The 'Kirtaniya' Infestation in ISKCON, Part Five
BY: SUN EDITORS
Mar 05, 2013 — CANADA (SUN) —
Today we'll proceed in introducing our readers to a person we've referred to as a hostile parasitic element from outside ISKCON, who is working to change the hearts and minds of ISKCON devotees in favor of his own philosophy, which conflicts with the philosophy Srila Prabhupada established in his society.
Ray Ippolito is admittedly not a devotee, but is nonetheless a close associate of Radhanath Swami and Gaura Vani, and regularly participants in kirtan events involving them and many other ISKCON devotees and sannyasis.
Although we had occasionally seen his face in kirtan videos, we had never heard of Ray Ippolito until a short while ago, when he emailed us to initiate a discussion about an article in the Sun, "The Radhanathazation of ISKCON", written by Vastavika das in September 2012.
This article, written by a very senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada's, is an excellent commentary on Radhanath Swami's preaching and influence over ISKCON. We encourage everyone to read it, and read it again. Particularly in the context of this 'Kirtaniya' Infestation series, the author drives home the point that whatever Radhanath does -- including his support and proliferation of bogus, mayavada and sahajiya 'kirtan' -- many of our ISKCON leaders will also do. Encouraging and propagating unbonafide kirtan, Radhanath essentially functions as ISKCON's own Typhoid Mary. And as Vastavika das so clearly points out, Radhanath Swami is not only spreading bogus kirtan, he is contaminating the ISKCON body with so many other parasitic influences. One of these is Veganism. Vastavika prabhu writes:
"Radhanath Swami's latest adaptation of Krishna consciousness is to become a Vegan. He does not want to support the exploitation of the cow who is milked until dry and then slaughtered. A noble gesture, but it is not the example of his guru. Srila Prabhupada never instructed us to exorcise dairy from our diets, though he certainly was aware of the travesties. What does that say about Radhanath Swami/Srila Prabhupada? That Radhanath Swami does one better than his guru? Knows better? Is more "compassionate?" All of the above? Will he take the milk from the cows in ISKCON's goshalas? I hope so. Perhaps I'm the victim of misinformation or misinterpretation; he may just be doing it for his health. But we are followers of the Vedas, aren't we, and doesn't that include the Ayurveda? Milk is foundational to health in that system, as far as I know. What I do know for sure is that there will be a marked increase in Vegans in ISKCON, as word spreads that Radhanath Swami eschews the ingestion of anything made with milk. That just doesn't sound like Srila Prabhupada's program. Without milk preps, our preaching arsenal is depleted. Prabhupada called gulabjamuns, "ISKCON bullets….our ammunition against Maya."
In the case of Radhanath's kirtan associate, the radical Vegan, Ray Ippolito, one is left to wonder who infected who? As we'll see in the following text from our exchanges with Ray, it seems quite possible that he is the source of the Vegan infection who influenced Radhanath in this regard. Of course, it's a big world and Radhanath Swami could have been influenced by many Vegan associates before changing his philosophical position, but without a doubt, Ray Ippolito keeps the fire lit under the Swami and puts the Veganism torch to anything standing in his way. Also without doubt is the fact that Radhanath Swami is carrying this particular parasitic influence back into the ISKCON body.
In our opening segment of this series, we described the hostile parasites who infect ISKCON:
"They do so intentionally, hoping to succeed in infecting the body -- not so much to 'make it sick', as to change it, to transform it into something they want it to be."
