Guest guest Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 Dear Sunil, This question was asked during one of the lectures given by Swami Tadatmananda of the Arsha Bodha Center in Franklin Park, New Jersey. Swami T's reply seemed convincing to me and may help understand the issue. Here is his reply (mainly the first paragraph) followed with my own thoughts and in my own words (read it as my interpretation): The answer lies in our basic belief in Ahimsa, whose true definition is " Least possible harm to all beings including oneself " . As human beings we are endowed with the power to discriminate between the right and the wrong, and this power/ability is almost always conditioned by our surrounding, upbringing etc. If we were to apply the principle of Ahimsa using our " viveka " as the guide, then we can clearly see that " destroying a plant is definitely less harmful than destroying an animal " . Harming no form of life (consuming no food) and in the process starving yourself to death is clearly a violation of Ahimsa, for you are destroying one of the crown-jewels of God's forms - yourself. Our physiological and psychological conditions are determined by the food we take. Also, consumption of meat has been shown to make a person aggressive (or restless). Now, granted there are many aggressive vegetarians and very calm and balanced non-vegetarians. But, a given individual is more likely to be more aggressive/restless when subjected to a sustained diet of meat. If a saadaka were to resort to such a diet, then he/she is likely to have a harder time controlling his/her mind. That effort may be directed elsewhere if it were to be unnecessary by choosing a vegetarian diet. If evolution were to be believed as a manifestation of God's plan, then humans are, thus far, the highest form that is known to us. Extending the logic, animals are below us and plants are below them - clearly established by the food-chain. Does it make a plant or an animal less in the grand scheme to things. The answer is " No " . But one form of life feeds on another - that is part of nature. Incorporating the principle of Ahimsa into this " Natural scheme " , perhaps convinces us in the value of restricting ourselves to vegetarian diet. Finally, one takes food by offering it God and accepts it as His Prasaada (bestowed by God). If one is not convinced that such an offering is " within a person's system of belief " , then it would neither be a whole-hearted offering to God nor would it be accepted as Prasaada. So, as long as it is not " within a system of belief " , it is not likely to produce the desired results. Hence, in my view, being a vegetarian is a better choice to me personally. And everyone has to chose based on his/her set of values. Hope this makes sense. Thank you. Sheshadri Shekhar > There is 1 message in this issue. > > Topics in this digest: > > 1. non vegetarian food > sunil n <sun_fundu > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 Sunilji Namaskar. In this world there is nothing that is absolutely good or bad. All is relative. Sri Ramakrishna used to say that one who eats whatever meat and still lives with God all the time is anytime superior to one who does not eat any meat but is attached to the world. Once a devotee asked similar question to Swami Brahmanandaji Maharaj, spiritual son of Ramakrishna. He said the same thing. There is a bhajan which purports: if by eating vegetable and fruits one reaches God then all monkeys should already have reached Him! But it is not so. Food which people take is generally dictated by the availability in the area and its climate. It is not the food as such that we take but our attachment with it which needs to be controlled. Much of the Budhist world (China, Japan, Tibet, Sri Lanka and others are meat eaters! However it is also true that some of our Shastras (Padma Puran- one of them) wants sadhak to avoid taking tamsik food which apart from non-veg also includes things like onions and garlic (even though both of these have many medicinal properties and keep stomach and heart in good shape). Therefore it all depends upon how one is brought up and is oriented from childhood. Anything (food included) that hinders Sadhna needs ofcourse to be avoided,if one wants results from his sadhna. Generally Vaishnavas avoid non-veg; but Tantrik worshipers do not avoid it. Regards. Chetan > Wed, 14 Sep 2005 20:33:59 +0100 (BST) > sunil n <sun_fundu > non vegetarian food > > Namaste > > I have this doubt about eating non vegetarian food. > > why is non vegetarian food not adviced to the ones who are doing > sadhana? > > or is it ok? > > Chetan Merani Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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