Human Life

[A recent news article (May 21, 2009) also reinforced my conviction in my analysis. I've reproduced a portion of it below, embedded in excerpts from last year's post "There's Always One" (May 23, 2008)]

My call to nuke the Chinese is an ironic device. Unfortunately, it is actually the most sane thing to do given our current situation, which is an indication of how insane our current situation is. With the consumption of the Chinese rising to meet Australian standards the global economic and environmental situation is untenable. The only result of this can be the inevitable clash of the Americans and the Australians with the Chinese, and the Indians, and the Russians, and the Africans, and every other group who wants to live like we do.

Unless the Australians and Americans reduce their consumption and model a more responsible sustainable lifestyle, war with the Chinese, eventually an overt military one, caused by an economic one over the dwindling resources, is the near future of the human race.

- There's Always One, atmayogi.com, May 23, 2008

THE US has declared it "is not ceding the Pacific to anyone" in a forceful response to the rise of China and the Rudd Government's defence white paper, which last month flagged the possibility of US dominance fading in the Asia-Pacific region in the decades ahead.

Asked by The Australian in a briefing with foreign journalists about Washington's response to Canberra's defence blueprint, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was emphatic that Washington was looking to deepen its ties in the region and wanted to do more with allies such as Australia.

She made it clear the US, which has a huge naval presence in the Asia-Pacific based in Hawaii, was not going anywhere.

"We want Australia as well as other nations to know the United States is not ceding the Pacific to anyone," Ms Clinton said.

She stressed that Washington was also "sending a clear message that the United States will be engaged - we are a trans-Pacific power and a trans-Atlantic power."

- Hillary Clinton firmly commits the US to Asia-Pacific security, The Australian, May 21, 2009

Being lukewarm is a cop out. Why stop at killing millions of animals? If you are going to be a killer, then you should be logical about it and kill the Chinese before they kill you. Otherwise, if you do find that idea abhorrent, then take a look at the logical consequences of where this meat-eating is taking us. The Mahabharata tells us: "There is not enough gold, grains, or women in the world to satisfy the desire of one man" - what to speak of one billion Chinese, plus 400 million Americans, plus 20 million Australians plus the rest of the world.

Our irresponsibility in failing to set an example of responsible, sustainable consumption is leading the world to war over dwindling resources, and ecological and environmental disaster. Face up to it. If we don't become vegetarian now, we should drop a nuke on China. It's the only way to make our current diet and lifestyle sustainable.

So stop being so irresponsible: either push the red button, or give up the red meat.

- There's Always One, atmayogi.com, May 23, 2008

[This is a repost of a post from May 22, 2008. I just can't shake this. I am more convinced than I was then that this is the simple arithmetic of the situation, and that we are living in a post-WW II fantasy world of post-industrial consumer equality for all. We can't "have our iPods" and "let the Chinese have theirs" (that's a figure of speech - I would point to meat consumption as a more immediate threat). There isn't enough.
Please also see my follow-up to this post from last year "There's Always One" for further elaboration.]

With food prices rising, the dollar falling, and the economy reeling, it is becoming increasing important that we learn how to grow a portion of our own food. The first steps are obtaining and sprouting seeds, so we'll explore those topics here.

Winning the War on Food: Sprouting Seeds and Saving Seeds is a great article today from Natural News.com.

The glories of sprouted pumpkin seeds were extolled on Krpamoya Prabhu's blog a short while ago.

At Atma Yoga we've been sprouting seeds and using them in the salads.

This morning on the way to work Param and I were talking about the rising cost of food. Luckily we only eat a few grains and vegetables. It must be really hard for people who eat a lot of processed foods and especially meat.

Spiraling Food Prices Result in Deadly Violence Around the World, another story today on NaturalNews.com, was the topic at the dinner table the other night at Atma. We ended up discussing the relative merits of the HK416 assault rifle (can be fired after being submerged in water or sand - not sure about both) versus the Barrett M468 (fires the 6.8mm round - more accurate than the AK-47, more powerful than the M16; which is exactly what you need to stop a zombie or a feral human), and how the Australian Government should stockpile a million of them to arm the Australia populace to repel 300 million feral Indonesians after their country gets submerged by rising sea levels.

