Protect A Cow

By claiming the Indian state as secular we should not sacrifice Gandhiji's spiritual movement

                   Letter to: Gandhi Memorial Fund
                                --
                             Calcutta
                           5 July, 1949

The Secretary
The Board of Trustees of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial National Fund,
New Delhi.

Dear Sir,
   With reference to the invitation issued by your Board, for suggestions for the administration of the Fund, I beg to inform that Gandhiji's memorial can fittingly be perpetuated by a continued effort to keep in motion his spiritual movements. I beg to suggest most humbly to your board that Gandhiji, minus his spiritual activities, is an ordinary politician. But actually he was a saint amongst the statesmen and his basic principle was to overhaul the very foundation of present civilization by the novel philosophy of satyagraha and nonviolence. The Congress institution is already in the waning for neglecting Gandhiji's spiritual movement which was the main pillar of his universal popularity. By claiming the Indian state as secular we should not sacrifice Gandhiji's spiritual movement which is different from communal religiosity. This fact is corroborated by such personalities as Sri Aurovindo and Dr. Radhakrishnan. You may do everything for commemorating his memory living but if you do not accelerate his spiritual movement, his memory will be soon as dead as has been the lot of other politicians.
   Mahatma Gandhi, although he was always busy with his political activities, never missed to attend to his daily prayer meetings in the evening. This rule he observed punctually even a few seconds before his assassination. To give a fitting memorial to Mahatma Gandhi we must follow and propagate this particular line of spiritual activities and must daily read a chapter from Bhagavad-gita in congregation. Bhagavad-gita is the world recognized philosophy of Indian culture and the favorite scripture of Mahatma Gandhi. He was a great follower of this great philosophy like other great saints and he was therefore a great devotee of Rama and Krishna and for this only he was raised to such exalted position of a saint amongst the statesmen during his very life time. The Gandhi Memorial National Fund should be utilized for training up the people in general in this line of daily prayer in different places of Gandhi memorial buildings and other similar important places.
   If systematic and principled direction is given to this daily prayer meetings following the footprints of Mahatmaji, then we can help all concerned in subduing their evil propensities which are the causes of disruption in the human society at large. When spiritual instincts, which are inherent qualities in every living being, are kindled by such daily prayer meetings, it is then only the people in general develop the qualities of the gods and the Trust Board of Mahatma Gandhi Fund should not miss this lesson of Mahatmaji's practical life. Such qualities being developed people in general will give up the habit of imitating others but they will live and act freely boldly and rightly like Mahatma Gandhi and that will bring real freedom of life individually or collectively.
   Mahatmaji started another spiritual movement known as the temple entry movement and he wanted to give this facility to everyone irrespective caste distinction. The temple worship is another kind of spiritual cultural movement for the benefit of the ordinary class of people. He himself installed the deity of Sri Radha Krishna at Noakhali when he was there and that is also very significant. The theistic temples all over India are actually the different centres as are the churches and mosques all over the world. These sacred centres were meant for diffusing spiritual education and by this process of spiritual culture the disturbed mind could be trained up in concentration for higher duties which every human being must do. By such education in practice can help man in realizing the existence of God without whose sanction, according to Mahatma Gandhi, "not a blade of grass moves."
   A part of this movement is the harijana movement. The harijana means the God's man or the godly man as distinguished from the satanic devils. How a man of satanic principles can be turned in to a God's man is enunciated in the Bhagavad-gita. The way of karma-yoga i.e. doing everything for God's sake should be the principles of life. The activities of the general public may not be stopped but may diverted in the manner stated in the Bhagavad-gita. By doing so any one in the world can be turned into a God's man. Thus the harijana movement started by Mahatma Gandhi should not be taken absolutely for the benefit of the bhangis and ___ so to say but it should be utilized for all who have the mentality of the bhangis etc.
   By all the above process Mahatma Gandhi wanted to establish a greater human society. His idea of a casteless society could only be given a shape under the guidance of the principles of Bhagavad-gita. There are men of different mentalities according to quality and work. There are different modes of nature. These natural modes work everywhere in the world and different propensities develop by the psychological modes of nature. The caste system is nothing but a classification of men according to such modes of nature. It is not therefore bound up within the walls of India but this is current all over the world may be under different names. This scientific and natural division of men should be accepted and people should be given chance to become harijana with equal facilities for all. The Bhagavad-gita gives a clear idea of doing this work and the Gandhi Memorial Fund should be utilized mainly for this purpose.
   Myself with a batch of sincere workers are ready to take up this work, and I shall be glad to have your reaction to my above suggestions.

Yours Faithfully,

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

 

They openly kill animals daily by the thousands for no purpose other than the satisfaction of the tongue. Because of this the entire world is suffering in so many ways.

