Since The Cow Is Sacred, Does Serving Cows Lead To Any Spiritual Progress?

[Shri Yogendra asked: Pranam, Shri Datta Swami! I would like to see You. Some people say serving cows, which are sacred (goseva) does not lead to any spiritual progress. Others say that all gods and godesses shower blessings on the person who serves cows. What is the truth? Yogendra.]

Swami replied: Among animals, the cow is regarded as the most non-violent and soft-natured animal. It represents all soft-natured animals. One should serve all soft-natured animals and birds. Similarly, among human beings, a brāhmaṇa is the most soft-natured. A brāhmaṇa does not mean a person born in the brahmin caste, but a person who is a true brāhmaṇa by qualities and deeds. The true brāhmaṇa is the one who has learnt spiritual knowledge and is devoted to God. God is the protector of justice. The brāhmaṇa is always involved in preaching spiritual knowledge to the public, which is essential to maintain justice in society. No human being involved in God’s work should be killed since he is very pious. He represents all soft-natured divine human beings. When it is said that one should not kill a brāhmaṇa or a cow, it means that one should not kill any soft-natured good person or a soft-natured being including birds and animals. But God Rāma killed Rāvaṇa, who was a brāhmaṇa by birth because of his evil qualities and deeds. Rāvaṇa can be rightly called only a brahma bandhu, which means that he was related to the caste of brāhmaṇas by birth. However, by qualities and deeds, he was not a brāhmaṇa. Balarāma, was treated as a divine incarnation of God and is counted among the ten famous divine Incarnations of God. Due to a misunderstanding, He killed Sūta, who was a brāhmaṇa by qualities and deeds, but not by birth. Balarāma repented for His mistake and also brought back Sūta to life.

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| Shri Datta Swami | Since The Cow Is Sacred, Does Serving Cows Lead To Any Spiritual Progress? | Braahmana Balaraama