Interesting Observation / Theory - What do you guys think?

[Guest guest]

Okay, earlier I mentioned that SOME, not all, raw foodists seem to have

this really selfish obsession with ideal, perfect health that seems to

override even things like ethics and preventing global warming so that

there can even BE a future, etc. They almost have an unyielding

obsession with perfect health. It seems to me that Health, when

achieved, is still but a vehicle, and not the prime focus. Kind of like

the whole " eat to live, don't live to eat " deal.

 

I see this same phenomenon (at times) with addicts, it seems. The first

time people get high it becomes an unattainable obsession to achieve it

again. Honestly, I sometimes have started considering that a lot of

what goes on in the raw foods movement stems from people HEARING about

how " unbelievably phenomenal " some authors/speakers feel, and how they

gush on and on about it, etc. And the mad pursuit begins. Of course, I

am not insinuating that these people do not feel great, but what

is " great " ? Kind of like how everybody has different thresholds for

pain, I think people fantasize about a " high " that is so grandiose it

is likely to be unachievable. But is sure sells a lot of books and

products! To me, I have quite an imagination, so when I hear grandiose

descriptions that are all excited, etc, I ALWAYS think big. And almost

always, when I see the item or place or have the experience that was

built up to me in such a way, I AM DISAPPOINTED. Because it doesn't

ever live up at all to what I expected based on the description. Not

much does, does it? It's still really great - but the expectations were

unrealistic, though, usually. I mean, I have felt awesome in my body,

after a long time of not doing so. And I couldn't enjoy it, because I

felt it could be so much better.

 

I mean, it is of relevance to me to note that a lot of these

authors/speakers also get to vacation most of the year with the profits

they make from people buying their books in order to achieve this same

level of " superhealth " ... ;-) I do not believe at all they are frauds -

I'm not saying that. I'm saying that it is possible that they do feel

great, because I'm sure they do, but all of a sudden a lot of pretty

already pain-free people fall victim to what can easily be one person's

very charismatic, very over the top, and very profitable description of

how unbelievably awesome they " always-always-always " are, and that's

how their ridiculous, self-obsessed quest is born. A lot of

raw " professionals " feel so good because they are getting paid to talk

about how great they feel 1 hour a week, and the rest of the week they

can rest or go to Hawaii 10x a year or sit in a hot spring daily and

sleep in all the time, etc. I mean, ALL of these things

comprise 'optimal well-being', not just diet. ;-)

 

The obsession for the raw food laymen to achieve this then takes over.

Do people feel tons better? Do they have more energy? Do they sleep

better? Yes and yes. But like honestly, it becomes this battle for so

many to buy the most exotic stuff, or to over-cleanse on fad items,

etc. Or to spend more and more, because you get what you pay for, etc.

And I can't help but be reminded of junkies trying to achieve that

same, unattainable high....and who usually end up losing themselves in

the quest.

 

People are so into each and every mineral, and are sure they are

missing something if they don't sprout a cape and have this superhuman

feeling at all times.

 

To ME it seems that what prevents a lot of raw foodists from attaining

this incredible level of well-being is usually NOT a vitamin or

mineral, after a certain point of mineralization, cleansing, etc. They

feel " off " and so they start adding all these exotic foods or worse,

animal foods, and keep pursuing some missing nutrional link.

 

My theory is that it's usually something spiritual. Or emotional. THAT

can be the missing link just as much. Life purpose. So much of the

focus is on nutrition, nutrition, nutrition, which of course is SO

MUCH, but people who can kill animals and cause global warming -

basically ruin the earth - for their own perceived and self-

obsessive " right " to superhuman health are absolutely missing the boat

in my eyes. They are often looking in the wrong place, totally.

 

I've met MUCH happier and much more well-rounded people in this world

who eat cheap hamburger, dairy, drink pop, etc, and who often have

fibromyalgia or some other constant ailment/thorn in their side, but

people who have a smile on their face and a peace and a calmness about

them, because they are happy to serve, share, and/or don't have this me-

me-me obsession or almost shameful sense of entitlement. There's no

denying that people don't have to live with most ailments, or that they

may be ignorant about health/meat, etc, but I'd rather sit down to tea

with one of them than some raw foodists, there's no question!

 

I think it's a real embarrassment to the integrity of this movement, in

my eyes. Health is the vehicle, not our #1 life accomplishment/mission

(although for periods of reversal/recovery it has to be). So we can

clear our brains and have the energy to educate others, to help others,

the earth, animals, etc. People don't have that energy or mental

clarity when they eat government-recommended and approved foods.

HMMMM!!!!! Or when their spouse or parent is going through

chemotherapy, they have no time leftover for improving society.