Madhya 24.250  The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmarama Verse                         TEXT 250

                                    TEXT

 vyadha tumi, jiva mara----'alpa' aparadha tomara
         kadarthana diya mara'----e papa 'apara'

                             SYNONYMS

   vyadha tumi--you are a hunter; jiva mara--your occupation is to kill animals; alpa--slight; aparadha--offense; tomara--your; kadarthana diya--unnecessarily giving them pain; mara'--when you kill; e papa apara--this sinful activity is unlimited.

                           TRANSLATION

   "Narada Muni continued, 'My dear hunter, your business is killing animals. That is a slight offense on your part, but when you consciously give them unnecessary pain by leaving them half-dead, you incur very great sins.'

                             PURPORT

   This is another good instruction to animal killers. There are always animal killers and animal eaters in human society because less civilized people are accustomed to eating meat. In Vedic civilization, meat-eaters are advised to kill an animal for the goddess Kali or a similar demigod. This is in order not to give the animal unnecessary pain, as slaughterhouses do. In the balidana sacrifice to a demigod, it is recommended to cut the throat of an animal with one slice. This should be done on a dark-moon night, and the painful noises expressed by the animal at the time of being slaughtered are not to be heard by anyone. There are also many other restrictions. Slaughter is only allowed once a month, and the killer of the animal has to suffer similar pains in his next life. At the present moment, so-called civilized men do not sacrifice animals to a deity in a religious or ritualistic way. They openly kill animals daily by the thousands for no purpose other than the satisfaction of the tongue. Because of this the entire world is suffering in so many ways. Politicians are unnecessarily declaring war, and, according to the stringent laws of material nature, massacres are taking place between nations.

                       prakrteh kriyamanani
                     gunaih karmani sarvasah
                       ahankara-vimudhatma
                       kartaham iti manyate

   "The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself to be the doer of activities, which are in actuality carried out by nature." (Bg. 3.27) The laws of prakrti (nature) are very stringent. No one should think that he has the freedom to kill animals and not suffer the consequences. One cannot be safe by doing this. Narada Muni herein says that animal killing is offensive, especially when animals are given unnecessary pain. Meat-eaters and animal killers are advised not to purchase meat from the slaughterhouse. They can worship Kali once a month, kill some unimportant animal and eat it. Even by following this method, one is still an offender.

No. They'll not produce food. They will produce coffee and tea and slaughter animals. This is their business.

So our civilization is based on that way. You require food. That's fact. Therefore Krsna says, annad bhavanti bhutani. You produce your food. Anywhere you can produce your food. The land is enough land. In Australia you have got enough land. In Africa you have enough land, uncultivated. No. They'll not produce food. They will produce coffee and tea and slaughter animals. This is their business. I understand that in your country animals are slaughtered and exported for trade. Why export? You produce your own food and be satisfied. Why you are after that piece of hundred dollars paper? Produce your own food and eat sumptuously, be healthy and chant Hare Krsna. This is civilization. This is civilization.

760422BG.MEL                 Lectures

MOM AND DAD AT GITA-NAGARI

Devotee: This is my father.
Father: Your Grace...
Prabhupada: Oh. Thank you very much. (chuckles)
Devotee: And my mother.
Mother: Hare Krsna.
Prabhupada: Oh. So you are all fortunate. You have got such a nice son.
Father: Thank you.
Prabhupada: Yes. And he is giving you the best service by becoming Krsna conscious. Don't think that he is out of home, he is lost, no. He is giving you the best service.
Father: Well, we're very pleased with him and we always have been. Thank you for helping him find happiness. It's something which he was able to find through your order. (indistinct)
Prabhupada: Thank you. They are very good boys.
Father: What's amazing to me is where you get the strength to keep the pace that you have. Can you tell me how you do that? (laughter) I am some years your junior, and I have difficult pace, keeping up.
Prabhupada: The process is genuine, the process which I recommend and they follow. Then it is sure.750713r2.phi              Conversations

The God Particle Found by Anirudh Kumar Satsangi

COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF SCIENCE OF RELIGION (THEOLOGY)

I have written following two papers which may lead to the realization for a higher theory of everything:
(i) Gravitation Force is the Ultimate Creator,
(1st Int. Conf. on Revival of Traditional Yoga, Lonavla Yoga Institute, Lonavla, January, 2006)
(ii) In Scientific Terminology, Source of Gravitational Wave is God
(2nd World Congress on Vedic Science, BHU, Varanasi, Feb 2007)
I have presented these two papers at the two different International Conferences. I am now submitting some views for being considered for Unified Field Theory
From Scriptures: (Prem Patra by His Holiness Huzur Maharaj)
The Current which manifested in the beginning of the creation is the Current of Sabda (Sound) and of Chaitanya (Consciousness). From whom that Current issued forth is known as Soami (Supreme Being). This Current, by turning back can merge again in the Holy Feet of Supreme Being. The entire creation manifested from this current and is sustained with its energy and when the Current of the Holy Feet is withdrawn, the creation ceases to exist.This Current of the Holy Feet is the Reservoir of all energy, tastes and pleasures, knowledge, skill, shapes, forces and light etc. etc. and of the entire creation, is also the Creator of all of them.
From Science:

