Sadhguru recently answered a devotee on why milk is used despite the torture to the cows. Paraphrasing, he said that if they aren’t kept for the milk, then they will be sent to the slaughter house.
As expected, it caused some outrage in vegan groups.
I had experimented with being vegan a few years back. Now I do consume milk. But I feel quite strongly about the matter and have spent much time pondering on it. Taking this opportunity to jot my thoughts.
TLDR
I have found this matter to be fairly complex. There are lots of different aspects that need to be pondered upon. I am jotting a list of these below. But since it will be a long winding list, here is the brief summary:
Sadhguru articulates in his answer the crux of the matter – the inherent aggression and cruelty of life. However, he hasn’t touched upon all aspects of bovine animal breeding in this particular answer, maybe in future sometime he will do.
You can watch his entire answer here (timestamp – 1:12:45)
My thoughts:
There is no ideal solution that is practically feasible. And thus, in view of making the best possible choice – dairy products are consumed.
However, the quantity of consumption should be calibrated as per needs. It must not be overdone. This is true of all food anyway, but for milk, specifically, we can be particularly thoughtful. Also, we can opt for sources which are more holistic for cows.
That has been my conclusion.
Matters to ponder on around milk consumption & related animal cruelty
1) If we don’t drink milk what is the consequence on the dairy industry?
In short term,
More slaughter house business? That’s what Sadhguru says. And it seems likely. Cause the farmers will need to cash in. They won’t be able to take care of the cows which doesn’t earn its keep.
In long term,
IF (big IF) the dairy industry does recede then slaughter business will still flourish. IF (bigger IF) we are looking at a future where animal slaughter will diminish then that is a different situation indeed. But I simply don’t see it practically possible.
2) Isn’t getting killed (slaughtered) better than a life of misery and slavery?
But is the life of a cow kept for milking as bad as slavery?
If the animals lived such a miserable life then the milk would be poison (proverbially, if not literally). No yoga or spiritual path would allow it.
Moreover, having interacted with a couple of people and seen on ground. Firstly, in smaller households the cow holds a place of pride. She is not kept miserable. She is really taken care of.
In industries also, a lot of them are working on providing a lot of infrastructure that will keep the cows well. High quality feed, grazing areas, better milking practices. Some places play music that the cows like. Happy cows = better milk.
So, the animals aren’t in that state of misery/slavery. At least not the better kept animals.
Sure some breeding places are horrible. That must change!
Simply, looking at their lives of captivity and then super imposing that condition on ourselves – what if we were kept like that?! Well, there are massive differences in the social order of an animal versus a human. Plus, the quality of life in captivity for a domestic animal is a different matter from that of a wild animal.
Aren’t pet dogs happy? Even though their sexual practices and a lot of other natural instincts are being curtailed by the family rules / training and such.
There is some injustice in this. But whether it is earth shaking slavery as told by animal activists and vegan folk is questionable.
3) Our bodies may require dairy products!
One is B12. Otherwise, we need to rely on external allopathic medicines which I am not comfortable with. Our ancestors have relied on milk from generations. Simply culling it out and replacing with a tablet is questionable at best. Medical science is still figuring stuff out and it keeps changing its stand. Tomorrow we might know that Milk provides us with some other very important nutrient.
Despite consuming milk, I still have to go in for medical B12 replenishment courses. So, I don’t see how one can choose to simply go off milk.
4) Indian Culture & History On Milk Consumption
Through generations, a lot of Indian people have remained vegetarian. Strict vegetarians, if we consider the Jains and Brahmins and Yoga folk and other communities. Through droughts and hardships they stuck to their food restrictions as best as possible.
So, they were willing to observe strict restrictions. They could have easily stopped milk consumption too. But they didn’t.
Why?
Vegan folk and animal activists will point to their hypocrisy. But I don’t think it is hypocrisy. I think they consume milk, cause the matter is not so simple. And thus, wise people and even enlightened folk have advocated its usage.
5) Enlightened Beings on Milk Consumption
Jain scriptures are insanely in-depth with regards food and dietary practices. It has gone into minute details of how to eat, when to eat, not eat etc.. And yet milk is pretty much allowed in even their most rigorous fasts. I haven’t actually read the scriptures on milk usage but the fact that it has been allowed is clear.
