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The cow's normal life span is twenty-five years. Humans reduce this longevity by slaughter or use in the veal industry. The ‘karma’ of taking away the longevity of a living being influences our life span and results in reduction of our own life span or of our dear ones. Also the end of the life may not be natural and it may be by accident or some unknown disease or some permanent disability may take place.
• We snatch away or steal the off-spring from the cow, as well as its milk for the calf. The milk and the child are taken away ruthlessly by us without the permission of the cow. This is 'adatt dn’. This is a charity not done by the donor. It is acquisition of someone's belongings without consent. One should therefore be ready to face consequences of losing one's own property, wealth or dear ones.
The simple principle of ‘As we sow, so we reap' also applies here. Our wrong actions would boomerang on us and we have to go through the consequences thereof.
The cow has milk, but it does not give it. It stops eating, being separated from her offspring. Machines are used to milk and for artificial insemination. A lot of suffering is inflicted on these peace-loving creatures by the humans for their greed. In about seven years, due to their exploitation, the cows become useless for humans and they are sent for slaughter. Our glass of milk results in the cow being eventually slaughtered. The cow undergoes physical torture and the agonizing feeling of separation, for human well-being.
It would be clear to any intelligent, caring and compassionate person that it is not logically, medically, morally and spiritually right to drink milk of other species, once the natural period of having our own mother's milk is over. To satisfy ourselves and for our nourishment and well-being, we may have milk from several alternative sources like plants or nuts such as soya, rice, almond, coconut, etc.
As Bhagwan Mahavir had said, "Non-violence and kindness to living beings is kindness to oneself. For thereby one's own self is saved from various kinds of sins and resultant sufferings and is able to secure his own welfare."
CHITRABHANU
On the Wings of Light and Love - Volume Two - 103