Gravitation Force is the cause of manifestation of the creation (birth of planets, stars), its sustenance and when it is withdrawn towards centre or source the entire creation ceases to exist. Photons have originated from gravitons. In black holes photons merge into gravitons. In Black Holes, Gravitational Force is so high that it does not allow even light to escape. What does it mean then? It simply means that the gravitational force at black-holes attracts light towards it with much greater velocity than the speed of light. In fact, all forces including electromagnetic force, material force (strong and weak nuclear force) all merge into gravitational force in black-holes and becomes one force there and when the creational process starts again from a Black-Hole all the forces appear (manifest) again and descends downwards to create billions of stars, planets, satellite, asteroids and various life forms.
Hence it can be assumed that the Current of Chaitanya (Consciousness) and Gravitational Wave are the two names of the same Supreme Essence (Seed) which has brought forth the entire creation.
All cosmological researches should be conducted keeping in view of the following philosophical facts:
It has been stated in Bible (John I-1) “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,”
Mohammedans hold that God uttered ‘Kun’ (i.e. ‘Came into being’) and the creation came into being (Holy Quran, Sur. Bakr (II.117).
In Chhandogya Upanishad it is written “Tadaikshat bahu syam prajayeyeti” (VI-2-iii) i.e. “It thought (desired) Would that I were many! Let me procreate myself!” The Aitareya Upanishad says,”Sa ikshat ‘lokannusrija’ iti (I-1-i) i.e. “He bethought himself (desired) – ‘Let me create worlds’, etc. etc.
It is written in Chapter VII of Srimad Bhagavadgita : Sri Bhagwan said, “Arjun, now listen how with the mind attached to Me and practicing Yoga with absolute dependence on Me, you will know Me in entirety and without any shadow of doubt” (1). I shall unfold to you in its entirety this wisdom alongwith the Knowledge of the qualified aspect of God, having known which nothing else remains yet to be known in this world (2). Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, reason and also ego; these constitute My nature eightfold divided. This indeed is My lower (material) nature : the other than this, by which the whole universe is sustained, know it to be My higher nature in the form of Jiva, O Arjuna. (4-5). Arjuna, know that all beings have evolved from this twofold Prakriti, and that I am the source of the entire creation, and into Me again it disappears.(6)
The Radhasoami Religion also tells that, the ‘Word’ mentioned above is in fact Current of Sound or Current of Consciousness or Prime Current of Spirituality which was issued forth from its Source, or Creator or God. This Current has later on produced light and other forces. The scientists are discussing these days about dark energy which constitute about 96% of the entire universe which is not known to us. Only 4% part of the universe is known to us by all scientific means. In fact this 96% invisible portion of the universe is the vast expanse of spirituality which can be designated as field of gravitational waves in scientific terms. Visible portion of the universe (4%) consists of consciousness (gravitational force), mental force (electromagnetic waves) and material force (strong and weak nuclear force).
Body = Nuclear Force (weak as well as strong)
Mind = Electromagnetic Force.
Consciousness = Gravitation Force.
According to Radhasoami Religion the whole Universe can be sub-divided into three grand divisions viz.
1. Region of Pure Spirituality
2. Region of Subtle Maya
3. Region of Gross Maya
Nuclear forces dominate Region of Gross Maya (Gross Material Region), Electro-magnetic forces dominate Region of Subtle Maya (Subtle Material Region) and Gravitational Force dominates Pure Spiritual Region.
This is the only Truth which can be verified scientifically and can be termed as ‘higher theory for everything’. This also supports the statement of Sir Sahabji Maharaj that ‘the goal of science – Truth; the goal of philosophy – Ultimate Reality; and the goal of religion – God’ are the three names of same supreme essence.
Many things are common between Current of Consciousness and Gravitational Wave.
1. Current of consciousness can not be seen by any means and gravitational wave can also not be seen.
2. Current of consciousness is the weakest force on earth. Its strength goes on increasing on higher regions. Gravitational force is also very weak on earth and strong on Sun and even more stronger on black holes.
3 Tendency of both current of consciousness and gravitational waves are towards their source or centre.
4. Current of consciousness and gravitational force are both regarded as the creater of all the celestial and terrestrial bodies of the whole universe. They are also sustainer of these and when they turn back towards their source or centre the whole universe will collapse.
Hence it can be assumed that the source of current of consciousness and gravitational wave is the same i.e. God or ultimate creator.
This theory is based on scientific deduction. In scientific terms it can be said that the ‘gravitons’ are the elementaryparticle which was issued forth in the beginning of the creation accompanying with sound ‘Radha’