Either that, or it should be encouraging people to reduce their consumption, not allowing the unrestrained inflammation of their material desires.

World-wide, meat consumption is increasing at the rate of 4.7 million tons per year [source].

In China, annual meat consumption has jumped from 16 kilograms per person in 1983, to 53 kilograms per person today [source].

Check out this data table that I generated over at Earth Trends:

World meat consumption is going up, and the Chinese are contributing a huge amount to that.

These people want to live like you.

The conclusion is staggeringly obvious: we need to nuke the Chinese now.

The longer we wait, the stronger they grow. The more meat they eat, the more aggressive and strong they become. The more time they have, the more they build their industrial capacity and their war machine.

It is us or them - the world is not big enough for both. In fact, the world is not big enough just for them, if they live like us.

There are only two things that a responsible leadership can do: waste them, or reduce our consumption.

If you think that nuking the Chinese is a ridiculous proposition, then think of the alternative. Continuing the way we are now the world will very, very quickly run out of resources. It's not just the current rate of consumption: the Chinese are increasing their meat consumption at 12% per annum. There are a billion of them.

Every pound of beef requires 16 pounds of grain. It requires land to be cleared to graze cattle. It produces methane. It uses and contaminates water in processing.

If you think that the idea of reducing your consumption is ridiculous then you have to consider the alternatives:

• Option 1: nuke the Chinese now.
• Option 2: get a whole lot of assault rifles and lots of ammunition for when it all goes down.
• Option 3: reduce consumption and model a more globally responsible, sustainable lifestyle.

Which one do you feel like choosing? Oh, by the way, if you don't want to choose we will arrange one of Option 1 or Option 2 for you, automatically.

The most revolutionary thing that you can do to combat global warming, resource depletion and the eventual war between the Chinese and America / Australia is to become a vegetarian.

It's probably the best thing you can do for your health and your emotional wellbeing as well.

It's certainly the best thing you can do for the health and well being of 270 million tons of animals per year, and climbing.

A review of H.H. Radhanath Swami's autobiographical account The Journey Home: Autobiography of a American Swami by Catholic scholar Francis X Clooney [Harvard Bio Page]:

There is much to be said about Christ and Krishna, of course; books on the topic have been written for centuries, and this book does not resolve the theological questions that arise when two great monotheistic traditions meet; we who are Christian still have tough questions to ask (ourselves in particular). But it should help us all to hear each other’s stories, how God was found, how God finds us when we are young and keeps after us for a lifetime. We should imagine a kind of dialogue — not of religions or theologies this time — but of women and men of different traditions who, upon reaching a certain age, tell their stories with a certain wisdom and humor and in that way speak to one another across religious boundaries.

- A Hare Krishna Swami Tells All

#0: where an individual stops supporting the dairy industry (which is based on cow slaughter) by taking only milk from protected cows (Madhava Ghosh has calculated that the cost of a gallon of milk from a protected cow is $17 [from memory], taking into account the cost of maintaining the cow over its natural life span)

#1: where an individual actively supports both the dairy industry and cow protection, for example through something like Madhava Ghosh’s GEETA program:

In this modern world, it isn’t practical for everyone to personally keep cows, but by donating to GEETA, you will in fact be caring for cows by proxy. Even if you use milk products from a store, it will be offset by contributing to protecting cows

#2 where an individual chooses to stop actively supporting the dairy industry and actively works to create a cow protection situation to produce milk.

#3: where an individual supports the dairy industry and does nothing to actively support cow protection (active = putting your money where your mouth is)

Please also see:

• Milk - to drink or not to drink?
• Time to Live in the Here and Now, Milk Drinkers

[I left this comment on Pandu's blog. Pandu das is not simply a theoretical advocate of cow protection, but is actively involved in protecting cows at his home.]

Pandu prabhu, I'm sorry for coming across so hard and heavy.