Similarly, in Ramana Maharshi’s ashram there is a shrine for Laxmi, the cow. Ramana himself sat with her through her last moments and then said she had achieved Nirvana. Even this Laxmi cow had to go through the rigours of bovine life. Her nose was pierced with rope. She was milked. Albeit must have been a more holistic process in those days. But… even she went through these life rigours.
6) Vegan milk alternatives are very costly in the Indian market – can I justify that spend?
In countries like India, where there is so much poverty and need. The vegan milk alternatives cost 10x the dairy milk! One packet of dairy milk costs 30 INR while a good quality vegan milk will cost 300 INR or more. It is crazy!
I could save that extra money and fund a kids education or meal or medical treatment? I could even spend that money to fund a bovine animal so they are kept out of the slaughter house – yes, there are services like that.
(Vegan milk is supposedly easy to make at home… but I haven’t managed to make good alternatives as yet. One could replace milk with kanjis, juices and other non-milk alternatives – but they have to be made at home)
7) Indian Market Not Ready with Dairy Alternatives
In other countries like Australia, Taiwan and Thailand, it is easier to reduce dairy consumption and simply move to alternatives. Healthy juices, well priced nut milk or other options.
But in India, as yet, milk is most accessible and well priced quick, healthy drink. Most juice packs, unfortunately, are loaded with sugar. And apart from juices there is anything else in a comparable price range.
Maybe this will change in the future. In this case, definitely milk consumption can be reduced.
8) Animals Produce Organic Content for the Soil
This was something I had never imagined. Modern urban thinking suggests that mechanizing farms and agriculture is the best way forward. But recently Sadhguru has been talking about soil quality and replenishment.
And he says, the two main sources of organic content for the soil – animals and trees – are both reducing on farms drastically and thus, causing severe soil quality problems.
It seems that having animals grazing the soil and some tree cover is the natural and effortless way for ongoing supply of organic content – animal waste, dried leaves and such.
So the point is that natural systems and processes have a lot of benefits. Simply culling them out could have many other dire consequences.
That’s all for now.
This list of aspects to ponder on is probably not exhaustive. I may add some more thoughts in future.
Happy to know your thoughts.
I think this is one of those situations where logic won’t bring the answer. One has to make a judgement call balancing different social realities.
Leaving you with a couple of excerpts of discussion from Ramana Maharshi, (source : Talks with Ramana book)
Mrs. Piggott: Why do you take milk, but not eggs?
M.: The domesticated cows yield more milk than necessary for their
calves and they find it a pleasure to be relieved of the milk.
D.: But the hen cannot contain the eggs?
M.: But there are potential lives in them.
D: Is it not killing life to prepare meat diet?
M: Ahimsa [non-violence] stands foremost in the code of discipline for the yogis.
D: Even plants have life.
M: So too the slabs you sit on!
Hi Priyanka,
I have read your post above and my counter arguments are below. Please be aware that I sometimes might be direct and sound harsh, but please be open and try to take them constructively. I have no intention of insulting or hurting you.
First and foremost, regarding the posted video of Sadhguru in the above post. I have to state here that Sadhguru got it factually incorrect when saying that cows will be slaughtered if they do not produce milk. Even you have mentioned that Sadhguru did not touch on the breeding aspects of the cows. The fact is that even after the cows are milked, after a few years when they are not so productive they will be slaughtered for meat or sent for slaughter which sounds most probable going with the ban of cow slaughter in many Indian states. Haven’t you thought why India is one of the largest (2nd largest I think) exporter of beef in the world? Of course in this numbers, buffaloes are also included. Do you have any idea what happens to the male calves born to the milking cows? They are either killed, sent to be slaughtered for meat or leather or they could be released on to the streets. Haven’t you seen bulls, cows or calves around the streets? From where do you think they come from? And I do not think I will have to elaborate on the process of milking or artificially impregnating the cows.
You might be right that there might not be ‘no ideal solution that is practically feasible” but perhaps only for the farmers who are very poor. However, I have seen videos of many dairy farmers switching completely to veganic farming practices. So, it sounds practicable for even the poor farmers in India, if given the right support and guidance.