ORIGINS OF MANKIND

       

The Supreme Lord can be preliminarily perceived by His different energies

Bg 7.8        Knowledge of the Absolute            TEXT 8

                                     TEXT

                     raso 'ham apsu kaunteya
                     prabhasmi sasi-suryayoh
                      pranavah sarva-vedesu
                     sabdah khe paurusam nrsu

                              SYNONYMS

   rasah--taste; aham--I; apsu--in water; kaunteya--O son of Kunti; prabha asmi--I am the light; sasi-suryayoh--in the sun and the moon; pranavah--the letters A.U.M.; sarva--in all; vedesu--in the Vedas; sabdah--sound vibration; khe--in the ether; paurusam--ability; nrsu--in man.

                           TRANSLATION

   O son of Kunti [Arjuna], I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man.

                             PURPORT

   This verse explains how the Lord is all-pervasive by His diverse material and spiritual energies. The Supreme Lord can be preliminarily perceived by His different energies, and in this way He is realized impersonally. As the demigod in the sun is a person and is perceived by his all-pervading energy, the sunshine, similarly, the Lord, although in His eternal abode, is perceived by His all-pervading, diffusive energies. The taste of water is the active principle of water. No one likes to drink sea water because the pure taste of water is mixed with salt. Attraction for water depends on the purity of the taste, and this pure taste is one of the energies of the Lord. The impersonalist perceives the presence of the Lord in water by its taste, and the personalist also glorifies the Lord for His kindly supplying water to quench man's thirst. That is the way of perceiving the Supreme. Practically speaking, there is no conflict between personalism and impersonalism. One who knows God knows that the impersonal conception and personal conception are simultaneously present in everything and that there is no contradiction. Therefore Lord Caitanya established His sublime doctrine: acintya-bheda and abheda-tattvam--simultaneously one and different.
   The light of the sun and the moon is also originally emanating from the brahmajyoti, which is the impersonal effulgence of the Lord. Similarly pranava or the omkara transcendental sound used in the beginning of every Vedic hymn to address the Supreme Lord also emanates from Him. Because the impersonalists are very much afraid of addressing the Supreme Lord Krsna by His innumerable names, they prefer to vibrate the transcendental sound omkara. But they do not realize that omkara is the sound representation of Krsna. The jurisdiction of Krsna consciousness extends everywhere, and one who knows Krsna consciousness is blessed. Those who do not know Krsna are in illusion, and so knowledge of Krsna is liberation, and ignorance of Him is bondage.

 

A Scientific Understanding of Meditation and Yoga by Anirudh Kumar Satsangi

In Bhagavad-Gita Lord SriKrishna says to Arjun:

“I taught this immortal Yoga to Vivasvan (sun-god), Vivasvan conveyed it to Manu(his son), and Manu imparted it to (his son) Iksvaku. Thus transmitted to succession from father to son, Arjun, this Yoga remained known to the Rajarisis (royal sages). It has however long since disappeared from this earth. The same ancient Yoga has this day been imparted to you by Me, because you are My devotee and friend, and also because this is a supreme secret”.

“In this world two course of Sadhna (spiritual discipline) have been enunciated by Me in the past. In the case of Sankhyayogi, the Sadhna proceeds along the path of Knowledge. Whereas in the case of Karmayogi, it proceeds along the path of Action”.

“The Yoga of Knowledge and the Yoga of Action both lead to Supreme Bliss. Of the two, however, the Yoga of Action (being easier to practice) is superior to the Yoga of Knowledge”.

Yoga of Knowledge is the path of spiritual realization (acquiring transcendental knowledge through a philosophical search of truth), and Yoga of Action is the path of God realization through dedicating fruits of one’s work to God. The path of meditation (Raja Yoga) and path of love and devotional service (Bhakti Yoga) also lead to control of mind and self-realization. For people of different constitution and affinities, different paths are appropriate.

 

Romila Thapar writes in A History of India, volume one :

Yoga (Application) which was based on the control of the body physically and implied that
a perfect control over the body and the senses led to knowledge of the ultimate reality. A detailed anatomical knowledge of the human body was necessary to the advancement of yoga and therefore those practicing yoga had to keep in touch with medical knowledge.

Now I have described Practice of Meditation and Yoga using scientific terminology: Mind and brain are two distinct things. Brain is anatomical entity whereas mind is functional entity. Mind can be defined as the function of autonomic nervous system (ANS). It is claimed that mind can be brought under conscious control through the practice of meditation. But how? ANS is largely under hypothalamic control which is situated very close to optic chiasma (sixth chakra or ajna chakra). Protracted practice of concentration to meditate at this region brings functions of ANS say mind under one’s conscious control.

