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Today begins Diwali, a five day festival that represents the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. This profound symb...
Today begins Diwali, a five day festival that represents the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. This profound symbolism extends naturally to acts of generosity and compassion. During this auspicious time, charitable giving becomes more than just an act of kindness—it transforms into a spiritual practice that amplifies the festival’s core message of spreading light and hope. We are also in the sacred month of Karthik, which ends November 24 and honors Lord Krishna’s childhood pastimes with the calves and cows.
Therefore, now is a spiritually potent time to give to the cows, bulls, and calves, or Adopt A Cow! In recognition of Diwali and Karthik, a new $25,000 Matching Gift Challenge has been gifted to ISCOWP. So every donation given to ISCOWP will be matched! This Diwali and Karthik, let your giving reflect the light you wish to see in the world. Whether large or small, every contribution matters and every act of kindness counts. Thank you!
We wanted to express our gratitude to all of you for your prayers during Balabhadra’s (William E. Dove, ISCOWP president) last days and as he left this world. We do believe that your prayers were crucial in his ability to leave in a serene state. For the last 10 days of his life, he was bedridden and did not eat or drink. Srila Prabhupada was chanting the Hare Krishna mantra continuously. Through the large glass doors of our home bedroom at ISCOWP’s cow sanctuary, he could see the back pasture, where the cows grazed a few yards away. Balaji put the salt blocks right by the fence opposite where Balabhadra lay. So every time he opened his eyes, he was likely to see the cows. The whole atmosphere was spiritually peaceful due to your help.
When it was time for his body to be taken away, the cows appeared at the fence right opposite our bedroom. They were watching and waiting. Standing quietly, they watched while he was driven away, then slowly walked away to the far end of the back pasture.
And your online likes, loves, cares, shares, comments, and private letters brought tears to our eyes so many times. We were able to read some of the appreciations to him, and they made him very happy. Your kindness has made this transition and the acceptance of his loss doable. Thank you.
In a recent DharmaRenaissance Blog article titled “Balabhadra Das and the Discipline of Real Cow Protection,” the concept of real cow protection is explained. The following includes some information from the article that answers the question, “What is Real Cow Protection?”
What did Balabhadra Das contribute to cow protection?
He helped turn go-seva from sentiment into a system of lifelong care by co-founding ISCOWP, training oxen and teamsters, and helping establish teachable cow-protection standards. His work also treated succession, financing and institutional continuity as part of the duty to protect cows.
What does real go-seva require?
Real go-seva continues when a cow or ox is old, ill or no longer economically productive. It requires no-slaughter lifetime care backed by land, feed, shelter, skilled handling, human labour, sound finances and plans for continuity.
Is rescuing a cow the same as protecting her?
Rescue can be the first act of protection, but it is not the complete obligation. A project also needs enough room and labour, together with a lifetime-care policy, so that an intake does not turn immediate danger into chronic insecurity.
How did Balabhadra Das approach gentle ox training?
His method began with relationship: spend unhurried time with the ox, use his name, brush and stroke him, and communicate with consistent voice commands. Because large oxen can injure the handler, bystanders or the animal when mishandled, beginners should work under a competent teamster with suitable facilities and patient repetition.
Can fundraising and administrative work count as go-seva?
Yes, when the work is tied to a concrete care need and its results are accountable. Balabhadra regarded fundraising for Gita Nagari’s mortgage and agricultural development as protection; likewise, bookkeeping can keep feed purchased, land secure and obligations visible.
What should I ask before supporting a cow-protection project?
Ask whether the project has no-slaughter and lifetime-care commitments, enough room and labour, and provisions for oxen, older animals and recurring costs. Also look for skilled handlers, written standards (ISCOWP created these standards in 1999, which became ISKCON law 507, with assistance from other cow protectors in ISKCON, while serving as the ISKCON Global Ministry for Cow Protection), accountable finances, and succession plans rather than funding intake alone.
How can a cow-protection organisation outlive its founder?
Look for written standards, documented routines, trained second-line leaders and a clear lifelong-care policy. More than one person should understand every essential job and be ready to make decisions when the founder is unavailable.