For the consumers like you and I, the best possible choice and solution for “ideal solution that is practically feasible” is to stop consuming and using dairy products completely. If you see from the perspective of the cows and bulls, you will arrive at that solution. In your conclusion of the solution, I cannot see that you have given a priority to the right of the cows. How come the pain and suffering of the cows is lower than our greed, desires, habits, culture and tradition? Why do we really have to take into account different social realities when all social realities depict greed, desires, concepts, ideologies, habits, cultures and traditions of humans? And moreover, since as people on the spiritual path, how do you really make a choice that cows lives are lesser important than the lives of people?
As people on the spiritual path, why do we have to still live with social realities or worry about social realities? As spiritual seekers, haven’t we already declared that we no longer are dictated or influenced by social conditionings? When we even have strived to no longer be controlled by our bodies or the mind, how come the social aspects are even a thing to be given a priority? Especially when comparing it against aspects such as non-violence, compassion and love?
The above mentioned solution of completely stopping consuming or using dairy products can come even through using only logic as opposed to what you have stated. In fact, if you use only logic, you cannot arrive at anything else other than that. If you let your cultural, traditional and habitual conditionings take over you when using logics, then of course your answer will be different from this.
Since you have stated “However, the quantity of consumption should be calibrated as per needs. It must not be overdone.” Let us talk through example here to see how absurd and weird your logic sounds. There are child abuses everywhere. No matter how much we try to make stringent laws and child protection laws, it happens rampantly. Now, in spite of these realities, what would be our ideal solution or goal? Wouldn’t we say that we should stop child abuses completely no matter what? Are you going to say that, since it would be difficult to curb every child abuser or monitor children and people completely, we could perhaps let a child be abused once every 2 years for 1 minute? Would that random suggestion be acceptable? And again, would you sympathise with the child abuser over the victim, the child, itself? Would you pity and sympathise child abusers and say that since they would not have any child to abuse at all, we could let something like the above random figure be okay?
Regarding the lines from Ramana Maharshi related to the milking of cows, I am a bit disappointed to be truthful in him, if he meant relieving of the cows for drinking the milk literally. What he stated does not sound logical, true and factual. If the cows feel relieved from getting milked, it should be true for all mammals. However, I am aware through some practical personal experience that when there is more than enough milk being produced by a human mother and her child cannot finish it, the mother sometimes feels pain in her breasts. She will relieve herself of the pain by squeezing the milk out of the breasts. It can also happen that the milk might ooze out of the breast on its own, I have seen such cases a few times. If these are such similar cases for the mother cows as well, it does not mean that we can drink its milk when we squeeze the extra surplus milk. We can choose to relieve the cows but choose not to drink the milk. I mean why do we have to drink it anyway? Though in similar cases when it comes to humans, we might squeeze out the surplus milk, but we would not consume that milk. Now, why do you think we would not drink human milk, but we might choose to drink a cows milk in such situations? Isn’t this case a sign of getting influenced by cultural and social conditionings?
There is another thing related to Ramana Maharshi probably supporting milking of cows. Some spiritual gurus and (supposedly) realised beings ate meat. Nisargadatta Maharaj ate meat and was highly addicted to tobacco. Ramakrishna Parahamsa ate fish. Does that mean that we should also eat meat or fish or even take tobacco just because they ate or used them? Sure, I do not support this behaviour of such so called realised people even to give them some consideration but only on aspect of meat eating. On other aspects of what they might say, I might yield to them. Till now, I have only found one good explanation of such behaviours of such realised beings. The link below has the video which gives an insight into that. Have a look at it if you are interested.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it0lpnInXFs&t=1216s
To just comment on your overall comments. Perhaps you should focus on your individual actions. Shouldn’t ultimately the only thing that really matters in many aspects is our own individual action? What would you say your individual action would be if you wanted to stop women’s sexual harassment at workplaces? Would you find excuses that even without any of your personal contribution sexual harassment of women at workplaces might occur? Or would you reject and not support any such occurrences at all? Or if you see one, perhaps if you have the courage and are in a position to do so, try to stop from happening such incidences? Why is it that when it comes to dairy products and cows, all of these types of reasoning and rationale has faded within you? All I can see when you try to give your side of justifications and reasonings are excuses to continue supporting cruelty and exploitation of cows. You of all people should know this being on a spiritual path. Don’t we focus on individual actions or karma in spirituality?