ANS is further divided into parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS). On the basis of these facts I have discovered a mathematical relationship for spiritual quotient (S.Q.). Spiritual Quotient can be expressed mathematically as the ratio of Parasympathetic dominance to Sympathetic dominance. PSNS dominates during meditative calm and SNS dominates during stress. In this formula we assign numerical values to the physiological parameters activated or suppressed during autonomic mobilization and put in the formula to describe the state of mind of an individual and also infer his/her level of consciousness.

Meditation is the art of looking within and science of doing nothing. We don’t use anything in meditation. We just try to concentrate to meditate at some point in human anatomy known as ‘chakra’ in Indian System of Yoga. The current of mind is flowing outward through the senses and unconsciously. The mind comes at rest gradually through regular practice of meditation. Then comes self realization and enlightenment. Protracted practice of meditation under qualified guidance will help to manage all sort of psychological problems.

Emotional Quotient can also be expressed mathematically as the product of I.Q. and Wisdom Factor. E.Q. stands for Emotional Quotient. An intelligent person may not be wise. But a wise man will always be intelligent. An intelligent person having certain level of positive emotions can be said as wise. An intelligent person lacking wisdom will turn autocrat. A wise man will always be a democrat who respects others existence.

Some may raise doubt that how could be the Wisdom quantified? The answer is simple -if Mental Age of I.Q. can be quantified then Wisdom can also be quantified, of course, comparatively with more efforts. Wilhelm Stern had given the formula of I.Q.. It is, Mental Age/ Chronological Age x 100. Spiritual Quotient (S.Q.) leverages both E.Q. and I.Q.

Radha Soami Faith is a branch of Religion of Saints like Kabir, Nanak, Paltu, and others. Soamiji Maharaj is the founder of this Faith. You may call It like New Wine in Old Bottle.

Maslow has given Hierarchy of Needs. At the top of it is need for self-actualization or self-realization.

In our society we should learn To Live and Let Live and help to satisfy others need. When the lower order needs, physiological and sociological both, are satisfied then only a person think to satisfy need for self-realization in true sense. Else he/she may spend all his/her life to satisfy at the most the need for self-expression instead of self-realization.

It is, therefore, the duty of every responsible person of our society to give serious thought over it.

For the satisfaction of need for self-realization i.e. establishment of harmony of individual consciousness with that of universal consciousness we need following three things:

1. Master or Guru (A Self-Realized Soul)
2. Secret of Levels of Universal Consciousness
3. Method for traversing the path.

Instructions for Civilized Human Beings

  SB 7.15.27 P  Instructions for Civilized Human Beings                        TEXT 27

                                     TEXT

                     esa vai bhagavan saksat
                      pradhana-purusesvarah
                    yogesvarair vimrgyanghrir
                      loko yam manyate naram

                             SYNONYMS

   esah--this; vai--indeed; bhagavan--Supreme Personality of Godhead; saksat--directly; pradhana--the chief cause of the material nature; purusa--of all living entities or of the purusavatara, Lord Visnu; isvarah--the supreme controller; yoga-isvaraih--by great saintly persons, yogis; vimrgya-anghrih--Lord Krsna's lotus feet, which are sought; lokah--people in general; yam--Him; manyate--consider; naram--a human being.

                           TRANSLATION

   The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna, is the master of all other living entities and of the material nature. His lotus feet are sought and worshiped by great saintly persons like Vyasa. Nonetheless, there are fools who consider Lord Krsna an ordinary human being.

                             PURPORT

   The example of Lord Krsna's being the Supreme Personality of Godhead is appropriate in regard to understanding the spiritual master. The spiritual master is called sevaka-bhagavan, the servitor Personality of Godhead, and Krsna is called sevya-bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is to be worshiped. The spiritual master is the worshiper God, whereas the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is the worshipable God. This is the difference between the spiritual master and the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
   Another point: Bhagavad-gita, which constitutes the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is presented by the spiritual master as it is, without deviation. Therefore the Absolute Truth is present in the spiritual master. As clearly stated in Text 26, jnana-dipa-prade. The Supreme Personality of Godhead gives real knowledge to the entire world, and the spiritual master, as the representative of the Supreme Godhead, carries the message throughout the world. Therefore, on the absolute platform, there is no difference between the spiritual master and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If someone considers the Supreme Personality--Krsna or Lord Ramacandra--to be an ordinary human being, this does not mean that the Lord becomes an ordinary human being. Similarly, if the family members of the spiritual master, who is the bona fide representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, consider the spiritual master an ordinary human being, this does not mean that he becomes an ordinary human being. The spiritual master is as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore one who is very serious about spiritual advancement must regard the spiritual master in this way. Even a slight deviation from this understanding can create disaster in the disciple's Vedic studies and austerities.