SAY!!!!! Gee, this correlation is totally obvious to me. ;-) IN this

day and age, it is simply not enough for us to go raw/vegan, we must be

educators/activists, you know? I really feel that way. But if stopping

global warming interferes with one raw-foodists quest to look younger,

so many choose " looking younger " . Not all, but many. Too many. It's

really unfortunate and embarrasing at large.

 

Thanks for listening. Any thoughts? Work is slow today... LOL!

Erica

[Guest guest]

Erica,

 

In this and another thread, you write of the perceived craziness of the

raw food movement's big names, the greed of some of the same, and even

cases of apparent hypocrisy. I agree it can definitely leave one

feeling jaded! Without getting into specific points raised in your

posts, I just wanted to express that you're not alone in feeling this

way. You probably already knew that from my and Elchanan's opinions on

how some gurus and theories of raw foodism certainly don't help its

wider acceptance. But, just in case.

 

 

-Erin

http://www.zenpawn.com/vegblog

[Guest guest]

I agree with Erica's way of thinking (and the thoughts of Erin,

Elchanan, and others) in this regard. The quest for a " super-human "

feeling will likely remain elusive in as much as spirituality

(interconnectivity, whatever you'd like to call it) and a noble

purpose are absent. And in today's world, how can that purpose

eschew such global problems as climate change, species extinction,

poverty, hunger, human and animal rights, security/conflict,

environmental degradation, pandemics, and the like.

 

Of course, we as individuals can't take on ALL of the above at

once... or can we? Since diet is so central to our OWN health, we

are in an opportune position to spread the word via awareness

campaigns and political activism.

 

Living foods is the thread that connects the dots!

 

I am aware of only one organization, Earthsave International, that

puts diet at the center of our planet's troubles. Although it is not

a " raw purist " organization, I support Earthsave, and will

increasingly do so in the future.

 

If anyone knows of other nonprofits that use diet enhancements (raw,

or even vegan) as a way to address these larger ills, please share -

I (and I hope others) would be glad to contribute to -- and attempt

to link together -- other organizations, too.

 

Marc

 

 

rawfood , " Erin " <truepatriot wrote:

>

> Erica,

>

> In this and another thread, you write of the perceived craziness of

the

> raw food movement's big names, the greed of some of the same, and

even

> cases of apparent hypocrisy. I agree it can definitely leave one

> feeling jaded! Without getting into specific points raised in your

> posts, I just wanted to express that you're not alone in feeling

this

> way. You probably already knew that from my and Elchanan's

opinions on

> how some gurus and theories of raw foodism certainly don't help its

> wider acceptance. But, just in case.

>

>

> -Erin

> http://www.zenpawn.com/vegblog

>

[Guest guest]

On Friday 12 October 2007, Erica wrote:

> Thanks for listening. Any thoughts? Work is slow today...

> LOL!

 

Here's one.

 

There is always what might be called a 'spiritual' problem

at the bottom of everything. Always and Everything. It is

the single fundamental reason for unhappiness. It comes

from learning concepts such as ME and I and the implied

separation and vulnerability that goes with it and of

course the sense of feeling incomplete. No amount of raw or

drugs or possessions or success or anything else is going

to take away the sense of feeling incomplete to reveal

that real happiness. Real happiness is not created, it is

who we truly are, but we don't see it. It gets too covered

by our own conviction that we are unhappy and that

conviction is born of our beliefs all neatly wrapped around

what you already mentioned. I AM.

 

Remember that posting of Anthony de Mello, he says

" You know, all mystics -Catholic, Christian, non-

Christian, no matter what their theology, no matter what

their religion -- are unanimous on one thing: that all is

well, all is well.  Though everything is a mess, all is

well.  Strange paradox, to be sure.  But, tragically, most

people never get to see that all is well because they are

asleep.  They are having a nightmare. "

 

It does not need to be that way and it does not take

lifetime after lifetime.

 

--

the kneeling fool

[Guest guest]

rawfood , " marcospcv " <marcospcv wrote:

>

> I agree with Erica's way of thinking (and the thoughts of Erin,

> Elchanan, and others) in this regard.

 

My dad was visiting this weekend, so I am catching up, but I am

comforted that so many apparently agree with me. Intersting: I am

definitely the black sheep of my family, my dad is white collar

midwest, although not rigidly right, etc. He actually joked he was more

socialist than anything else, because he doesn't think the right of one

person should come before the right of the community. He meant it in

regard to driving down the street and somebody pulling up with their

car all bassed out, sounding obnoxious and interfering with everyone

else's life. I was thrilled he said this, although refrained from

pointing out the obvious hypocrisy considering what was on his plate...

Erica