Since you mentioned that you were vegan once. It looks like you haven’t fully understood what really and actually veganism means. Below is the official definition of veganism from The Vegan Society.
“Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.”
Forgetting the second half of the definition, which is not that important, you can clearly see that it is not entirely about food. So, in essence non-violence, love and compassion are at the foundation or root of veganism. Though some might not think so and claim animal rights or justice as the foundation, these two attributes ultimately also root from love, compassion or non-violence or are related.
I will try to put some counter arguments to your “Matters to ponder on around milk consumption & related animal cruelty” list, list by list. But since I have already written most of the things that I wanted to say, I might just provide short paragraphs.
1) If we don’t drink milk what is the consequence on the dairy industry?
From Economics point of view, if the demand decreases, then obviously supply should decrease. If there are less demand for dairy products, less cows will be breed (artificially since that is what is practised anyway) into existence, and so less cows or bulls. If the government is lobbied which is usually the case into supporting a keeping dairy industry alive, this relation of demand and supply might not be so straight, but even then, decreasing demands should definitely help.
Precisely because a framer cannot take care of the cows after they are unproductive after 3-6 years, they are sent to slaughter (or exported for slaughter as in India most probably). Do you know that an average age of a cow or a bull is about 20-25 years? Just think how long a farmer will have to take care of the cows after it stops giving expected yields. Or do you think that a farmer will keep on getting milk from a cow till its last years of life?
2) Isn’t getting killed (slaughtered) better than a life of misery and slavery?
What does captivating a once wild and free animals and then domesticating it for our own personal gains and greed look like to you? Isn’t this the very definition of slavery? What if someone captured you, treated you well but did not let you go anywhere beyond his/her property only in order so that he/she could get the pleasure of looking at you or the way you act? Yes, even keeping pets, in my view is a form of taking away their freedom, but reality is that they might not survive in the wild anymore. Even then, if at all keeping pets, we could bring home an animal from the street or rescued animal, not from a breeding shelter.
I agree in smaller households, animals or cows are really kept well and treated lovingly. But is that really love when this action is associated with our own desires, gains and greed? See, we do not do such things as on cows to a human daughter or wife. Surely, we (this includes smaller households), claim to love and take care of the daughters or wives (ignoring dowry or patriarchy aspects for example), but in no way we will milk them so that we can consume their milk or milk products when they give birth to a child. Have you thought why we don’t do that to human girls but we do that to cows? Does that mean that if we took good care and gave love to a human female slave, treating her like a family member, supposing slavery were legal today, we could drink her milk when she gave birth to a child? Would you be really okay if the cows were replaced by you?
We would even shun away from drinking our own mother’s milk when we grow into an adult if our mothers were to give birth to a child, but will not hesitate to drink a cow’s milk? Isn’t that absurd and weird? See, we will claim to love our mothers but will not drink her milk in adulthood. Surprisingly, we claim to love cows, but drink her milk and consume other milk products? So, what do you think has gone wrong or is inconsistent here?
Yes, your statement of “there are massive differences in the social order of an animal versus a human” is correct. But what has that to do with truth? The social order is just a concept which is created and made a reality by humans. Animals do not have social order like humans but that does not mean that they do not have equal or lesser right to life than a human. And you being in the spiritual path, how could you even think of like that? In your statement, I can see nothing but human supremacy or speciesism mentality like many humans or non-vegans.
3) Our bodies may require dairy products!
Medically or physiologically nothing in the milk is present that we cannot get directly from plants. Regarding, B12 there are a few clarifications to make. B12 is produced by some bacteria found in the soil. In today’s modern times, because of extensive sterilization processes of our water system or food system, these bacteria can no longer thrive and so no B12 can be found naturally as in olden days. It is true that cows could get B12 from the plants or untreated water they drink, but even these is doubtful due to the modern water sanitisation processes or use of fertilisers or pesticides. Alternatively, livestock are fed Vitamin B12 (or any other vitamins including antibiotics) in the world. I think this might be true even in India.
