Ignorance is Bliss Until It Crashes on Your Head

Sometimes it is said that ignorance is bliss. But ignorance is bliss only until it comes crashing down on your head. Just like the people who were enjoying the evening entertainment on the Titanic dancing in great jubilation in the ballroom. They were unaware of the impending catastrophic iceberg collision which was just a few minutes away. Had they known in advance they could have prepared themselves properly and would have thus been saved from an icy, miserable death. In a similar way if we can understand the temporary nature of this spot life, that death is nearby waiting to claim us, we can then focus our consciousness on the Supreme Reality and attain the perfectional stage of deathlessness, pure Krishna bhakti. In this way we will regain our original spiritual forms and never have to suffer birth, death, old age, and disease ever again.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

It Was an Enjoyable Evening on the Titanic Until Disaster Struck

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Can I Raise Calves That Will Be Slaughtered?

Hare Krishna,

All my obeisances, esteemed Guru.

My wife was born into a family of ranchers, and I am thinking to dedicate myself to raising cows with the dairy business in mind and selling the calves to other ranchers. Since in reality these plans are material, I am thinking of purifying them by establishing a temple in the region where I'm thinking of living and spreading Krishna consciousness to the villagers. The problem is that by selling the calves to the other ranchers, they will fatten them and then sell them for slaughter. Can I dedicate myself to this activity if I also want to spread Krishna consciousness?

Respectfully,

David

Answer: The Cows and Bulls Must Receive Lifetime Protection

Your idea to establish a temple is very nice. But it is not that by establishing a temple you can counteract the sinful reactions from raising calves which will be slaughtered. You must avoid such an occupation. It will not be favorable for your Krishna consciousness.

If you want to raise cows, you can only do so on the basis of giving them full protection for the entire duration of their natural lives so that they will never have to face the ghastly horror of being herded into a slaughterhouse and heinously butchered. There is no kind, humane way to kill a cow or bull. Therefore the only alternative for the peace and prosperity of the human society is that henceforward we give full love and protection to all of the cows, bulls, and calves. In this connection kindly behold the magnificent Gita pictured below:

If you can instead establish a farm based purely on the principle of cow protection it will be a great example for the human society and Lord Sri Krishna will shower His blessings down upon you like anything.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari