vegetarian diet

[Guest guest]

Because of recent tension on the issue of diet on various lists, I make the

following comments.

 

Hindu and Jaina Yogic scriptures recommend a moderate sattvic diet as being

helpful in the spiritual path. Sattvic diet typically means freshly prepared

or raw foods consisting of grains, legumes, fruits, nuts, vegetables, milk,

etc. Jains avoid root vegetables. Vegans avoid milk as well. My teacher is a

life long vegetarian. Some yogis avoid onions and garlic also.

 

I am a vegetarian but eat onions and garlic (just in case you want to cook

something up for me:--).

 

A few yogis subsist on raw fruits and/or vegetables for extended periods. In

some meditative and yogic traditions meat is taken. It is said that Buddha

died of eating contaminated pork. So if we look at various cultures and

traditions, there is a wide variety of opinions about what the right or

correct diet is for human beings.

 

Since diet is such a personal and individual decision based on many factors,

many of which are not obvious, prolonged arguments on it invariably lead to

some level of hostility. Many vegetarians take a very militant stance on

food based on the notion of Ahimsa or non-violence. However, it seems to me,

that imposing absolute standards when it comes to diet and judging others in

that manner involves violence. I think those of us who are vegetarians can

be advocates for this way of life by our behavior and sharing of

information. That is a positive way. Criticizing others or making fun of

others or adopting a superior spiritual stance due to one's diet seems to me

to be inconsistent with the philosophy of nonharm and nonviolence. That is

just my point of view and I apologize in advance if anyone's feelings are

hurt by what I said. Thanks for listening.

 

Harsha

[Guest guest]

>A few yogis subsist on raw fruits and/or vegetables for extended >periods.

>In some meditative and yogic traditions meat is taken. It >is said that

>Buddha died of eating contaminated pork.

 

The story of the Buddha you refer to is set in mythic form. It is not meant

to be taken literally. And if you do take it literally, it shows that the

Buddha was not making a 'conscious choice' to eat meat.

 

>Since diet is such a personal and individual decision based on many

> >factors

 

This is true. But, diet also involves some subtle and not-so-subtle

political choices.

 

>Many vegetarians take a very militant stance on food based on the >notion

>of Ahimsa or non-violence. However, it seems to me,

>that imposing absolute standards when it comes to diet and judging >others

>in that manner involves violence. I think those of us who are >vegetarians

>can be advocates for this way of life by our behavior >and sharing of

>information. That is a positive way.

 

I agree with you completely. Some vegetarians are indeed overly militant.

But some meat-eaters are very militant as well. Moreover, meater-eaters,

belonging to the dominant social group, often resort (consciously or

unconsciously) to other means of social pressure. As Chuang-Tzu once

advised, let others alone.

 

namaste

 

Veronica