Not a stamp of approval for eating beef. Allah, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna is described as one who loves cows and orders their protection. Revere the Name, revere the cow ("Love me, love my dog").
[Posted
July 23, 2008]Follow the Evidence or Superstition?
Sign of Islam as the true religion? More likely it's corroboration of evidence (see the Vedas) that God doesn't want you to eat the cow's flesh.
BBC News July 22, 2008
- ULRICH BOSER
'Allah meat' astounds Nigerians
Diners have been flocking to a restaurant in northern Nigeria to see pieces of meat which the owner says are inscribed with the name of Allah.
What looks like the Arabic word for God and the name of the prophet Muhammad were discovered in pieces of beef by a diner in Birnin Kebbi.
He was about to eat it, when he suddenly noticed the words in the gristle, the restaurant owner said.
..."When the writings were discovered there were some Islamic scholars who come and eat here and they all commented that it was a sign to show that Islam is the only true religion for mankind," he said. go to story
Sri Guru and Gauranga
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Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ReligionMUSLIM IMAM: Now you are giving up meat eating, illicit sex, gambling and intoxication. I see your movement as a reaction to your own country's failings.
HANSADUTTA: No. These are the principles of religion. They are not a reaction. Of course, it may seem like that because in our country the standard life for everyone is to eat meat three times a day, drink liquor from 8 o'clock in the morning until 8 o'clock at night, smoke cigarettes, have illicit sex. We know that. But these four principles are the standard of any religion, whatever it may be—Islam, Vedic religion, Christian religion. Every religious teacher instructs us not to kill. Nonviolence, ahimsa. They teach not to commit adultery, not to gamble. These are standard teachings for every religious community. You cannot deny it. These teachings are not a reaction to the cultures of the East and West. In fact, we are all one family. If God is one, and He is the creator of everything, then there is no difference between me and you.
MUSLIM IMAM: What I am trying to say is that religion can lead us to love of God. And materialism can lead us to proper life.
HANSADUTTA: Yes, I agree. I think we agree in principle. But unfortunately people do not follow the principles. This is my point. Nor does society consciousness lead to God consciousness. I'll give you an example. In Germany, during the years 1922 to 1941, there was the most intense society consciousness that was ever known on the face of the Earth. But it did not lead to God consciousness. It led to the opposite. It led to material consciousness, demonic consciousness. Practically it led to the destruction of the world. And the same thing is happening now in the form of communism. Communism is a very intense form of social consciousness, but it does not lead to God consciousness. It will lead to just the opposite. The opposite is demonic consciousness, just eating, sleeping, having sex. God consciousness begins by following the orders of God. It is as simple as that. So God has said very simply, "Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal." The first thing we should do is abide by these four principles: we should give up animal slaughter, intoxication of all kinds (including tea, coffee and cigarettes), illicit sex and gambling. As soon as you give up these four things, you will see that people will become good. They will at least become good, if nothing else. And then, if you add to that the chanting of the Lord's name, just as in Islam you chant the name of Allah, that is a very effective process for keeping the mind pure. Thank you.
MUSLIM IMAM: The most important thing in Islam is submission to God. We must submit five times a day.
HANSADUTTA: No. All day. Why five times? All day long, not only five times. Real Islam means all day. Just like Mohammed. All day and all night, he was submissive to God.
MUSLIM IMAM: No, but he fought also.
HANSADUTTA: He was fighting for God. What is the meaning of Allah? It means "The Greatest", doesn't it? Krishna means the same, it means "all attractive". In fact, God has no name, but according to His attributes He is known. Just like Vishnu. What is the meaning of Vishnu? Vishnu means "one who lives everywhere". So it is not exactly a name, but He is called according to His characteristics. more
Cows and Brahmanas beloved by God
excerpt from purport, Bhagavad-gita As It Is 14.16
Slaughtering poor animals is also due to the mode of ignorance. The animal killers do not know that in the future the animal will have a body suitable to kill them. That is the law of nature. In human society, if one kills a man he has to be hanged. That is the law of the state. Because of ignorance, people do not perceive that there is a complete state controlled by the Supreme Lord. Every living creature is a son of the Supreme Lord, and He does not tolerate even an ant's being killed. One has to pay for it. So indulgence in animal killing for the taste of the tongue is the grossest kind of ignorance. A human being has no need to kill animals, because God has supplied so many nice things. If one indulges in meat-eating anyway, it is to be understood that he is acting in ignorance and is making his future very dark. Of all kinds of animal killing, the killing of cows is most vicious because the cow gives us all kinds of pleasure by supplying milk. Cow slaughter is an act of the grossest type of ignorance. In the Vedic literature (Rig Veda 9.46.4) the words gobhih prinita-matsaram indicate that one who, being fully satisfied by milk, is desirous of killing the cow is in the grossest ignorance. There is also a prayer in the Vedic literature that states:
namo brahmanya-devaya
go-brahmana-hitaya cha
jagad-dhitaya krishnaya
govindaya namo namah
"My Lord, You are the well-wisher of the cows and the brahmanas, and You are the well-wisher of the entire human society and world." (Vishnu Purana 1.19.65)
The purport is that special mention is given in that prayer for the protection of the cows and the brahmanas. Brahmanas are the symbol of spiritual education, and cows are the symbol of the most valuable food; these two living creatures, the brahmanas and the cows, must be given all protection—that is real advancement of civilization. In modern human society, spiritual knowledge is neglected, and cow killing is encouraged. It is to be understood, then, that human society is advancing in the wrong direction and is clearing the path to its own condemnation. A civilization which guides the citizens to become animals in their next lives is certainly not a human civilization. The present human civilization is, of course, grossly misled by the modes of passion and ignorance. It is a very dangerous age, and all nations should take care to provide the easiest process, Krishna consciousness, to save humanity from the greatest danger.