   

When Animals Shed Tears in Suffering

Maneka Gandhi
If you have ever seen a donkey cry, your world will never be the same again. Those deep large tears that roll out from under its long eyelashes carving valleys down its cheeks, the trembling of its lips, the hunching of its shoulders. One can only rail at the cruelty of the human species that it could abuse such a tender fragile creature.

Are humans the only ones who cry ? Ask anyone who has seen a street dog lose  even one of her puppies to a passing car or to the beating of a passerby. The night is filled with her howls as she mourns her baby. My dog Milli had a child. He was killed by another dog  . She cried for a week and looked for him everywhere.  When a baby chimpanzee dies, the mother will carry the body around for several days . The gorilla Koko , while in captivity, made friends with a cat and when he died , she wept and mourned.

Have you heard the lonely bird cry that has been left behind inadvertently by the rest of the flight flock ? Have you seen the tears of the cow as she runs desperately behind the cart that is carrying her calf away to slaughter ? I have and it is like a permanent open wound inside my heart. When I stop a truck from taking buffaloes illegally to slaughter and fifty jumbled creatures stumble out from a space meant for eight , I see their faces wet with  the tears of fear and pain.

It is not just human babies that cry when their mothers don’t feed them. Monkey babies cry out to their mothers when they are hungry and when they are being weaned away from being breast fed , they tend to cry more and more. Initially their mothers respond to the distress calls. But as they respond less and less . the infants gradually stop crying and brave themselves to find their own food. Just as children cry when they are frightened or hurt, chimpanzees cry for a long time if something terrible is happening to them, but when they are picked up , they stop

Since all animals and birds share the feelings of love, care, motherhood, pain, territorial possessiveness and intelligence, it is natural that they will also feel the emotions of depression, loss , fear and all the nuances in between.

All animals can shed tears. Tears are an important protection and lubricant for the eye. They flush out irritants and keep the eye wet to enhance vision. But scientists like to presume that only humans cry “ emotional” tears while all the rest are caused by irritation of the eyes. This inspite of the fact that all experiments have shown that loss or death shows weeping in chimpanzees, dogs, elephants and bears – so far.  In fact those who work  in the field of studying animal behaviour are advised by the standard reference work, The Oxford Companion to Animal Behavior, advises animal behaviorists that "One is well advised to study the behaviour, rather than attempting to get at any underlying emotion".Because of the philosophical questions of consciousness and mind  involved, many scientists have stayed away from examining animal emotion, and have studied instead, measurable brain functions, through neuroscience.

 Studies have found that young mammals and birds cry  with distress when they are separated from their mothers. Wildlife experts and hunters both note that the cry of a bear cub separated from its mother sounds very much like a human baby's cry. The Dugong , the sea cow that lives in the Indian Ocean and is now under the threat of extinction by the dredging of the unnecessary and thoroughly corrupt Sethusamudran project , cries copiously when in trouble or pain. When a baby rat cries because he is cold or fallen out of his nest, often his mother brings the fallen pup back into the nest.

When Elephants Weep:  The Emotional Lives of Animals by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson and Susan McCarthy is a book that should be read by everyone who has seen an elephant being beaten on its head by its mahout ( last week , the Kairali news channel showed an undercover film on the killing of elephants in Kerala for insurance money by a gang headed by a retired forest officer and his son. They buy sick elephants on the pretext of treating them  and kill them by beating in its head with bats , take out the tusks and nails and then get the insurance money.) or being separated from its herd. When an elephant dies, all the group surrounds it and weeps. When a baby is hurt, the mother will not leave it – even if it means sitting on a railway track. Baby elephants in particular produce a very sad, keening sound. Charles Darwin said that the keeper of the Indian elephants at the London Zoo told him the elephants would weep sorrowfully .

Dogs can experience chronic depression through their feelings of helplessness at being repeatedly hurt.If you walk into most puppy mills, and even shelters and veterinary clinics, you'll probably hear at least one dog "crying".  Not with tears, but pitiful whimpering that is as close to human crying as anything could be. My blind and deaf Great Dane, Gudiya, wants to play with people all the time. If we leave her suddenly , she will hunt  for us for a little while and then make the most awful choked sobs at being left alone again.

Do animals cry ? Of course they do. You simply have to look into their eyes to know. Marc Bekoff has studied animal emotions for thirty years and apart from the behavioral and neurobiological studies , he says that common sense supports  the obvious conclusion is that mammals, birds and fish experience rich and deep emotional lives, feeling passions from pure and contagious joy during play, to deep grief and pain.