It's not meant to be an attack on you, any more than your discussion of the idea of veganism is meant to be an attack on the devotees in New Zealand. I'm sorry for coming across that way.

Kurma das has written his article in a particular style to support his particular agenda. By referencing the content of it and spring boarding from it to your discussion of the idea of veganism your post reinforces his presentation. It implicitly accepts what he says as a fact, although he lacks first hand knowledge, and much of what he says is his interpretation.

My theme of "Get your facts straight and then have an opinion" is not solely directed at you, but rather at everyone who has commented further on what he has to say, but without taking the trouble to verify it, or to state: "Kurma das said... (but I don't know personally what the facts of the matter are)".

Lots of people just pick up the ball and run with it - not simply on this issue, but every post on Sampradaya Sun that talks about what other people are doing, but without verification. I read things on there all the time and say: "Well, who knows what the actual situation is..." and reserve judgment. I watch as people pile on and talk it up, accepting unquestioning whatever was said before, with no evidence or discussion, including interpretations of people's motives.

It's a wider issue of an ongoing failure of epistemology and intellectual honesty.

In this case I do happen to know more about the situation, and I think it's intellectually dishonest to publish like that, or to propagate it further.

As far as milk and cow protection goes, I think that H.H. Hrdayananda das Goswami described it best when he laid out the valid arguments on both sides (Milk - to drink or not to drink?) and stated that Vedic culture has room for both, and that's it's ultimately a question of individual conscience.

The factual error that you're either picked up or introduced in the opening sentence of your post is that devotees in NZ no longer offer milk to Krishna. That's not correct. They have not subscribed to a vegan ideology, but rather have taken the stance that they will only offer guests milk from protected cows.

As far as the post you cited from theloft.org.nz that says "we embrace veganism", it's written for the general public, and it means that vegan people can comfortably come and take prasadam there. At our house we frequently prepare dishes that are dairy-free, sugar-free, salt-free, or wheat-free for people who do not have these things for either health or ethical reasons. There are no barriers to Krishna prasadam, and we should prepare and offer things that are acceptable to Krishna so that everyone can partake.

The various perspectives on how to approach the situation of lack of cow protection is a good topic for discussion.

Personally we use commercial milk at home to prepare prasadam and also regularly serve it to guests. There is no milk available from cow protection here, nor do we have the resources or commitment to make it happen in the near future, unlike the NZ devotees.

Please accept my apologies for being overbearing.

Gold from Akruranath das:

...not that we should give up seeing Vaisnavas as saints (or even recognizing and appreciating saintly qualities when they appear in persons ostensibly outside the Vaisnava tradition), but we should give up our individual and collective attitude of self-righteousness.

The true saint is humble, tolerant, and ready to offer all respects to others while expecting none in return.

Speaking for myself, there were times when I felt so proud of having accepted a bona fide spiritual master and having been practicing regulative principles as a follower in ISKCON, that I thought preaching was a matter of “winning” a debate, convincing others that they should do as I am doing and join ISKCON or they are faulty.

It is this attitude of basking in the borrowed authority of one’s spiritual leaders that has been the hallmark of neophytes and fanatics from time immemorial.

The Baptist fundamentalist says, “God said it. I believe it. That settles it.” “I’ll pray for you.” While these statements outwardly masquerade as expressions of humility, surrender to God, and transcendence of philosophical speculation, they are in actuality a declaration of the know-nothing’s sense of superiority to whomever he encounters. He is not able to discriminate between actual saintly persons who are above the modes of passion and ignorance and common people who are controlled by base desires. He has merely joined a club, and if you can “talk the talk” as a member of that club, you are considered “saved”, otherwise “lost”.

We followers of Srila Prabhupada may appear to the uninitiated as just another flavor of fundamentalist. We do appeal to inerrant authority of scriptures and demand surrender to the will of God through adherence to certain regulative principles. And some of us may from time to time have acted as fundamentalists (I know I have) and felt superior, as if my identity as a “Vaisnava” gave me a right to dominate others and subject them to my packaged philosophy that I could repeat without much understanding.