4) Indian Culture & History On Milk Consumption
Does a culture, history and tradition give good enough justifications to continue the exploitation, torture, cruelty, suffering and vile practices on the cows and buffaloes? Look at just how we view the practice of dowry or sati related to Indian culture or tradition in today’s times?
The matter is rather simple if you just look from the cow’s perspective. Or perhaps bring your non-violence, compassion and love into your perspective and perception. The answer is right there, plain, simple and obvious.
I agree in the olden days, due to geographical circumstances or economic conditions or climatic conditions, Indian folks, especially Jains or Brahmins, might have just restricted to just being strict vegetarians but consuming dairy products. Even then, one cannot help but see the underlying conditionings present in these conflicting actions. I can just wonder if they were really spiritual enough. Having said that, whatever the reasons might be there is no justification to continue doing so in this modern age of technological advancements. There are plenty of food options available and food is available round the year unless one is in the heart of a desert or the poles. Even in those unimaginably harsh and impossible places, technological developments have proven that food could be easily grown.
In simple terms, there is simply no excuse to engage in using or consuming dairy products in today’s day and age.
5) Enlightened Beings on Milk Consumption
My paragraph related to Ramana Maharshi above is applicable here. I would also add that, when we say scriptures, please bear in mind that ordinary scriptures are all created by humans, who more or less might not have been ‘enlightened’ themselves. It could be that they could not overcome their cultural, habitual and social conditionings and so milk consumptions were allowed in the scriptures. Or they could have just presented practices in the scriptures that did not present them with too much of inconveniences.
If talking about scriptures, I have heard from the spiritual teacher (the speaker in the video provided in the above link) that Upanishads do not have any reference to milk or milk products, not even about meat eating or killing of animals or humans. The same case is true with reagrds to Bhagavad Gita. I haven’t read any scripture including the Upanishad or Bhagavad Gita, but when I see what the spirituality is all about, I think what seems to have been written in the Upanishad or Bhagavad Gita are most appropriate.
Spirituality has many meanings. But having said that, when we are trying to get freedom from everything including what call as ‘me’, ‘I’ or ‘myself’ or trying to find our true selves, I do not know how the likes of culture, society or tradition even finds a place to stand. How do they really matter and have importance when we are trying to get rid of those very identities? So, what does one make of the scriptures where cultural practices are mentioned?
People create culture and tradition. These cultural practices in no way indicate spirituality. And so, people practising a ‘Dharma’ or religious practice like a Jain does, does not necessarily mean that whatever he/she is practising is spirituality. I think you will completely agree with me here.
6) Vegan milk alternatives are very costly in the Indian market – can I justify that spend?
Well, yes vegan milk alternatives are definitely costly. But this does not mean that a person will die if that person does not consume the milk alternatives. To be truthful, it is just an option. If I give you my personal example, I do not consume much milk alternatives. I do it only occasionally but yes, I do consume rice daily.
If you cannot justify spending more on alternatives for the big reason and a cause to bring less exploitation and abuse of cows, when you uncessarily spend anyway on many nonsensical uncessary items, it just means that your love or compassion for the cows is less or low. And your priority for the cows is lesser than other things in your life. This also means that you have given more priority or importance to money than to cows. Alternatively, you could choose not to spend or buy alternatives or dairy products at all if you want stop supporting cruelty on cows. I mean buying alteratives to dairy is an option as I said before. Your no support for dairy alternatives does not mean that you support cruelty and exploitation of cows and buffaloes.
Shouldn’t we talk about individual actions. Why talk about general matters or scenarios or of other people when what I as an individual do actually matter? You would surely agree this being on a spiritual path. Other people show so many excuses for not doing or coming into spirituality, but you as an individual still are into some form of spirituality regardless of that, isn’t it? When it comes to drinking milk or using other milk products, where did that mindset or perception go?
