Equal Vision

May 20, 2006 Okayama, Japan
Dear Linda, Stephen and Kids,
I just wanted to let you knot that I am praying for your success in your fight to keep your cows in your yard. I am not Hindu, but I think you are doing the right thing by keeping cows. If the authorities tell yu you can’t have cows in your yard, ask them why people are allowed to have washing machined on their porches! All the cows in Japan moo for you!!

Amy Chavez  http://dailymoooo.blogspot.com

  The Essene Church of Mount Carmel

The Archbishops Comment on  a  Civil Rights Lawsuit over the Protection of Cows           

March 5, 2005

Peaceful Greetings,

It is our hope this letter will touch you with peace, love, truth and compassion as these are some of the principles which encompass the boundaries of law.

Law and order is a very good thing.  Primarily, it allows us to live with each other and provides a method of settling disputes.  The sword of justice is to be wielded with compassionate judgment.  Although the parties involved here may have different ways of viewing this problem, their settlement must not negate the use of such principles as those stated above. 

If people really do want peace then they must be willing to sacrifice their point of view in favor of living together.  In this case no one is right or wrong but what we pray remains is tolerance and respect for the viewpoint of another.  We can’t really change this world unless we decide to change ourselves.  Of all things that must happen change is at the forefront.  It is what we do with ourselves when change comes that leaves us with a decision to accept or deny what we cannot control.

We believe in a concept called ‘Ahimsa’.  The universal principle of Ahimsa is a Sanskrit word which specifies a responsibility toward nonviolence and a commitment to fostering goodwill, respect and reverence, for all people, regardless of creed, color, culture, income bracket or nationality.  This stems from an understanding and compassion towards all living things.  This is something we feel was endowed to all people by our Creator as some tend to reflect upon life which is given so freely.  As mentioned before, this is a concept of great respect and reverence, for the compassion we show to the least amongst us depicts the quality of love and caring we would have for one another.

It is hatred and bigotry which block our understanding and act like a boulder on the road of change.  Far too long has mankind not been willing to treat one another as they themselves would want to be treated.  This practice is the foundation of our living together.  For if we can not live together what will become of us? 

We choose not to eat the flesh of slain beasts because compassion towards all living things tells us so.  We do not feel our lives are any less because we follow this path.  Instead we feel life has been enhanced and find a closer relationship with all creatures of creation.  We do know this is our choice and it is different than most people’s lifestyle.  Thankfully, we are allowed to do it with little objection.  People don’t really care what we eat.

On our North American continent, most people feel that animals require control.  It is important to remember there was little human control of animals for thousands of years.  Animals are now exploited, giving their very lives to supply an economically dependant population with many products.  In order to do this it is necessary to pen and contain the animals since most are but bred for slaughter.  Within this mindset it must appear quite strange to encounter people who do not share this point of view but that is what makes America a great country.  It is a place where people can be respected and protected under law for what they believe as well as the right to express themselves.  Should this ideal not be respected, then it must be appealed for America is a hope for everyone in the world.  A place where no matter what religion or what color or whatever a person believes they can come to prosper and to live in peace.

Thank you for your time and understanding.

Peace Be With You,

Archbishop Marlo Oosterhuis
Archbishop Paula Gott

(Essene Nazorean Church of Mount Carmel)

  NoMoreInjustice.org tells the story of a family's struggle to win the right to protect cows as part of their  religious practice.

  Chapter 1

DEDICATED TO MATWAS & MALDHARIS
(MUSLIM COWHERDS & HINDU COWHERDS)

This thesis attempts to bring out the most important phase of the basic Indian economy thrown overboard in its stride by the frenzied industrial tempo. Let me state clearly that I am not against industry but most emphatically insist that all industrial development must be in consonance and in conformity with the herein discussed basic Indian economy. Industry should support and not distort this basic cow economy of the country. V.M. Vasu

The recent anti-cow-slaughter agitation has aroused a worldwide interest in spite of the fact that both the agitator and the other side have, either from ignorance or on purpose, nearly ignored the most important aspect of the cow-issue, namely, its economy woven in the Indian life through centuries and centuries. Even the Muslim rulers of India. from Babar downwards accepted that the basic fiber of the Indian Economy is woven around the cow to the extent that even reportedly anti-Hindu Aurangzeb did not ado the cow-slaughter ban confirmed from time to time by Babar, Akbar and other Emperors.