This is clearly the case with Ray Ippolito. As the very dear friend of Gaura Vani and the associate of Radhanath Swami, countless numbers of ISKCON devotees and kirtaniyas are exposed to the influence of Mr. Ippolito. Not only does he have an ISKCON leader's stamp of approval and a 'free pass' to ISKCON kirtan events as an occasional member of As Kindred Spirits, but he is also a very talented musician. Many ISKCON kirtaniyas will understandably be impressed, and thus easily influenced when hearing a professional musician of this caliber put his hand to the performance of kirtan and bhajan, even though he's a self-professed non-devotee. And once the performance ends and the prasad is passed around, they will naturally fall victim to Ray Ippolito's preaching of Veganism. Never mind that Ray's philosophy is antithetical to Srila Prabhupada's -- it will be Ray standing before the impressionable devotees and preaching to them, not His Divine Grace. And make no mistake…. Ray Ippolito has a forceful personality. As his email rantings below testify, he can be harsh, nasty, hysterical, and even violent in making his case. And just so the reader will not think we are simply peddling our own bias, let us give an example from a neutral source as to Ray's public demeanor:
Ray Ippolito and friend
[ Photo: DNAinfo.com ]
The above photo was taken by a reporter for DNAinfo.com, an online news magazine covering New York City. The May 2010 article, entitled "Inner Peace Doesn't Come Cheap", describes the scene outside Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, where the Dalai Lama was speaking. Here is an excerpt from the article:
By Jill Colvin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MIDTOWN – Inner peace doesn't come cheap – especially if you didn't buy your seat in advance.
Ticket scalpers in the city are trying to cash in on the Dalai Lama's speaking series at Radio City Music Hall, infuriating peace-loving followers devoted to his Holiness's anti-materialistic teachings.
Upper West Sider Natalie Halitmann, 67, who paid $300 in advance for her pass to the four days of talks, which end Sunday, wasn't filled with love for the scalpers selling their wares as she lined up for a 1:30 p.m. appearance on Saturday
"I don't think people should do that," she said. "It's not very compassionate."
Tickets to the event sold officially for as much as $360 for all the talks.
One New Jersey scalper, who would only give his name as Richard, defended his business.
"I'm not trying to take advantage," he said, standing on the corner of 6th Avenue and 50th Street with wads of tickets in hand.
In fact, he claimed his devotion to selling Dalai Lama tickets has hit him in the pocket – not all the talks sold out, meaning he didn't rake in as much cash as he'd hoped. "Tickets for Dalai Lama! Anyone need tickets for the Dalai Lama? Fifth row orchestra!" he yelled to passers-by.
An elderly monk with a shaved head and scarlet robe ran up with her friend, Ngawang Chodon, 55.
"Yes, yes!" said Chodon, who lives in Woodside, Queens, handing over $40 for a seat - less than its official price of $60 each. But for Ray Ippolito, 40, watching a scalper sell a ticket to a monk - even for a bargain price - was just too much to take.
"That's unbelievable!" he shouted as he stormed over, fuming. "They're from Tibet! You just made money selling to a monk!"
His friend had to hold him back.
Ippolito, visiting from Ridgewood, New Jersey, said he's never had a problem with brokers and scalpers making profits off rock concerts.
"But this is a religious event," he fumed. "People are here to celebrate the teachings.
"If there's karma, I probably wouldn't want to be around that dude."
Read the complete story here.
The DNA reporter titled the image above 'angry_guy.jpg'. Very telling. And we clearly got it that Ray Ippolito is an angry guy from his recent emails.
The great irony of this situation undoubtedly escapes Mr. Ippolito. Aside from the fact that the scalper was giving the Buddhist monk a great discount on the ticket price, Ray was righteously angry that anyone would take even a penny from a monk for a religious event, yet he doesn't mind at all showing up to play with 'kirtaniyas' at all sorts of spiritual events where an entry fee is charged. This is hypocrisy. One shouldn't have to pay money to hear a religious leader like the Dalai Lama speak… but that is the financial reality of nearly all the Dalai Lama's speaking events -- you pay at the door to hear him.
Then there's the notion of ahimsa, which Ray preaches as a fundamental of Veganism… but that brand of ahimsa apparently doesn't extend to protecting the ticket scalper Ray was angrily threatening.
Nor does Ray Ippolito seem to understand the hypocrisy of supporting the Dalai Lama. Ray, who is a strident animals rights activist and a fanatic evangelist for Veganism, apparently missed the news that the Dalai Lama himself has long been a meat-eater. As described in many articles found on the Net, written by numerous persons who have associated with the Lama over the years, the hypocrisy of the world's biggest Buddhist leader being a meat-eater is well known. Mr. Ippolito no doubt missed the Sun article, "An Open Letter to the Dalai Lama", published a few months after the Radio City Music Hall fracas over ticket sales. It evidences the fact that the Dalai Lama not only eats meat and dairy products, he also eats veal.