“Scientific research shows that  spindle cells, which were long thought to exist only in humans and other great apes, have been discovered in humpback whales, fin whales, killer whales and sperm whales in the same area of their brains as spindle cells in human brains. This brain region is linked with social organization, empathy and intuition about the feelings of others, as well as rapid gut reactions. Spindle cells are important in processing emotions. It’s likely that if we seek the presence of spindle cells in other animals we will find them. “

Neuroscientific research has also shown that elephants have a huge hippocampus, a brain structure in the limbic system that’s important in processing emotions. All mammals (including humans) share neuroanatomical structures (for example, the amygdala and hippocampus) and neurochemical pathways in the limbic system that are tied to feelings

Can you ignore the pain of an animal that cries like you ? Can you cut open a crying mouse, dog or chimpanzee in a laboratory and justify it in the name of some research which you know is meaningless ?  Can you beat and eat and overuse a frightened helpless being just like you ? What hurts you , hurts all animals equally. If you understand this , you will activate that part of your brain that supplies compassion – and it is the same part that supplies intelligence. There is so much evidence  that those scientists that refuse to believe that animals cry just like us , show how badly we have misinterpreted everything about this planet.

 

His activities with His cowherd boyfriends, with His damsel friends, with the inhabitants of Vrndavana and with the cows were all full of happiness.

Bg Introduction   
The Lord descends to this mortal world to show His pastimes in Vrndavana, which are full of happiness. When Lord Sri Krsna was in Vrndavana, His activities with His cowherd boyfriends, with His damsel friends, with the inhabitants of Vrndavana and with the cows were all full of happiness. The total population of Vrndavana knew nothing but Krsna. But Lord Krsna even discouraged His father Nanda Maharaja from worshiping the demigod Indra because He wanted to establish the fact that people need not worship any demigod. They need only worship the Supreme Lord because their ultimate goal is to return to His abode.
   The abode of Lord Sri Krsna is described in the Bhagavad-gita, Fifteenth Chapter, sixth verse:

  na tad bhasayate suryo na sasanko na pavakah
  yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama

   "That abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by electricity and anyone who reaches it never comes back to this material world." (Bg. 15.6)

 

The Lord does not tolerate any mischief done to the devotee by the miscreants

Bg 1.32-35 P Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra  
  Arjuna has addressed Lord Krsna as Govinda because Krsna is the object of all pleasures for cows and the senses. By using this significant word, Arjuna indicates what will satisfy his senses. Although Govinda is not meant for satisfying our senses, if we try to satisfy the senses of Govinda then automatically our own senses are satisfied. Materially, everyone wants to satisfy his senses, and he wants God to be the order supplier for such satisfaction. The Lord will satisfy the senses of the living entities as much as they deserve, but not to the extent that they may covet. But when one takes the opposite way--namely, when one tries to satisfy the senses of Govinda without desiring to satisfy one's own senses--then by the grace of Govinda all desires of the living entity are satisfied. Arjuna's deep affection for community and family members is exhibited here partly due to his natural compassion for them. He is therefore not prepared to fight. Everyone wants to show his opulence to friends and relatives, but Arjuna fears that all his relatives and friends will be killed in the battlefield, and he will be unable to share his opulence after victory. This is a typical calculation of material life. The transcendental life is, however, different. Since a devotee wants to satisfy the desires of the Lord, he can, Lord willing, accept all kinds of opulence for the service of the Lord, and if the Lord is not willing, he should not accept a farthing. Arjuna did not want to kill his relatives, and if there were any need to kill them, he desired that Krsna kill them personally. At this point he did not know that Krsna had already killed them before their coming into the battlefield and that he was only to become an instrument for Krsna. This fact is disclosed in following chapters. As a natural devotee of the Lord, Arjuna did not like to retaliate against his miscreant cousins and brothers, but it was the Lord's plan that they should all be killed. The devotee of the Lord does not retaliate against the wrongdoer, but the Lord does not tolerate any mischief done to the devotee by the miscreants. The Lord can excuse a person on His own account, but He excuses no one who has done harm to His devotees. Therefore the Lord was determined to kill the miscreants, although Arjuna wanted to excuse them.

Cow is national wealth

India is an agrarian country where the majority of population is brought up in the villages. The farmer’s prime source of livelihood is agriculture, which has been responsible for the nation’s growth and development. The main factor in agriculture has been the cow and the bovine family. Lord Krishna, by lifting Mount Govardhan on his one finger, had tried to show that prosperity would come only with the increase in the number of cows. We have unfortunately left behind our tradition and beliefs in the race for modernism and taken to using artificial chemical fertilisers as manure. As a result, the production capacity of land has fallen over the years and the farmer has been reduced to a state of either committing suicide or dying of starvation.