7) Indian Market Not Ready with Dairy Alternatives
Well perhaps it is ready for dairy alternatives. As mentioned before, creating more demand creates more supply. So, perhaps people should start demanding more. But the demand being low of course indicates low number of vegans or less people realising that they are dairy intolerant. Did you know that over 60% of people in the world are dairy intolerant?
8) Animals Produce Organic Content for the Soil
I agree that animals produce organic content for the soil. However, this does not mean that we have to exploit animals for the sole purpose of using their waste to enrich the contents of the soil. Yes, we could shelter animals and give them a good life just like our pets and as their excretions are waste products anyway, use them for the soil. But if we raise animals only for creating mature or compost for the soil, the whole intent and perception has changed, and so the animal will be seen nothing more than a product or a commodity for us. And so, starts the exploitation of the animals.
Coming to producing organic content of the soil, even human waste or humans (dead bodies etc) could be used for that purpose. But we will dare not to do that. Why do you think so? We could think of using animals just because we are capable of it and not use humans because we dare not? What does this imply about the condition or thinking of a human being?
For your information, there are proven and successful veganic farming practices or models in the world. Perhaps they have not been fully commercialised or are not in a large scale. But it just demonstrates that farming methods without using animals at all is very much possible.
Namaste, thanks for the fairly long comment Duk Raj, it could become a blog post of its own 😀
I will need to take time out and read it slowly, to understand what you are trying to say. And considering that I have a lot of content – books, videos, sathsangs to catch up on, not sure I will get around to reading all of this. Especially, considering that there are many places you have called me human supremacist and stuff.
I understand that you aren’t happy with the highly respected Gurus like Ramana who have approved of dairy consumption, nor my thoughts on the matter. But it is how it is. And I put much weight on their words. I understand you have some logic and analogical arguments against it … that is fine. All the best to you with that.
Warm Regards
Namastee Priyanka,
Sorry for the long comment. I never planned to write that long, but it did turn out that way anyway. Yes, please do take some time when you can to understand what I am trying to say. And if possible provide me with some counter arguments or comments on my words.
Sorry if you felt like I had called you ‘human supremacist and stuff’. I did not mean to do that. That was not what I meant you are as such but just indicated that your justifications and reasoning are similar to many non-vegans. Thinking that you might find some of my words harsh and rude, in the beginning of my comments, I had given a disclaimer warning of some sort.
Yes, I also am aware of the fact that highly respected and realised beings like Ramana Maharshi approved of milk consumption. And I am not unhappy per se. Just thinking they could have done better. And being aware that whatever their reasons were, the truth is they were a part of exploitation of cows. Of course, I am also aware that on the whole Ultimate Absolute sense of Existence, nothing (and anything for that matter in Existence) matters. But we obviously do not operate in that sense when we have a body and living on this Earth or perhaps till we get the so called enlightenment or realisation. And so, I can not help but think in that way even when the actions belong to highly reaslised beings. In addition, I think I have provided some justifcation towards these thinking in my comments.
Thank you if you do manage to read my comments.
the whole matter is complex with many different layers of truth. And you are right, there are many aspects which are specifically about human society and matters. But those matters are real too. As you mention here, “we obviously do not operate in that sense when we have a body etc etc… ” So the matter has to be considered keeping physical realities, human social realities, inherent cruelty of life and many other realities in mind and thus, a best solution has to be arrived at. Since there are too many parameters to consider, a logical conclusion will not work. Because most humans don’t have the needed intellectual capabilities to truly be able to think through so many layers of truths, realities and needs. (I have written more details about the limitations of Logic here: https://inspirituality.in/give-logic-the-right-place-heart-vs-mind-situations/)
thus, the best judgement or decision is arrived at.
And that is, I feel what Ramana and all have done. That’s my understanding.
Hope it helps.
I have one more thing to add, for which I might write a new blog to address that aspect. Let’s see if it happens.
Have a good day.
Sorry for a late repsonse.
Like I mentioned before in my first response, focus on yourself. So, let us just talk about yourself first and then about others later on. Obviously you know this. You cannot make others do their own individual karma, but you are in full control of your own karma. So, if you think about others, other matters, political aspects or social aspects, it will of course be complex. Isn’t why spirituality in the first place because of all those other things in life? If you talk about your own individual behaviour, life and actions, the answer to our discussion or argument is so simple and obvious.