While the hypocrisy demonstrated by Mr. Ippolito is unpalatable, as the text below indicates, it is all the worse when wrapped in a venomous blanket of self-righteous fanaticism, and aimed in torpedo-like fashion at Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON.
As mentioned, Ray Ippolito is 'on the circuit' -- a regular performer at 'kirtan' events in ISKCON, and outside of ISKCON but with the participation of ISKCON gurus, sannyasis and 'kirtaniyas'. This man is preaching Veganism and blowing his own horn about the influence he's had with many ISKCON leaders. Radhanath Swami is now also promoting Veganism. Again, we do not know who infected who, but regardless, the infestation of Veganism is now coursing through the ISKCON body like a cancer.
In "The Radhanathazation of ISKCON", Vastavika das stated very well one of the key philosophical problems with Veganism in ISKCON:
"Srila Prabhupada never instructed us to exorcise dairy from our diets, though he certainly was aware of the travesties. What does that say about Radhanath Swami/Srila Prabhupada? That Radhanath Swami does one better than his guru? Knows better? Is more "compassionate?" All of the above? Will he take the milk [Krsna prasadam] from the cows in ISKCON's goshalas?"
In the mind of Vegan preacher Ray Ippolito, none of these questions are of any concern at all. We know, because we tried to have a rational discussion with him. In response to his arguments, we introduced all the points Vastavika das does, and more. We tried to explain to Mr. Ippolito the philosophical reality that makes Veganism for ISKCON devotees a conflicting principle. He would hear none of it. Like any good fanatic, Ray simply ignored every statement of explanation and challenge we made, and railed on with his own message, getting nastier as he went, until we ended the conversation.
Ray Ippolito is after one thing only: to infect the ISKCON body with the philosophy of Veganism. He could care less that it goes against our Gaudiya Vaisnava philosophy and Srila Prabhupada's instructions and standards. That is not of the least concern to him because he is not a devotee -- not a Radhanath disciple, not an ISKCON devotee, not a devotee, period. He states this very clearly. And yet Radhanath and friend Gaura Vani are constantly exposing ISKCON devotees to the bad association of this person. They are active carriers, exposing the ISKCON body to a hostile parasite, and he is successfully infecting ISKCON. The symptoms of the disease are seen everywhere, from the Gaura Vani report that the ISKCON Brooklyn temple provided vegan snacks to attendees of his CD release party… to the inclusion of other radical Vegans on the kirtan stage at various events attended by ISKCON 'kirtaniyas'… to the many ISKCON GBC/Gurus/Sannyasis who are now also adopting and preaching the glories of Veganism. Srila Prabhupada's standards, be damned. Sri Krsna's love of milk sweets… rejected, in favour of a liberalist, materialist "ism" that's born of bodily conception, sentimental understanding and misapplication of the philosophy.
Following are excerpts from Ray Ippolito's emails to us. We provide excerpts (with emphasis added), because much of the content in the eight emails he sent us is redundant. Apologies for the length, but we want to give the reader a taste of the 'spiritual personality' known as Ray Ippolito, who is described in 'kirtaniya' circles as a kind, compassionate, loving being, a purveyor of transcendental sound vibrations.
Ray opens by informing us that by ISKCON's use of unprotected milk, we are blatantly ignoring our own religion and this makes us as ignorant as the rest of the karmi meat-eaters. In reply, we attempted to share some of the relevant philosophy with him, to point out ISKCON's efforts to establish cow protection, and mentioned the complexities of varnasrama, so important to developing a global Cow Protection program. He was less than uninterested.
From: Ray Ippolito
Date: February 24, 2013
Subject: Your issue with Veganism
I just read a piece called The Radhanathazation of ISKCON Sep 16, 2012 BY: VASTAVIKA DAS.. I am getting that there is some issue taken with Radhanath Swami and that is not my issue at all with your article, that is up to you. My issue is one of the disregard for the reality of cow's by a religion that SPECIFICALLY has a major tenant called "Cow Protection".
