvaraka. It is understood that the whole dhama, or residential quarter, was surrounded by such gardens and parks with reservoirs of water where lotuses grew. It is understood that all the people depended on nature’s gifts of fruits and flowers without industrial enterprises promoting filthy huts and slums for residential quarters.

Advancement of civilization is estimated not on the growth of mills and factories to deteriorate the finer instincts of the human being, but on developing the potent spiritual instincts of human beings and giving them a chance to go back to Godhead. Development of factories and mills is called ugra-karma, or pungent activities, and such activities deteriorate the finer sentiments of the human being and society to form a dungeon of demons.
We find herein the mention of pious trees which produce seasonal flowers and fruits. The impious trees are useless jungles only, and they can only be used to supply fuels. In the modern civilization such impious trees are planted on the sides of roads.
Human energy should be properly utilized in developing the finer senses for spiritual understanding, in which lies the solution of life. Fruits, flowers, beautiful gardens, parks and reservoirs of water with ducks and swans playing in the midst of lotus flowers, and cows giving sufficient milk and butter are essential for developing the finer tissues of the human body. As against this, the dungeons of mines, factories and workshops develop demoniac propensities in the working class. The vested interests flourish at the cost of the working class, and consequently there are severe clashes between them in so many ways. The description of Dvaraka-dhama is the ideal of human civilization.”
SB 1.11.13

The modern metropolis are supported and in truth existent on a singular fact called “Slaughterhouses”. Let us take for example:

• Transportation – Since bulls aren’t available and not used, devotees ought to use vehicles and expensive cars! Worse, all in the name of Yukta–Vairagya.
• Milk – Milk is a key ingredient in service of Krishna and devotees and since Cows are not maintained nor fresh cow milk is available, devotees ought to depend on the “Dairy milk”. Cows are artificially milked/ bred non-stop and go to slaughterhouses once they cannot give milk in these Dairy factories. Worse, is use of Dairy milk all in the name of Brahminical culture!

In fact, all the technology that we see today developed by demons or such like minded others, is destructive in nature and destructive to nature. They create non-degradable waste, require heavy factories, are extremely expensive, and are amazingly dangerous and hazardous substances, cause dangerous side effects and health risks.

Let us take an example of technologies used:

• Cleaning : It is as simple as using a broom made out of dried coconut leaves or a type of grass. Even a small ant can escape through gaps and survive while the dust gets neatly cleansed.
  While, in demoniac technology it is a Vacuum cleaner which will require heavy electricity and sucks. While it sucks or blows, it has a potential to kill everything on its way. And moreover, after vacuum cleaning, it is well known that we ought to use a broom at least once. Moreover if we just see the cost involved : The vacuum cleaner requires factory manufactured paper dust collectors and accessories and so on.
• Cleaning the vessels : It is as simple as using ash generated after cooking and cleaning with coconut fibers.
  While, in demoniac technology, heavy load of chemicals to wash down the dirt are used. Even the cleaning brushes are made in factories.
• Cleaning the teeth : It is as simple as using some dry Cow dung and salt or a neem stick. Every time we get fresh cow dung and natural salt or fresh stick of neem can be cut.

While, in demoniac technology, factory made sophisticated (animal sourced) toothpaste and brush are required. The factory toothpaste are made sweet and heavily loaded with chemicals so that they do not catch fungus or insects attack them. Similarly using toothbrush for more than one month or so is detrimental to dental health.
Many demoniac technologies are used in the service of Krishna by devotees. However its demoniac effects do not undo the service attitude. A sublime service attitude develops only with “Varnasrama dharma” or “Simple living : High thinking” centered around cows. Or in other words, as Srila Prabhupada words it : “potent spiritual instincts” cannot be developed until we live in the midst of “Dungeons of mills and factories”.

Hence central to the fact of Krishna Conscious development is to understand that ‘Devotees, Cows and Land are “Made-For-Each-Other’”.

How do we get interested in Cows? And what do we do once we get interested?

Be Very Interested in Cows
Only when we are interested in cows and its protection from ruthless onslaughts, does the zeal of Varnasrama come forth. If we protect cows, then Cows shall protect us in Krishna Consciousness. “Go rakshita, rakshitah”.

How do we get very interested in Cows? The following are the possible ways devotees can adopt :

• Learn about Cows, use of Cow dung, Cow urine, Milk and its derivatives.
• Associate with devotees who are “Working for change”.
• Start using Cow products in daily life.
• Start adopting “Simple Living – High thinking” technologies in daily life.
• Visit Varnasrama communities try living there at least for sometime and practically understand Cow protection and Krishna Consciousness.
• Try making a contribution in whatever way to help develop such farm communities.
• Try making monetary contribution to “Adopt a Cow” program at such farm communities.
• Write articles, paint, talk about it and thus develop the missionary zeal.
• Understand how families can stay in Varnasrama communities and one day plan to live in such an atmosphere, is what we are to do once we are interested in cows.

“Krishna said at that time that the cows are worshiped even by the demigods and He practically demonstrated how to protect the cows. At least people who are in Krishna consciousness should follow in His footsteps and give all protection to the cows.”
Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu, Qualities of Krishna, Pleasing Talker

While we still are thinking simply on how “Simple Living – High Thinking” and Cow-protection is possible, just let’s get out of the Dungeon and visit at least one such places!

Make a start. Visit: www.varnasrama.org and other links you find there.

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