We have a duty to represent Srila Prabhupada better than that. Religion without philosophy is fanaticism. True saints have saintly vision.

I like that, and find it inspiring.

I followed a link from Krishna-kirti's blog to a Washington Post article entitled "Faith Groups Increasingly Lose Gay Rights Fights".

Here's a shot of the article title:

And here's a Google ad on the side of the page (it's context sensitive, so unless you're viewing that page from Australia you probably won't see the same ad):

This is what you call "the inevitable march of history".

I was checking the Centrelink (Australian social welfare department) website to see if I am going to get some of this economic stimulus money being liberally distributed by the government, and I came across this:

The Government has introduced reforms to remove discrimination to enable same-sex couples and children from same-sex relationships to be recognised by Commonwealth law.

From 1 July 2009 changes to family assistance legislation means that the Family Assistance Office will recognise all couples, regardless of the sexual orientation or gender of a partner.

Customers living in a same-sex de facto relationship will be recognised as partnered and will be assessed in the same way as opposite-sex couples.

See my post "Preaching the Post-Gay-Marriage World", from April, 2005 for my thoughts on that.

Just had lunch with Jared at Vege Rama in Adelaide St, an awesome vegetarian takeaway bar presided over by Mother Adya-shakti.

The food is wonderfully healthy, with many organic ingredients. There is a mix of Western and traditional Indian fare, with chickpeas and sabji next to Italian pizza bread.

The address:
Vege Rama
Shop 1/ 300 Queen St (downstairs opp. Gloria Jeans)
Brisbane CBD

It has a rating of 4.95/5 on the Vegetarian/Vegan Society of Queensland website.

Go check it out!

Swami BV Vaisnava Maharaja writes in the GALVA group:

Dandavats Dear Prabhus and Didis,

Sorry to be so long in writing on this issue but I've been busy the last few days.

I'm forwarding below the actual letter from my Gurudeva, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami on same sex marriage. I wrote asking for an official statement because I will be attending gay pride parades this summer in San Francisco, London and Amsterdam as part of a delegation of devotees from all sangas and thought the question might be presented then by devotees and new people we meet, including the media. I knew his response would not be unsupported by scripture and most likely conservative, but wanted to know his position exactly so I didn't misrepresent him or "put words into his mouth."

Nothing really is changed in our preaching to gay people however. We will continue to encourage everyone to do what is necessary for them individually to take up the chanting of the holy names and gradually become qualified to follow the rules and regulations, under the guidance of a bona-fide spiritual master. However, their marriages will not be blessed by him at this time. This does not mean they cannot legally marry or remain his disciples or that their service or sadhana is compromised or devalued.

The conclusion or pinnacle of sastra on achieving perfection is to be 100% free from material desires and attachments. Sex life is the most prominent of these and gets most of the attention. As we know Lord Krishna states in the Bhagavad Gita that the only sex life he condones is that for reproduction. Well, that's not much fun for straight couples is it? Basically it means that every time they have sex there should be a child 9 months later or it's illicit! I remember Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja said that when he was married he had sex 6 times and had 6 children, and that was the extent of his sex life. Guess that's one reason Kali Yuga is the age of quarrel and hypocrisy - the standard is so high, beyond 99.9% of us, that hypocrisy is the result. That is why nama sankirtan is the only way, the only dharma for this age. What else can we do really, honestly?

Srila BV Narayana Maharaja has openly accepted everyone who comes to him, be they gay or straight. I have been honest with him about myself since I first came to know of him in 1997. He gave me responsible services and 2 years ago sannyas. He would send us other gay men from here and there in the world, to his math in Birmingham, England, for training and association in an environment where no one would be turned away who could follow the rules of the ashram. Many gay men have stayed and visited us while I was in charge there for 6 years. I say this to make it clear he is not opposed to gay people or homophobic. I would be hard pressed to stay for so long if I saw that he was.

