[Sri Ramakrishna] re Vegetarianism and Reincarnation [Jai~ Raam jai_raam@... ]

[Guest guest]

" The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its

animals are treated "

.... Mahatma Gandhi

 

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in the town of Porbander in the state of

what is now Gujarat on 2 October 1869. He received his schooling in Rajkot,

where his father served as the adviser or prime minister to the local ruler. His

father died before Gandhi could finish his schooling, and at thirteen he was

married to Kasturba [or Kasturbai], who was younger. In 1888 Gandhi left for

England, where he had decided to pursue a degree in law.

 

In London, Gandhi met theosophists, vegetarians, and others who were

disenchanted not only with industrialism, but also with the legacy of so-called

enlightened thought. These people were the fringe elements of English society.

Gandhi was attracted strongly to them, as he was to the teachings of the major

religions. He was called to the bar in 1891, and enrolled in the High Court of

London; but later that year he left for India.

 

Sri Ramakrishna was a vegetarian, while Swami Vivekananda advocated

vegetarianism but also defended meat-eating by the labouring classes as it was

the (then) source of much needed protein : at that time it would seem Soya and

similar food was not known in India?

 

Vegetarianism is born of the need to love all sentient beings, and to avoid

cruelty to them. It is not a " holier than thou " way of life, but merely a way of

eliminating one more source of spiritual degradation through the passive or

active slaughter of animals for the sake of eating their flesh. It extends to

how one views cruelty to animals in all aspects and to whether one chooses to

participate in their agony and the butchering of entire species or not. It

extends to whether one wishes to be in contention with Sri Ramakrishna and tens

of millions of others or not - it is all a personal choice : it is your own

personal karma - but, it impacts on the lives of every other living creature who

must exist with cause-effect of others' actions. It is basic to Advaita Vedanta

that we do not exist in isolation to other life.

 

I offer these thoughts to you in humility and pray that you will find them of

interest, and perhaps of use to you. I humbly offer this in the spirit of

kshama-prarthana and ask your forgiveness for the shortcomings and mistakes it

may contain.

 

Thank you and may Peace, Love and understanding bless you

 

Roger

 

South Africa