I understand you know this, but I will reiterate here again. Humans are born with a body (and a mind). Our bodies are essential for our own physical existence. When we have a body, violence is inevitable. When we walk, talk, eat, sleep, breathe and do any activity or no physical activity at all, some form of violence (Himsa) will be done. No matter what, as long as we have a body and living on this physical realm, violence in whatsoever magnitude is unavoidable. You might be aware, that millions and millions of microbes are found even in our bodies. So, obviously some of them benefit from living in our bodies, but no doubt they are also killed by our activities or even involuntary actions. So, if we do not want any violence at all, no matter how minuscule it is, even sitting and breathing is not enough. The only solution is cessation of our physical existence, meaning we will have to die.
Now if we want to keep the body, but want to live with compassion and with as little violence as possible (as much Ahimsa as possible), we will have to keep the body surviving, and do whatever other things that lets the body healthy and without its death. For survival of the body, food is necessary. To keep the body functioning, we can choose to eat whatever will sustain the body from death. Either we can eat plants, insects or animals and their products or in any combination we want. If we choose compassion and Ahimsa, we will have to eat in such a way which contains the least amount of violence and do other things apart from food consumption that has the least amount of violence. So, we should do as best as possible in our capacity to avoid violence in food, clothing, shelter, work etc.
Explaining further on the above, other things like clothes and shelter are also needed, so in there too, the same principle can be applied as above. Apart from these, things like entertainment, medicines, cosmetics etc might also be important, so we can apply the same principle again. Eating plants and their products and using them for our other needs and wants clearly has the most smallest amount of violence involved for our own physical existence. Thus, we should avoid all animals (including insects) and their products, and only use and eat plants and their products only if we choose to live in love, compassion and Ahimsa or spiritual in short . In other words, use only plants and plants based products, avoiding animal based or oriented items, things, programs, facilities or watsoever one does, as much as possible. And vegans have proven that this can be done practically and successfully without any hindrance. Of course here, too we can choose to eat plant foods not more than the body’s requirement for survival.
Please note the above paraghraphs are related to individual levels. From individual level, then we can shift our focus onto other aspects, people and society. But we have to ask the question. If what we have done for us and think what we are doing for ourselves is the best, how is that not best and good for others? How can things good for ourselves be different from other people?
I get your point of “many different layers of truth.” in your sentence “the whole matter is complex with many different layers of truth.” But I do not really understand. If there are many truth, and they are not meshing with one another and are in conflict with one another, are they really truth at all? Don’t you think something is wrong in that situation or circumstances or ordeal? Shouldn’t they be in harmony with one another if they are all truth? Don’t you think they might be just our notion of truth, but not truth in actuality? Don’t you think what we are thinking as truth is in actuality false or only human created concepts, notions, ideas etc that we have taken as real and as the truth?
I will clarify what I was hinting with this phrase “we obviously do not operate in that sense when we have a body etc etc… ”. In the whole Absolute Ultimate Reality or Existence, nothing really matters. Or perhaps everything matters? There is no right or wrong or even spirituality. Nothing like ‘killing is bad and wrong’ or ‘harming or torturing others is cruel’ matters. Nothing and absolutely nothing really matters. Even the word “cruelty” (since you have used “inherent cruelty of life”) does not matter as well.
Does that mean that we can eat our own and others excreta? Does that mean that we can kill somebody? Does that mean that we can eat humans and human babies? Does that mean that we can rape anyone? Does that mean we can rob anyone? Does that mean that we can beat our spouses, children or just anyone randomly? Does that mean that we can marry our own mothers or sisters, brothers, fathers, aunts, uncles or cousins? Does that mean that we can we have have sexual relationship with our own mothers, sisters, fathers, bothers, children or realtives whimsicaly? Does that mean that we can just punch someone or spit on them when we are walking on the street? Does that mean that we can shout at anyone in the street for no reason at all?
So, why don’t we do many such things in life as mentioned above when in actual reality (not human centric reality and reality like public transport facilites created by humans) and in truth nothing really matters, or there is no good or bad in the whole Absolute Ultimate sense of Existence or Reality?