I repeat my call to all gay devotees to think about opening our own centres or having home programmes where it is practicle for you. We will not be rejecting anyone in doing this but simply expanding the preaching movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One of the main tennets of our faith is that we must have the association of like minded devotees who are more advanced than ourselves and affectionate to us. Like minded and affectionate - must!!! I'm very ready and willing to to do this right now. Anyone?

We have come to this movement for God consciousness and not for society consciousness - as Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhara Goswami stated so eloquently to ISKCON GBC who came to him for advice shortly after the departure of Srila Prabhupada. You can read this conversation which is the 5th chapter of "Sri Guru and His Grace" here:

http://www.gosai.com/chaitanya/srila_sridhara_mj/sri_guru/sri_guru_5.html

I'll be happy to speak more on this and opening centres/ nama hatta programmes.

Next Monday I'll embark on a preaching tour which might not give me internet access for 1 month so please forgive me if I do not reply timely to messages here on personally.

Vaisnava dasanudas,
BV Vaisnava

The Letter from Srila BV Narayana Maharaja

All Glories to Sri Sri Guru & Gauranga!

Swami B.V. Narayan

Founder Acharya of Bhaktivedanta Trust International [BHAKTI] and International Gaudiya Vedanta Trust

Sri Kesavji Gaudiya Math - Mathura [UP] 281001 India - Ph.: + 91 565.2502334

President of Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti Trust and Vice President of Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti

________________________________________

My dear Sriman Bhaktivedanta Vaisnava Maharaja,

my heartly blessings are for you. All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga, all glories to Sri Sri Radha Vinode Bihariji.

I received your letter and became very happy to hear from you. I was remembering you during my visit to Guangzhou which was extremely successful. So many wonderful devotees assembled and heard Harikatha & received initiation. I am very pleased with your services.

In regard to the contents of your message, it is not described anywhere in our Vaisnava Sastra that men and ladies can live together and practice proper Vaisnava dharma. Only in the grhasta ashram husband and wife can live together and follow ideal grhasta life.

If it is bone fide and authorized for two men to live together or for 2 ladies to live together then it must be mentioned in Hari Bhakti Vilasa.

Our Acaryas have also never accepted this concept as authentic. Rather, this is the product of Kali Yuga only. In sastras it is mentioned that in Kali Yuga practically all are living a sinful life. The only hope and grace for the living entities is that they accept the process of Sankirtan as propagated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His bone fide followers. For this we have to give up sinful life and follow the ideal character of a devotee. For practicing and making progress in spiritual life, to encourage a life that is sinful is out of the question.

Your ever well-wisher,
Swami B.V. Narayan

On Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 2:16 AM, BV Vaisnava Maharaja wrote:

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my most humble dandavat pranams in the dust of your lotus feet.

Sri Sri Guru-Gauranga Jayatah!
All glories to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai!
All glories to Sri Sri Radhavinodabiharji!

I’m writing to ask for advice about a very important social issue in the world today. I am being asked for an official statement from many devotees around the world from our own and other sangas as well as from people in general. The question is what is our faith’s policy regarding same sex marriage and/or unions? May we perform such marriages or bless them? Such blessings are already being given by certain ISKCON leaders and in other Gaudiya Vaisnava and “Hindu” organisations.

Amara Prabhu, whom you know from Hawaii, has compiled a book of references from many Vedic texts mentioning such unions which seem to indicate that such unions have always existed and were accepted in Vedic society. I am asking if we might bless such marriages (where they are legal secularly) or civil unions with the idea that promoting a monogamous relationship helps to curb sense gratification and that such unions/marriages will be made for the purpose of helping each other to perform devotional activities as in opposite sex marriages/unions?

The whole topic has become political in the world today because marriage is no longer only a religious function but a civil right due to benefits granted those whom “marry” not granted to those who declare civil partnerships. I realise this is potentially a very controversial request, with many ramifications, but it could be a powerful preaching tool in the sense that it would definitely be a non-sectarian acknowledgement of the jiva as spirit soul and not this material body.

Your unworthy disciple,
BV Vaisnava