I can say that spending a tremendous amount of time with many ISKON brothers and sisters, monks, swamis' kirtan wallahs etc I have found that this main part of your religion is blatantly ignored. I feel its the same exact ignorance and inclusion/overlook out of convenience that the most of the human population is entrenched in with eating the flesh of animals.
Srila Prabhupada was extremely vital in regard to bringing cow protection to not only many non ISKON folks but to the devotees as well. I have not been to only a couple ISKON ashrams and I can safely say that 99% of all devotees, followers, etc.. ONLY drink dairy, eat ghee, cheese, deserts, etc.. from the milk of cows that have been raped, tortured, have their babies stolen from them never to see them again after the first few hours, if the babies were male they were stuffed into crates to later become slaughtered for veal, if they were female calves they later go onto the same fate as their mother which is a lifetime of rape, torture and eventually slaughter. If you consume dairy you are DIRECTLY causing untold amounts of violence towards Krisnas most beloved.
I am not writing to argue.. I have sat with many devotees as well as Radhanath Swami about this and have never once heard an argument that they themselves have believed. I am writing to urge YOUR religion the ONLY one that has something so beautiful and specific called COW PROTECTION held in such esteem. Please.. consider what I am sharing from the heart. Please consider doing your homework on this, get the facts, realize that it may feel very uncomfortable and inconvenient, see the truth in it. It does not say in the Gita that one MUST consume milk. A recent debate with a monk showed him he was GREATLY mistaken and took tradition for truth. There are MANY traditions and rituals that include milk but they were not asked of by Krisna."
One wonders which ISKCON monk it is that Ray debated, showing him that he was greatly mistaken about our philosophical truth. And it's fascinating to read that Ray, after so much time spent with Radhanath Swami, has never once heard an argument from him on this subject that Radhanath himself believed. That's actually quite shocking. So all this time, what Radhanath has been preaching about offering dairy prasadam to Krsna has been a lie… something he himself doesn't even believe? When in his preaching on Srila Prabhupada's establishment of a Krsna prasada program that included milk from unprotected cows, Radhanath didn't believe the arguments underlying the philosophy he was preaching on behalf of his Spiritual Master?
Ray goes on to share with us his conception of reality:
"I have often said to my brothers and sisters of ISKON; What would Krisna say if he knew? What color fire do you think Krisna would set this planet ablaze if he were to come back in physical form to say hello to see what we have been up to? Just entertain this question for moment.. Imagine if Krisna came back to earth in physical form to see where we have come after he has been out creating universe after universe.. What do you think his first words might be? I believe some of the first, if not THE first would be "where are my cows.... take me to my cows... I have missed them so"... Again, what color fire do you think he would set ablaze if you were to offer him even a drop of milk to his lips... and FEEL the pain, suffering, torture, slaughter, exploitation and misuse of his most precious friends?? How would he also feel knowing that his country of origin is the worlds 2nd largest supplier of leather, the skin of his beloved friends?
My friend.. this is YOUR religion.. this is YOUR culture... your beautiful way of living life.. but so many of you miss this immensely great point... MOST of you do not consume dairy from cows from ISKON ashrams/farms... AND for clarity... on your farms there are cows, female mammals... they produce milk only ONE way; by becoming pregnant. The question is that with all these cows, 99.9% females, WHERE ARE THE MALES..??? You cant have but a couple on a farm.. SO where are they? I can tell you, they are sold to others that will eventually lead them to slaughter all for something that is not only NOT vital for survival as a human being but not even demanded by your Lord Krisna..."
We asked Ray to provide evidence for this very serious allegation, but his only response was to say that he has nothing to prove. It's us who must do the proving. So this is the message Ray Ippolito is out preaching to the world about ISKCON -- that nearly all our bulls are delivered to the slaughterhouse.
