“Everyone can understand that we drink the milk of cows and take the help of bulls in producing agricultural products. Therefore, since our real father gives us food grains and our mother gives us milk with which to live, the cow and bull are considered our father and mother. According to Vedic civilization, there are seven mothers, of which the cow is one.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Chaitanya Charitamrita, Adi 17.154, Purport)

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Why is there an exception? Why the extra love shown to this one particular animal? Why not bend to the pressure applied by other societies? Why not finally give in and abandon what others deride as superstition, ancient belief, or dogmatic allegiance? The following hypothetical account shows how just like the sun, the fruit-bearing trees, and the human species itself indicate distinctions and exceptions within nature, the cow holds a special status. It is indeed special to practically everyone, though the treatment may not always be the same.

In this story, you live on a farm. It happens to be your way of life. The land is large enough to sufficiently provide for everyone living on it. There are fields for growing wheat, corn, rice, and other essentials. You don’t have to worry about extreme cold where you live, but the summers can certainly bring the heat. You are trying your best to live by the principles taught by your spiritual guide, who explained that life should be lived simply, allowing ample time for higher thought. This is the privilege of the human species, to inquire into matters beyond flesh and blood.

Through your experiences from this lifetime, you have reached a conclusion. You think you have stumbled upon a secret. You see, every person has to work. They should find something to do. That is what will make them happy. That is what will keep them enthusiastic. They won’t fall victim to vices as easily, if they have a higher engagement to occupy their time. This work does not have to be overly taxing or stressful. At the same time, it should be repeatable, such that there is a steady focus.

In your case, you happen to follow one of the oldest occupations there is. Your days are spent outside. You eat food that is not contaminated with poisonous chemicals. You could make a video about how the food reaches the table and there would not be any age-restriction. No blood to shed. No one has to fear looking at graphic images precisely because all the images are pristine in nature. This is nature; at least how you have experienced it.

This simpler life has strengthened what the teachers call vairagya, which is the lack of attachment. Jnana and vairagya are key for advancement of the human condition. Jnana is knowledge. It takes knowledge to understand the benefit of detachment. Though a person can find unsteadiness in any situation, you happen to have your attachments under control, at least based on an honest assessment.

If ever an accurate accusation can be made about your attachments, it would be towards one particular animal. You see, you are quite fond of it. This animal is the female version of a certain species. This animal is good to you. It answers to its name. It lives more simply than you. This animal eats grass from the field. When it comes in contact with its children, there is production of a wonderful liquid substance. Enough gets produced for the local population to enjoy. The extracted liquid can then be further refined, to be utilized in a variety of ways. The excrement that this animal drops at regular intervals can be used for fuel and for cleaning. Even the urine has amazing healing properties. This animal happens to be so beloved that the object of worship in your community, the person you view as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has several names associated with this animal.

“My dear friends, the cows are also charmed as soon as they hear the transcendental sound of the flute of Krishna. It sounds to them like the pouring of nectar, and they immediately spread their long ears just to catch the liquid nectar of the flute.” (A gopi speaking to her friends, Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Volume 1, Chapter 21)

You have many such animals on the property. They are living as happily and as peacefully as you are. There is certainly a kind of attachment. This animal is practically one of the family. There is never a thought given to violence of any kind. This animal is forever dear to you and the community. Like an ominous cloud suddenly appearing over the area, one day something unimaginable takes place. A stranger arrives. They are a representative of the local governing body. They are here to take away your precious animal. They won’t take all of them in one visit, but eventually, one by one, you will have to part ways.

“There are seven kinds of mothers according to Vedic injunction: the real mother, the wife of a teacher or spiritual master, the wife of a king, the wife of a brahmana, the cow, the nurse, and the mother earth. Because Putana came to take Krishna on her lap and offer her breast’s milk to be sucked by Him, she was accepted by Krishna as one of His mothers.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Volume 1, Chapter 6)

You try your best to convince the visitor out of their decision. You cannot understand why they are doing this. You explain to this person that the animal is practically sacred to your people. This animal has been doing good for everyone for thousands of years. Why on earth is it being stolen, then? The visitor explains as follows:

“We are going to kill these animals. We want to consume their flesh. Sure, we have other animals that we can eat. We are already killing them. But the flesh of this animal is something amazing. We cannot live without that meat. We will even kill its children, on occasion. That taste is different, but also wonderful. Oh, don’t worry. We will continue to extract all of that amazing liquid substance that it produces, while it is still living. And one more thing. Did you know that if you kill one of these animals while they are pregnant and then puncture the heart of its living fetus, you get this amazing blood as a result? We are growing medical interventions within that blood, to later be forcefully injected into the population, at large. Who would have thought? I certainly would never have devised such a scheme. You see, my friend, your precious animal happens to be sacred to us, as well.”

In this way, we see that this animal is special to practically the entire population of human beings. The difference, of course, is in the treatment. The accompanying consequences will also be different. The principle descends from the relationship every living being has to the Supreme Lord. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita, everyone follows Him, no matter what. The difference is in the nature of the affiliation. The atheists only interact with the shadow portion that is the material nature. Their reward is continued association with that nature, which is miserable and temporary. The devotees, due to their kindness, appreciation, and love, receive the reward of ascension to the akshara place, which is imperishable.

अव्यक्तोऽक्षर इत्युक्तस्तमाहु: परमां गतिम्
यं प्राप्य न निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम

avyakto ’kṣara ity uktas
tam āhuḥ paramāṁ gatim
yaṁ prāpya na nivartante
tad dhāma paramaṁ mama

“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.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 8.21)

In Closing:

Like member of family to call,
But actually sacred to all.

For others blood to spill,
For taste en masse to kill.

Consequences suffering then,
Different for protection when.

Not again to suffering to arrive,
The friends to Vaikuntha to rise.

Categories: stories

Tags: cows, dailyprompt, hare krishna, nature, poem, poems, poetry, vegetarianism