Krishna Consciousness & Ecological Awareness

Posted at Food for Thought

By Bhakta Chris, Life Comes From Life

Last Tuesday night, at a jam-packed program at the Astanga Yoga Studio and Sri Ganesh Temple in Manhattan, His Holiness Radhanath Swami spoke about the need to clean the pollution from the ecology of our hearts,so that we will be able to clean the pollution from the ecology of our surrounding natural environment.

Maharaja gave a startling, personal example, in which he related that during a recent visit to the Himalayan Mountains, the same mountains he had wandered through thirty-five years ago in search of the Truth, he noticed that the formerly pure-white snow-capped peaks had become stained gray and black from the immense air pollution spewing from India’s major cities.

He then related a very sobering bit of news he had heard from one of his scientist associates, in which because of this pollution and its resultant climatic alterations, there is every chance that two of India’s biggest and most sacred rivers, the Ganges and the Yamuna, may dry up by 2050.

The fact is that the body of this planet and our own physical and emotional bodies are on the verge of chaotic collapse. Who can chant Hare Krsna in the streets of Manhattan when the streets of Manhattan have been swallowed up by the Atlantic Ocean?

My first reaction, being a prideful rascal, was one of dare I say pleasure to hear one of the most spiritual personalities alive on this planet using the plight of our earthly environment to forcibly get across his point of the drastic need for a immediate re-spiritualization of the planet.

As I try to become more absorbed on this path of devotion to Krsna, to rid myself of my lusty attachment to all that is material, I cannot shake the plain truth that unless we as devotees move more towards the forefront of the worldwide movement for sustainability, we will be losing a grand portion of our ability to spread the rays of the benediction moon that is this sankirtana movement.

What must we do within our institution of ISKCON to make these environmental issues a priority in our outreach? What can we do as individual devotees and as individual temples to help make these issues a priority? At New Vrindaban, even though we live in a vegetarian community and are trying to systematically protect a number of cows, we struggle to convince the majority of the community to not use wasteful styrofoam, and previous composting and recycling programs have been lost in a haze of inefficiency and indifference. It is a very uphill battle.

Radhanath Swami said that the waters of the Ganges are always completely pure, but when mixed with polluted elements, the waters appear to be unclean. We must remember that the Ganga water, like the nature of the soul, is never contaminated.

Like the filtering of this water, we must begin by filtering out all polluted elements within our selves so that we can face the challenges of this world with positive, forward-thinking consciousness. True action begins within ourselves, but we must begin now, and move quickly, because it may already be too late.

What is your ecological footprint? Take the quiz.

By Geoffrey Lean and Harriet Shawcross, The Independent

It seems like the plot of a particularly far-fetched horror film. But some scientists suggest that our love of the mobile phone could cause massive food shortages, as the world’s harvests fail.

They are putting forward the theory that radiation given off by mobile phones and other hi-tech gadgets is a possible answer to one of the more bizarre mysteries ever to happen in the natural world – the abrupt disappearance of the bees that pollinate crops. Late last week, some bee-keepers claimed that the phenomenon – which started in the US, then spread to continental Europe – was beginning to hit Britain as well.

The fifteenth National Vegetarian Week, sponsored by Cauldron Foods, aims to celebrate vegetarianism in its broadest sense and prompt media discussion on the topics of vegetarian food, health benefits, lifestyle and commitment.

The range of veggie food stuffs and products just keeps on growing, provision for vegetarians when dining out is getting better and better and people are taking much more of an interest in the food that they eat and how it is produced. As a result vegetarianism today is no longer seen as something cranky or hippy, but instead, very much part of the mainstream. Go into any supermarket in the UK and you will find aisle upon aisle stacked full of delicious veggie food products.

As well as an increasingly huge range of exotic fruit and vegetables on display, almost all supermarkets now have exclusively vegetarian freezer sections storing vegetarian sausages, bacon, burgers, mince, stir-fry pieces, fillets, pies and other meat alternatives. In fact becoming a vegetarian has never been easier, tastier or more nutritious. So if you’re looking for fresh ideas and some inspiration to take you forward towards a more compassionate lifestyle choice you are already in the right place.

The week’s success relies significantly on the involvement of businesses, community groups, vegetarian groups, organisations and individuals so we’re asking YOU to get involved!

Why is it green to go veggie?
http://www.vegsoc.org/vegweek/reasons.html

By Hugh Muir
The Guardian

Haribol Prabhus,

I have recently been informed about Shambu the Bull, who is part of a faith
community that is being targetted for slaughter from the Welsh and UK
government. This bull has reacted to a TB test. It has also reacted to a
second test. The government has issued a notification of their intention to
slaughter this bull.