As to the question, who infected who first? … did Radhanath influence Ray, or did Ray influence Radhanath … we seem to have the answer here. Ray repeatedly sent us the links to several videos and testimonials he's promoting. No matter what we said, over and over he just drilled us with this propaganda. And he apparently did the same thing to Radhanath Swami:
"So lastly, back to Radhanath Swami. Whether you like him agree with him or not he has done one thing that has made a HUGE difference in the lives of so many.. and for himself. He CLEARLY sees the results of his actions, not only through the eyes of Lord Krisna but for a basic all encompassing world view. There are MANY faiths in this world as you know, who is the best the truth etc??? They all are. But we have some basic hard realties that we ALL share. It is with his decision to become Vegan that has made 365 million portions of diary per year obsolete through his food for hunger program. It has made devotees consider the TRUTH behind what is so; the wait Lord Krisnas cows are being treated by the way in which his devotees are supporting with their dollars. He has vowed to remove that from his life based on FACTS, video, testimonials and much inner meditation on the truth of the matter.. I was sad to see that he was attacked for that alone."
In closing his first email, Ray blessed us with the 'hugging guru' Amma's peace mantra. Gaura Vani & Company have posted various videos and stories about doing kirtan for Amma. Amma was also invited to ISKCON DC (Potomac, Maryland) to hug all the devotees there. This is the temple attended by Gaura Vani's mother and Step-father, Anuttama das, ISKCON Minister of Communications. (Perhaps Anuttama could communicate with Ray Ippolito, and let him know that it's not appropriate to close emails to ISKCON devotees by offering them blessings from Mayavada gurus.) Anuttama das's name was also mentioned next to Hugging Amma's in a
Huffington Post article:
"'We have to help the hungry as best we can. We have to see that feeding the hungry is no less than the worship of God." --Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi Devi)
Through our friend, Anuttama Dasa, we discovered the Mid-day Meal Program. Anuttama is the director of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness' (ISKCON) international Food for Life Program, the world's largest humanitarian food relief organization."
But we digress… In his subsequent emails, Ray wrote:
"As I mentioned previously if YOU and your people who in fact have something called Cow PRotection in their religion fail to see your DIRECT support of the antithesis of this then I do not see hope for any of these cows. And in fact I would request out of truth and your integrity that you remove that as a pillar of your practice because the reality is that you are not doing so...at all.. "
We tried to explain to Ray that we are not at liberty, as devotees following the Spiritual Master in disciplic succession, to simply 'remove pillars' of our philosophy as it suits us. This philosophy has been handed down by the Sampradaya Acaryas and we do not change it whimsically. Again, that was not a line of discussion he wished to explore. He simply wanted to share his opinions as to how ISKCON should re-shape itself, deleting the principle of Cow Protection from our religion because we have not yet managed to accomplish it. This is presumably an opinion shared by Radhanath Swami. Perhaps it is also an opinion shared by ISKCON Minister, Anuttama das. We have heard from other ISKCON leaders (sannyasis/gurus) that Anuttama has specifically asked them to remove the word "varnasrama" from written material to be published by ISKCON. This is no longer a 'concept' that a certain faction of the ISKCON leadership wishes to include or emphasize. Are the terms and concepts 'vegetarianism' and 'Krsna Prasada' next on the chopping block?
Ray writes:
"Brother, it is not my religion it is yours. It is not what YOUR book says.. You can interpret it any way you wish. Just do me a favor, LIVE IT.. Be the one who goes to the slaughter house and kills the males that were created by your desire for milk. You prove to me... better yet.. you prove to yourself that the dairy that you consume is created by cows that are treated as Krisna would be proud of.. That you would be proud of.
…Not much different than the horrors that you preach to others about removing animal flesh from their diet.. In fact... The ones that are enslaved, tortured and killed for their flesh live shorter lives with less suffering and rape than the ones you pay to have enslaved to produce such unnecessities as milk, cheese, ice cream, etc.. for you and your people.. It would serve you, your religion and the world to reconsider."
