Miami / Toronto
Becoming Relevant
I've left Florida and landed in Canada, and done some walking with Jai. Thoughts were flowing through my mind in the course of the walk. I'll share and let those thoughts flow in as natural a fluidity as possible. https://www.instagram.com/p/BzKFtffAn0k/?igshid=n1oo069onhre
There is a controversy drifting in the air within the local community. The subject is whether to go vegan at our festivals with the public, go partly vegan, or not at all, in other words, "stick to the paneer and butter please."
Soon our biggest event of the year is approaching. Yes, soon 40,000 folks will attend our annual Chariot/India Fest. These days to be more relevant to the public, who are becoming more and more sensitive to animal slaughter issues, we must think twice before we dish out the food. Cows and bulls, innocent creatures, are being mercilessly tortured and slaughtered. The dairy industry is intrinsically connected to slaughter. If you purchase and consume dairy then you support the system of animal killing. It's that simple.
In the Krishna culture, rooted in ancient India, cows and bulls were always revered for their dharmic contributions to the human population, through the milk surplus and ox power. Those animals were never slaughtered. But now, and particularly here, in the west, they are. When we purchase milk in those plastic bags, even if done for deities, we are backing a corrupt system. Hence, our guru, Prabhupada, asked for self-sustained ahimsa communities. We have a long way to go to get there. We must think deeply about this. I personally opt for non-dairy products—coconut milk and oil and other choices for such events.
If Burger King and McDonald's are bending to the public demand with vegan burgers, then a community like ours should also consider becoming more relevant.
May the Source be with you!
6 km
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