Digest Number 231

[Guest guest]

Hi,

An excellent list with a good attitude and much knowledge which I hope will

be sustained

.. . .

I shall dive straight in :-)

>My definition of vegetarianism: "I DO NOT EAT ANYTHING THAT CAN MOVE ON

THIS

>EARTH". Movement is provided to them because they wanted to escape from

>their predator. I have never come across any animal that has willingly

>offered itself to be killed for food. Animals, birds, fish etc. can move.

>Given a chance they will always escape from harm. How could we take any

>life, when it wants to live?

 

Personal choice.

During the process of digestion of any food, many bacteria, yeasts and other

life forms

that wish to live are killed and deprived of their fight for survival.

Existence involves

suffering. It is a choice how much we involve ourselves in this external

process.

My definition of ‘vegetarianism’ is slightly different. I do not consume

anything which is

unhelpful. Therefore I do not use the nutrition of vegetable thoughts but

prefer nutrition

that moves :-)

I do not sit like a vegetable (in case I take root) and do not behave like a

vegetable (in

case my capacity for evolution is stunted).

 

>Long back when I was very young, I questioned my late grand father on why

>our family is vegetarian. My grand father told me a story. "Once upon a

>time all beings went to the GOD's court and requested his permission for a

>longer life. He granted movement to animals and multiplicity to the

plants.

>He ordered the animals to escape with the help of the movement. He also

told

>animals, if they can't move he can't give guarantee for their life. He

told

>the plants to keep their life by giving leaves and grains to others. We

>believe in God's law, that is why we are vegetarians. A tiger can kill

only

>an old deer, a deer that is young can always run and escape a tiger. These

>are all the acts of God to keep the ecological balance. We as humans are

>not supposed to kill. If one starts killing a living being for food, at one

>point of time he might not even hesitate to kill a human because the act of

>killing is the same. Taking life is easy, but giving life is impossible".

 

There is a story of Nasrudin who met a venerable vegetarian Yogi.

‘Friend’, said Nasrudin I would like to know more of your strange philosophy

and

contortions. ‘It may interest you to know that my life was once saved by a

fish . . .’

continued Nasrudin.

“My Dear Friend, I have long been the friend of every living creature and

this illustates

well my philosophy. I would be more than happy to share my knowledge and

perhaps you

would (God Willing) share your experiences of inter species co operation

with me,” said

the delighted Yogi.

After several weeks of sharing his yoga and philosophy our venerable Yogi

respectfully

asked Nasrudin:

“I feel we have shared much and if you would be so kind and (God Willing) I

would be

grateful to hear of the occasion on which a fish saved your life . . .”

“Well said Nasrudin . . . having heard a little of your philosophy I feel it

may not please

you. I was starving, I caught a fish and ate it . . .”

 

Jesus that well known Hindu Avatar was known to fish. Buddha that Divine

Hindu

incarnation was known to accept meat as do many grateful sages. Many

tantrikas also

consume flesh. I prefer vegetarianism (but not personally) as a philosophy

but would

always remind people - you can not eat your way to samdhi. Vegetarianism is

a side issue

like standing on ones head - it has no merit. The respectful meat eater is

closer to God

than the sanctimonious plant muncher.

The important thing is respect for life, for death, for good, for bad . . .

And respect incidentally is a bit more than gentle words . . .

 

Respectfully

Lobster

[Guest guest]

>

> Lobster [sMTP:EdJason]

> Friday, May 28, 1999 11:17 AM

> advaitin

> Re: Digest Number 231

>

> "Lobster" <EdJason

>

> How could we take any

> >life, when it wants to live?

>

> Personal choice.

[Madhava Replies:]

:-) Thank you! You said it...

 

I guess I need to draw your attention to many other points here.

Swamy Ramatirtha catagoriges humans by identifying them to different spicies

of nature. (ref: complete works of Swamy Ramatirtha). There are Jackals in

humans who, though look like humans, behave like jackals. Also there are

tiger humans, there are deer humans. According to Ramatirtha, tastes do

differ.

 

This is because, the whole nature is "triguNAtmika". Even plants

are catogoriged i.e. satvic plants, rajasic plants, tamasic plants.

rajasic plants are nothing but meat eating plants.

 

By the way, your nasiruddin kind of story is not new to me :-) we

had a story in our mahabharata where Suta eats dog meat. You should eat

what ever is available in order to sustain your life, during the time of

starvation,. I refer here Sri Gummaluru Murthy's excellent article based on

"taittireeyOpanishad"... "annaM naniMdyAt"...

> Jesus that well known Hindu Avatar was known to fish. Buddha that Divine

> Hindu

> incarnation was known to accept meat as do many grateful sages. Many

> tantrikas also

> consume flesh.

[Madhava Replies:]

By the way, I heard that Jesus is a vegetarian :-), there is a paper

on it at "International Vegetarian Union" website, please check.

 

Tantrikas consuming flesh is a way, through which they try to attain

siddi. It is mandatory for them. We are not taking about tantrikas here!

> it has no merit. The respectful meat eater is

> closer to God

> than the sanctimonious plant muncher.

[Madhava Replies:]

I don't think I said that. Anyway, my humble apologies, if I had

ever conveyed through my poor english that meat eaters are not closer to

God! Everybody is closer to GOD.

 

"tadEjati tannaijati, taddoorE tadvaMtikE

tadaMtarasya sarvasya tadu sarvasyAsya bAhyataH"

 

It moves, it doesn't move. It is far, it is very near. It is

dwelling in everybody, it is out of everybodys reach.

 

I believe in the above upanishadic words. I believe that *he* is in

everybody. I also believe in bhagawadgita where *he* says:

 

"samOhaM sarva bhootEshu namE dvEshyOsti napriyaH" - I am equal to

everyone. Neither I have friends, nor I have foes.

 

Hence what ever one eats, it doesn't really keep him away from God.

Hari Om!

> The important thing is respect for life, for death, for good, for bad . .

> .

> And respect incidentally is a bit more than gentle words . . .

>

> Respectfully

> Lobster

>

>

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