"Whether I agree on his path or not I can say that at least he [Radhanath] lifted higher, saw the truth in what is going on, saw the truth in connecting to the truth of heart, love, compassion, empathy. The reality is that with his actions, or for anyone who doesnt consume fluid from a tortured mother, are from the heart and share a common time and space reality. If you are so clear of your position and support the reality of what you are cowardly ignoring in the videos I sent, then please go to the slaughterhouses and get a job. Be proud of it.. Your movement has failed, at least since his [Srila Prabhupada's] passing, to truly embody cow protection. Even on some of your ashrams.. You are failing even bigger becasue you contribute to the horrors of the very industry that you preach to so many about..
We asked Ray several times to share with us his opinion as to whether or not Srila Prabhupada was wrong or made mistakes by including in ISKCON a program for Krsna prasad that utilized unprotected Milk. Ray did a fair bit of wiggling, carefully refusing to be nailed down to making a direct criticism. We certainly got the impression that he knew that's where the line is with ISKCON devotees… you can't come right out and criticize Srila Prabhupada. But even so, the subtle criticism is there, and in a more prolonged private conversation, Ray would no doubt be willing to level such complaints against Srila Prabhupada, because it's how he really feels.
The truth of the matter is, Srila Prabhupada knew full well that the Krsna Prasadam program he instituted was necessarily relying upon unprotected milk. Yes, of course he urged the devotees to protect the cows and instructed them on how to establish rural communities -- varnasrama projects that would support a broad program of Cow Protection. But did not disallow the use of unprotected cow's milk in the society.
"It is just outrageous that we are even discussing this isnt it? I mean really.. Dairy is not a demand in your world but you all defend your ice cream and lassis with such attachment it is pathetic and ignorant. Something so unnecessary as dairy and you will spend an immense amount of time trying to make some sense of it and defend it when you must clearly know what you are paying for. Keep ignoring the videos I sent. Honestly... if I were you I would as well. The hypocrisy is astounding and truly destroys any integrity of your word. It like a really dark comedy. What would the harm be in NOT consuming dairy. I just dont get why you are so attached to such a wasteful, violent, unhealthy, blood and pus laden product... WOw.. your arrogance is astounding.
…You are ignoring your contribution to violence against cows for the sake of convenience, taste, and wrapping it up nicely in scripture to make it suit you. Your not seeing the CLEAR AND BLATANT hypocrisy, I am certain, will not be a part of our time together but I do hope you will see that however you choose to look at it, you and your congregation pay for and directly support the enslavement, torture, rape, slaughter and exploitation of an animal. ….
…please give me the address of your mother and sister.. I will ask you to watch me do the very same thing that you pay for and support so you can eat ice cream. Doesnt that sound intense, harsh and violent..
Yes, you read that right. Ray Ippolito threatened to do to our mother and sister what he believes we do to the cows: enslave, torture, rape, slaughter and exploit them.
"… honestly brother... you REALLY cant see that there is something here for you to get? YOu REALLY cannot see that there is a way to make the heart open wider, love more, be more compassionate? …:
With loving compassionate friends like this, who needs enemies?
Ray closed his presentation with these words of wisdom and compassion:
"May your Karma be just as intense, deep, and hopeless as the horrific actions you support and create as an arrogant, ignorant, sheepish fool.
One day ... when you wake up... when your heart opens.... when you connect.. remember what I was trying to share. And please do not ever consider trying to tell others about not eating meat without thinking what hypocrisy you are living and causing even longer and more devastating horror for your addiction to pizza and ice cream..."
This is the message of fanatical Veganism that the hostile parasite, Ray Ippolito, is infesting the ISKCON body with, both directly and via the active carriers he calls friends: Gaura Vani and Radhanath Swami, and no doubt many other unwitting ISKCON kirtaniyas and temple devotees he is preaching this nonsense to. And the life cycle or circuit of infestation is not one-way. Ray is infecting Radhanath, and likewise, Radhanath is infecting Ray with his own impersonalism and sahajiyaism, as described by Vastavika das in "The Radhanathazation of ISKCON":
"There is a great similarity between Amaji (the hugging "Ma") and Radhanath Swami. They both chant Hare Krishna bhajan. They both have opened hospitals and orphanages. They both preach the gospel of "love" and "oneness." And both enjoy giving lots of hugs. In my opinion, Radhanath Swami presents Krishna consciousness through the lens of a devotee heavily tinged by sentimentality rooted in impersonalism. He is an immaculate Western sadhu. He has good sadhana, near-perfect memory, outstanding verbal skills, and empathic qualities. What's not to like? Everyone wants to be accepted and adored; it's in our human DNA, so to speak.