The author says that Indian culture is essentially cow culture. In ancient times, the cow was treated with faith, belief and respect. The Vedas have called the cow the provider of our dharma, wealth, karma and salvation. The Atharva Veda has given the highest place to the cow. With India being primarily an agricultural country, the cow has been the basis for the country’s self-reliance. Not only in India but in the entire world, the cow has been playing the role of a provider and saviour. An eminent scientist of Russia, Mr Jorosalam, has claimed that if the hydrogen and the atom bombs were used in a war, then cowdung alone could render them useless.

The author regrets that due to laziness, greed, the mentality of pleasing a particular community and vote-bank politics, not enough attention has been paid to the protection of cows. Shortage of grazing land and continuous cow slaughter are leading to shortage of milk because of which children are not able to get enough nutrition. As a result, the rate of child mortality has increased.

He points out that Lokmanya Tilak had declared that as soon as Independence was achieved, then with the might of the pen slaughtering of cows would be banned in all parts of the country. But 60 years have passed since Independence, yet the slaughter of cows continues unabated.

(M.G.)

(Suruchi Prakashan, Keshav Kunj, Jhandewalan, New Delhi-110055.)

Vedic literature states that there is nothing superior to the abode of the Supreme Godhead, and that that abode is the ultimate destination

Bg 8.21    Attaining the Supreme Text 21

                                      TEXT

                     avyakto 'ksara ity uktas
                      tam ahuh paramam gatim
                     yam prapya na nivartante
                      tad dhama paramam mama

                             SYNONYMS

   avyaktah--unmanifested; aksarah--infallible; iti--thus; uktah--said; tam--that which; ahuh--is known; paramam--ultimate; gatim--destination; yam--that which; prapya--gaining; na--never; nivartante--comes back; tat dhama--that abode; paramam--supreme; mama--Mine.

                           TRANSLATION

   That supreme abode is called unmanifested and infallible, and it is the supreme destination. When one goes there, he never comes back. That is My supreme abode.

                             PURPORT

   The supreme abode of the Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is described in the Brahma-samhita as cintamani-dhama, a place where all desires are fulfilled. The supreme abode of Lord Krsna known as Goloka Vrndavana is full of palaces made of touchstone. There are also trees which are called "desire trees," that supply any type of eatable upon demand, and there are cows known as surabhi cows which supply a limitless supply of milk. In this abode, the Lord is served by hundreds of thousands of goddesses of fortune (Laksmis), and He is called Govinda, the primal Lord and the cause of all causes. The Lord is accustomed to blow His flute (venum kvanantam). His transcendental form is the most attractive in all the worlds--His eyes are like the lotus petals and the color of His body is like clouds. He is so attractive that His beauty excels that of thousands of Cupids. He wears saffron cloth, a garland around His neck and a peacock feather in His hair. In the Gita Lord Krsna gives only a small hint of His personal abode (Goloka Vrndavana) which is the supermost planet in the spiritual kingdom. A vivid description is given in the Brahma-samhita. Vedic literature states that there is nothing superior to the abode of the Supreme Godhead, and that that abode is the ultimate destination. When one attains to it, he never returns to the material world. Krsna's supreme abode and Krsna Himself are nondifferent, being of the same quality. On this earth, Vrndavana, ninety miles southeast of Delhi, is a replica of that supreme Goloka Vrndavana located in the spiritual sky. When Krsna descended on this earth He sported on that particular tract of land known as Vrndavana in the district of Mathura, India.

The thunderbolt, indeed a mighty weapon, represents Krsna's power

Bg 10.28 The Opulence of the Absolute Text 28

                                    TEXT

                      ayudhanam aham vajram
                      dhenunam asmi kamadhuk
                     prajanas casmi kandarpah
                      sarpanam asmi vasukih

                             SYNONYMS

   ayudhanam--of all weapons; aham--I am;   vajram--the thunderbolt; dhenunam--of cows; asmi--I am; kama-dhuk--the surabhi cows; prajanah--for begetting children; ca--and; asmi--I am; kandarpah--Cupid; sarpanam--of all snakes; asmi--I am; vasukih--Vasuki.

                           TRANSLATION

    Of weapons I am the thunderbolt; among cows I am the surabhi, givers of abundant milk. Of procreators I am Kandarpa, the god of love, and of serpents I am Vasuki, the chief.

                             PURPORT

   The thunderbolt, indeed a mighty weapon, represents Krsna's power. In Krsnaloka in the spiritual sky there are cows which can be milked at any time, and they give as much milk as one likes. Of course such cows do not exist in this material world, but there is mention of them in Krsnaloka. The Lord keeps many such cows, which are called surabhi. It is stated that the Lord is engaged in herding the surabhi cows. Kandarpa is the sex desire for presenting good sons; therefore Kandarpa is the representative of Krsna. Sometimes sex is engaged in only for sense gratification; such sex does not represent Krsna. But sex for the generation of good children is called Kandarpa and represents Krsna.