Question 1. Why do we drink milk from the cows? Is that not also inflicting cruelty upon them?
Answer by Romapada Swami: Cow’s milk is considered to be a miracle food because not only is it rich in all the nutrients we require for a healthy body but it is also said to help in developing the finer tissues of the brain by which one can understand the higher values of life. Cow’s milk is in the category of goodness, and even great sages and saintly persons would subsist only on cow’s milk. Not only do we derive nutrition, but in fact it is said that religious principles are derived from cow’s milk.
The cow is endowed with the capacity to give plenty of milk, abundantly more than what is needed by her own calves – this is nature’s arrangement for the benefit of the humans. In the Vedic culture, every householder maintained at least one or more cows and the cow was treated like one’s own mother. By such affectionate treatment also the cows give plenty of milk, enough for a whole community to subsist on. However, the modern day practices of separating the calves from the cow early and drawing milk from the cow artificially for commercial purposes are all extremely cruel acts. There is a great need, therefore, to educate people about the importance and benefits of cow protection and curb such malpractices. Milking the cows in a natural, loving atmosphere as described above is in itself, however, harmless and in fact healthy for the cows. Rather, not doing so unhealthy both to the cow and her calves.
Question 2. Why does Krishna allow millions of cows to be slaughtered even though they are most dear to Him?
Answer by Romapada Swami : Nothing happens without the sanction of the Supreme Lord, but God’s sanction is not the same as God’s actual desire or will. (Please refer to our earlier discussions on free-will of the living entity.) Certainly Krishna is not pleased when such atrocities are performed, and by such acts the human society is depriving itself of the Lord’s mercy, resulting in the endless difficulties we are presently facing. However, as Krishna promises in Bhagavad-gita 4.7 when there is a great decline in these religious principles, He advents Himself, or sends His representative to chastise the miscreants and protect the righteous, to set the situation right again.