Riveting article. I myself have given up eating meat a year ago and have largely cut down dairy consumption. I am no animal lover as such but after being exposed to the cruelties of animal farming and the effects it has on the environment, it seemed like a no brainer to not eat meat. I am still learning/ trying to understand the best way forward to further contribute to a more sustainable future. I do have to admit apart from the doubts , I have my own compulsions and prejudices I have to overcome. Loved the insights from Duk Raj Mafchan and you as well Priyanka!
We human beings like any other creature on the planet need to rely on some sources externally for food. Unless you can direct source it from Sunlight, which seems not be the case. So each creature is either killing another creature or plants to feed themselves. We cannot say the basic need for survival is being cruel. Plants gives us fruits and we pluck them. So are we creating hurt? We do agriculture and cut the entire crop? Isn’t that being cruel? If we start looking the very own source of food from the angle of cruelty then why the hell we exist. Isn’t it better to kill ourselves than killing anyone. (Someone stated above it is better to kill than a miserable life.)
I have seen daily farmers are loving and taking care of their child like their own. And they do first give the milk to the calf. Till you do it, the cow will not allow human beings to milk itself. I have personally seen it during my childhood when I used to visit my nani’s house. Also what my mousi used to tell me that we take the extra milk after the calf has consumed. I can relate to my own case when I was in hospital post my delivery, I gave my breast milk to 3 children in NICU while I was to go there to visit my daughter. So from those 3 children’s perspective it is not that I am depriving my own child of milk. We don’t have facility to donate excess milk in India else during my motherhood I had so much that goes waste and I could have easily fed 2 additional children along with mine.
Also we are creature are here to serve and contribute with what we have and what we can. So if cow, goat, buffaloes can contribute in healthy way by providing their milk then I do not relate it as they are living in miserable condition. If anyone is living in miserable condition then they cannot yield or be productive. Let it be humans in office or cows in cowshelter.
Also I don’t think if you consume milk then also you must have B12 medicines. I am 42 and my B12 levels are better than those eat non vegetarian food and I have never ever taken any B12 supplements.
Our culture has always promoted use of dairy products and even Lord Krishna was fond of Maakhan (for those who believe in him).
So as long as milk and its products are suiting your body , once can go about it. Don’t overthink or if you feel cows are being treated in cruelty then do something about it to make them happy. Find solution and act on the ground
Namastee Sunayana Bhalla,
Sorry, but it seems you do not understand the life of dairy cows in the dairy industry. Please read, watch videos or visit a local dairy farm. When I or any vegan is talking about dairy cows, it includes buffaloes as well.
In regard to your comment of sharing your breast milk with 3 other children at the hospital, I just have to say this. 3 children drinking milk from a cow is entirely different from you giving milk to 3 other children. First off, no one had forced you to give milk to the 3 children. You did that on your own accord, through your own choice. The cow on the other hand, has no choice at all. She is forced, rather a human snatches or steals the milk from the cow and then 3 children (just for example) are fed. Please see this difference.
Don’t you agree that you produced your milk primarily for your own child, but you made the choice to share your milk to the other 3 children. In the same manner, a cow also produces milk for her own child only. However, she makes no choice (like a human would) to share the milk to other calves, well in our practical cases, it is human children. The cow makes no choices since she does not have the capacity to make such a choice like a human would.
Okay, another one for you. So, you have already shared your milk with 3 children. Would you be willing to share your milk if given another chance, to 3 calves? There are perhaps more arguments to your comments, but I guess I will leave you with only this much.
Please realize that the cruelty, violence and arrogance of humans lie in the very act of taking the milk from a cow (or any other animal for that matter). Technically, this is nothing but a gross act of stealing (not saying that we don’t do that when we eat plants) from another sentient being.
Well, if you want to find a solution to all this milk problem, you can only do that by not consuming or using any milk and its products or by-products. In other words, the solution is to go vegan. Any other solution that does not include yourself being a vegan would be only a deception to yourself, a solution of avoiding the real problem, the elephant in the room. A solution that pleases the ego (your false self) and keeps it very much alive.