The community are practitioners of karma and bhakti yoga and as such they
allow their animals to live out their full lives. The community has moved
the bull into their temple room and are prepared to resist moves to
slaughter the bull.

The implication for the ISKCON herds especially in the UK and perhaps Europe
is that if this cow is slaughtered for potentially carrying TB then if any
ISKCON or other protected herds get TB or other similar diseases then they
will also be liable to be slaughtered.

The community are asking for support which at this time means they are
asking for people to sign their online petition.

Please spare a few minutes to check out the website, see the latest
development and sign their petition.

It is very important that we help this community as far as we can.

Their website is as follows:

http://www.skandavale.org/shambo.htm

ys syamasundara dasa
Farm Manager
Bhaktivedanta Manor
UK

By Ekendra Das

Have a look at this painting called The Persistance of Memory by the famous surrealist Salvador Dali. How does it capture you? Does it even draw your attention at all?

Many people find this painting captivating and definitive of the surrealistic movement in art. Here you have something familiar and distinctive – a clock. Clocks of this sort are usually found hanging on walls; yet here one is melting whilst hanging from the branch of a dead tree. Taking something out of context and superimposing it into an artificial environment is one aspect of surrealism. Even though it is sometimes said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’, this concept in relation to application of the Varnasrama culture in modern times is what I want to focus on in this article.

To help us to understand the four different divisions of varna Srila Prabhupada gave us the analogy of a human body. He likened the head of the body to the brahmanical or intellectual class of people. The arms of the body are compared to the ksatriya or administrative/warrior type of person. Just as arms can be used to activate, enforce and defend – the ksatriya class dutifully protects and administrates social injunctions under the guidance of the intellectual class. The vaisyas are like the stomach of the body. Those in this merchantile order are expected to generate an economy based on agriculture and are also expected to protect cows. The sudras are considered to be the legs of the body rendering their service by performing labour in support of the other social divisions.

Thus all four social divisions function as a whole just as the different parts of the body comprise a singular entity. So, despite that the four varnas are considered divisions of human society, they are inseperable and inter-dependent. To try to take the head, for instance, without the stomach renders a useless body. This is called ardha-kukkuṭī-nyāya, “the logic of half a hen” wherein one is impressed by the egg laying capacity of one part of the chicken but not so enthusiastic about the head which requires to be fed – so the logic is to chop off the head to remove the unwanted part .

Acknowledging the correlation between the four varnas, the question then arises “Does the existence of one particular class of people depend upon the existence of the other three?” The answer is plainly, “No“. A head is a head just like a brahmana is a brahmana like a clock is a clock. Obviously an individual with distinctive intellectual capacity is who he/she is. Division, therefore, of a group of people into different classes of society solely according to their innate qualities and abilities is feasible.

“Do the activities of one particular social order depend upon the activites of the other three?” This is an entirely different question altogether. Previously we questioned whether or not a brahmana could exist without the other types of people. Why not? “Can, though, a brahmana perform his function without the other social orders?” Not sustainably. This is largely due to performing their function out of context – just like the clocks in the image above. We can say – brahmana - but if the brahmana’s activities are not beneficial what to speak of in consideration of the complete social body then this definition falls into the realm of the surreal.

Article continued at: www.gopala.org/node/29

“This is the single most powerful and informative movie about society’s treatment of animals. A must see for anyone who cares enough to know.”
- Woody Harrelson

EARTHLINGS is a feature length documentary about humanity’s absolute dependence on animals (for pets, food, clothing, entertainment, and scientific research) but also illustrates our complete disrespect for these so-called “non-human providers.” The film is narrated by Academy Award nominee Joaquin Phoenix (GLADIATOR) and features music by the critically acclaimed platinum artist Moby.

With an in-depth study into pet stores, puppy mills and animals shelters, as well as factory farms, the leather and fur trades, sports and entertainment industries, and finally the medical and scientific profession, EARTHLINGS uses hidden cameras and never before seen footage to chronicle the day-to-day practices of some of the largest industries in the world, all of which rely entirely on animals for profit. Powerful, informative and thought-provoking, EARTHLINGS is by far the most comprehensive documentary ever produced on the correlation between nature, animals, and human economic interests. There are many worthy animal rights films available, but this one transcends the setting. EARTHLINGS cries to be seen. Highly recommended!

Check out the 7 minute trailer at: http://www.isawearthlings.com/trailer.html