The cow is the foundation of one of the greatest economies in the world. It is forgotten that the Hindu Religion, the Hindu Culture and the Indian Life are woven around the cow, and in consequence protagonists of cow-slaughter ban are dubbed religious fanatics, communalists and reactionaries by the foreign and the Indian vested interests whose vigorous propaganda has created an atmosphere of skepticism in the country, clouding the real issue. And yet the stormy scenes witnessed in New Delhi on 7th November, 1966 and the fasts of the Jagatguru Sankaracarya have aroused considerable interest in the world. A truthful picture of the issue may help those interested but the aim here is to bring the truth to the notice of the leadership of the country who should with a free mind study and consider the full implications of the issue discussed. Also the notice of the youths of the day is sought to be attracted to this basic factor of the Indian life for it is these youths and their progeny who will have to face the disaster envisaged on account of the cow slaughter.

Here it should be noted that the agitation for cow slaughter ban was not an election stunt; in fact a complete cow slaughter ban has been advocated from earlier periods of the British Rule as far back as 1857. Late Sheth Shri Goculdas, the pioneer of the famous house of Morarji Goculdas appealed to the British Government to enforce a cow slaughter ban. His son Sheth Morarji Goculdas did plan to go to England and agitate for the cow slaughter ban but unfortunately his early death foiled the plan. Thereafter his son, Sheth Narottam Morarji undertook his father’s mission and did present a case to the British Government in London. And throughout in the subsequent years this demand has persisted through different persons and institutions all over the country. Shree Jivadaya Mandli of Bombay has always worked for the implementation of the cow slaughter ban and its Hon. Secretary Shri Jayantilal Mankar has devoted his life to this cause.

To appreciate in full all the aspects of the issue, we have to go deep into the past. Here one point in respect of Hinduism needs be borne in mind, namely, that Hinduism as a religion is perhaps the most practical and earth-bound, i.e. material religion so far as material life is concerned as it is highly idealistic in respect of spiritual aspects. For centuries downwards our country’s economy is cow based, carrying on farming and transport with bullocks. and obtaining nourishing food from cow. So old thinkers placed the cow on a high religious pedestal to provide adequate protection to the cow and thereby to the economy This Essay attempts to bring to the notice of the people the basic facts of the cow economy which has so far been disregarded.

The total area of our country is 32.6 crore hectares having East to West distance of 2977 km. and North to South span of 3219 km. A population of nearly 50 crores is spread over this vast area. Of this 82% Is in 666878 villages, nearly half of these villages having less than 500 persons. And of course It Is this rural area that does the farming and so supports the cow. In the centuries-old cow economy of this country, nearly all basic necessities of life were woven around the pivotal cow.

to be continued

1. Farming and manure
2. Food and nourishment
3. Transport
4. Fuel
5. Housing
6. Medicinal usage

After good rains the grazing ground for the animals was full of green pasture, and both the bulls and the cows sat down on the grass fully satisfied. The cows, followed by their calves, appeared tired of grazing, because of full milk bags. Calmly and quietly the cows and calves rested and ruminated, chewing their cud.

 Protection and grazing ground for the cows are among the essential needs for society and the welfare of people in general. The animals fat required for the human body can be well derived from cow’s milk. Cow’s milk is very important for human energy, and the economic development of society depends on sufficient food grains, sufficient milk, and sufficient transportation and distribution of these products. Lord Sri Krsna, by his personal example, taught us the importance of cow protection, which is meant not only for the Indian climate but for all human beings all over the universe.

Less intelligent people underestimate the value of cow’s milk. Cow’s milk is also called gorasa, or the juice from the body of the cow. Milk is the most valuable form of gorasa, and from milk we can prepare many important and valuable foodstuffs for the upkeep of the human body. The killing of cows by the human society is one of the grossest suicidal policies, and those who are anxious to cultivate the human spirit must turn their first attention toward the question of cow protection.

If we really want to cultivate the human spirit in society we must have first-class intelligent men to guide the society, and to develop the finer tissues of our brains we must assimilate vitamin values from milk. Devotees worship Lord Sri Krsna by addressing Him as the well-wisher of the brahmanas and the cows. The most intelligent class of men, who have perfectly attained knowledge in spiritual values, are called the brahmanas. No society can improve in transcendental knowledge without the guidance of such first-class men, and no brain can assimilate the subtle form of knowledge without fine brain tissues. For such important brain tissues we require a sufficient quantity  of milk and milk preparations. Ultimately, we need to protect the cow to derive the highest benefit from this important animal. The protection of cows, therefore, is not merely a religious sentiment but a means to secure the highest benefit for human society.