namahatta.org - Congregational Development Ministry

I went into London at 6.00 am to give the morning class at our Soho street temple. I was invited for the 38th anniversary of the installation of Radha Londonishvara, the presiding Deities there. After class we posed for a group photograph outside the temple.

Returning to the Manor, I learned that various Hindu organisations had put out their own press releases, and that BBC Radio 4’s Sunday programme will be featuring the story tomorrow after 7.00 am.

Viewing the London ITN news from the other night I found it quite remarkable how the RSPCA are providing the public with a version of events which is quite removed from what actually happened. More than that, they have escalated the level of pain and distress our cow was in to the point where anyone just has to agree with them that they took the correct action.

Gangotri

But they did not. They made an error of judgement born, I feel, from a sense of moral certitude brought about by the genuinely good work they do. Unfortunately their notion of compassion and prevention of cruelty involves killing the very animal they are being compassionate to. Its a view which comes from not understanding that animals have souls.

The public trust them, they have a good image, but they are not free from the tendency to make mistakes. There is a website cataloguing their mistakes which makes for interesting reading.

And killing a cow at a Hare Krishna temple was a big mistake. Our duty is to let them know that in no uncertain terms. Then to get the law changed so that it never happens again.Tomorrow will be interesting as Hindu leaders gather at the Manor to discuss the way forward.