Don't confuse superstition with religion
excerpt from festival lectures, Govardhana Puja, New York, Nov 4, 1966
[Speaking of what Krishna has asked his father and the cowherd men:] "Whether this is a superstition?" Just see how Krishna is speaking. "Whether it is a superstition or it has got some actual effect?" You should not do anything, religious rituals, under superstition. That is the recommendation of Krishna. Krishna does not like that people should perform anything under superstition. Suppose if you are sacrificing, if you are doing some ceremony, you must have thorough knowledge that there must be the result. There must be the result. Just like there are many sacrifices recommended in the Vedic literature, putreshti-yajña. Putreshti. Suppose a man has no son, and if he performs that sacrifice, he will have a son. That is a fact. Similarly, so many things there are. So any rituals, religious rituals... Now, according to Krishna... How practical He is. He said that "No religious ritual should be performed without practical effect, without practical effect."
People have become atheist because in the modern age there are so many rituals in all religions—not only Hindu religion, but Christian religion. But, they say, simply formality; there is no effect. There is no effect. Such sort of rituals, religious ceremony, is not recommended by Krishna. You must actually realize the effect. Just like in Puranas.
There was a talk between Lord Chaitanya and Kazi, Chand Kazi. Chand Kazi was a Muhammadan magistrate, and Lord Chaitanya, when He started this sankirtana movement, there were many complaints. Just like we are receiving daily reports that our sankirtana movement is disturbing some tenants here. Similarly, when Lord Chaitanya, He started His, this sankirtana, some of the brahmanas objected, because Lord Chaitanya said that "This is the only religion. In this age, this chanting of
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare,
this is the only religious principle, and everyone will have all his desires fulfilled by this chanting." So the brahmanas, those who are priestly class, they thought, "If people take to this only chanting, then what about our churches and mosque and temples? They will not come." So they lodged a complaint to the magistrate that "This is not Hindu religion. He has discovered something in His own fertile brain, so we do not recognize it." So this complaint was lodged before the magistrate, and the magistrate took steps, first of all warned Lord Chaitanya, "Don't chant Hare Krishna." Then, when He did not care, the Kazi sent some constables, and the drums were broken. Then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu started civil disobedience movement. So He did not care for the magistrate. He started sankirtana throughout the whole city of Nabadwip. Then they approached the magistrate's house. Just like the other day there was a procession in your city. So this civil disobedience movement was started first by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Now, there was some compromising talk with the magistrate, and in that talk the Chaitanya Mahaprabhu first questioned. Because the magistrate was Mohammedan, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, "In your religion there is killing of father and mother. What sort of religion this is?" The Kazi replied, "How do you say that we are killing our father and mother?" "Yes. You are killing your mother. Cow gives you milk, delivers milk. You drink the milk, and you kill the cow. Therefore you are killing your mother." So the Kazi replied that "In your Vedic literature also, I have seen. There is cow sacrifice." So Chaitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "That is not cow sacrifice. That is rejuvenation of cow. Old cows were sacrificed in the fire, and again a new life was given by the Vedic mantra. But because there is lack of such expert brahmanas to chant that mantra, therefore cow sacrifice in this age is forbidden."
So when the things are not practical, that becomes a forbidden. If you actually get the result by some spiritual or religious rituals, performance, then it is very good. Otherwise it is superstition. Lord Chaitanya's opinion is that because all these Vedic injunctions, sacrifices, they are not possible to be performed in this age. They are very difficult. There is no expert leader to perform all these ceremonies and rituals. Therefore, take to this Hare Krishna. Take to this. There is no need of rituals. There is no need of expenses. Simply God has given you tongue, and God has given you ear. Just go on chanting: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, and it will fulfill your spiritual advancement.
Similarly, Krishna said, jñatva ajñatva cha karmani jano 'yam anutishthanti: "Generally, mass of people, they are ignorant. They perform some religious rituals knowingly or unknowingly as a matter of superstition or custom." So, vidusha karma-siddhih syat. But one who is intelligent, he should know that "By this sacrifice, I must get the result." Vidusho karma-siddhih syat tatha na vidusho bhavet: "And those who are fools, they, simply by superstition, they do it." So Krishna did not recommend that you should do something under superstition. No. You must do it for practical result.
This dogmatism, fanaticism—"Oh, why I shall chant Hare Krishna? I am Christian. I am Jew."—this is fanaticism. If you find actually ecstasy by chanting Hare Krishna, why should you not? Why should you not? "No. I am Jew." "I am Christian." "I am Muhammadan." Well, it is transcendental vibration from the spiritual platform. Your Muhammadism, Christianism, Hinduisim, Buddhism, this is skin disease. This is... Because you have got some particular body at particular circumstances, therefore you claim like that. But actually we are all spirit soul, and this sound vibration is from the spirit soul. It will appeal to everyone. See the effect. Then don't be fanatic. Don't be, I mean to say, sectarian. So Krishna wants that, that simply by custom, one should not follow the rituals. One should see the effect.