Radhanath Swami provides a model for how to act if you are looking to be inclusive. Gone is the day when exclusivity was a marketable commodity in the eyes of most ISKCON leaders. Nearly all have been jumping on the "integrate" agenda. Recently, the Russian edition of Science of Self Realization purposely omitted the chapter where Srila Prabhupada discusses ISKCON as not being Hindu. ISKCON is becoming quite ecumenical, less confrontational – more lamb than lion. Who knows, in the future, the GBC might re-name it "The International Society for God Consciousness.'"
What is the position of sastra, as delivered by the Sampradaya Acaryas on such acts of integration -- removing the pillar of Cow Protection because we have not yet successfully executed it, as Ray Ippolito demands we should; eliminating varnasrama-dharma in favour of a model more palatable to Westerners; eliminating a dairy-based vegetarian diet in favour of Veganism, to please the animal rights activists? Srila Prabhupada often refers to the phrase yata mata tata patha in this regard. In Teachings of Queen Kunti he writes:
"Religion consists of the laws of God. People who do not know this think that religion means faith. But although you may have faith in something and I may have faith in something, and although I may believe you and you may or may not believe me, that is not religion. There is even a supposedly religious mission that says, "You can manufacture your own way." Yata mata tata patha: "Whatever you think is right, that is right." This is their philosophy. But that is not science. Suppose I am a madman. Is whatever I think all right? How could this be? "Two plus two equals four" is science. If I believe that two plus two equals five or three, does it become true? No. So there are laws of God, and when there is dharmasya glanih, deviation from these laws, we suffer. Just as we might suffer by violating the laws of the state, as soon as we violate the laws of God we are subjected to so many tribulations.
Now, how are we to get free from these tribulations? Krsna comes to free us from them by giving us bhakti-yoga. Krsna recommends, "Do this," and if we do it we shall get relief."
(Teachings of Queen Kunti, 19, His Divine Grace A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
The words of the bona fide Spiritual Master are sastra, Absolute Truth. For his ISKCON society, Srila Prabhupada instructed the offering of opulent dairy-based preparations to Sri Krsna. He did not instruct, 'Wait until you have fully established a Cow Protection program, no matter how long that takes, and then you may offer milk products to Sri Krsna.' No, that is not the instruction. The Science of Krsna Consciousness provides for the purification of materially contaminated elements that are properly offered by the sincere devotee. The use of unprotected cow's milk is not somehow disqualified from this transcendental process simply because modern animal rights activists and Vegans demand it must be so. Srila Prabhupada has given us the prescription for Krsna Consciousness, and it includes offering the Lord preparations made of dairy -- even from unprotected cows, when the preferable alternative of protected milk is not available.
There are many quotes from Srila Prabhupada that establish the fact that even as he requested the devotees to establish Cow Protection and varnasrama, he knew full well that unprotected cow's milk was being used for the devotees, the Deities, and for prasad distribution. There is a small collection of quotes here. In a letter to Atreya Rsi, September 13, 1972, Srila Prabhupada asked the devotees to acquire powdered milk from the U.S. government, to be shipped to India and used for prasad distribution. He was also interested in acquiring large reserves of powdered milk available in Australia for the devotees' use. In fact, he instructed that they do so even while they were raising protected cows on our farms. (Room Conversation, February 25, 1977) Clearly, it was necessity, not preference driving the decisions. And there is no indication here that this act of necessity is somehow tied to a timeline upon which the devotees finally manage to establish a Cow Protection program that can replace all the dairy products needed over the course of the day for the devotees and temples. Both the ideal and the necessity are there.
