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]

Harsha

What you say makes perfect sense to me. I am myself a vegetarian, but

it came about as part of a gradual process in my own path and way of

understanding the concept of Ahimsa. Like you I do not feel that being

a vegetarian automatically makes you non-violent (Hitler is the best

example of this I know of - even though he was a vegetarian no one could

argue that he practiced ahimsa!!). And as you so correctly pointed out

even within the yogic/eastern traditions there is diversity regarding

how diet is viewed.

I have spent some time with Hare Krishna devotees here, and whilst they

are most definitely opposted to meat eating they do have an "escape

clause" for those who can't give it up. It is considered acceptable as

long as the animal died of natural causes. This also allows for the use

of leather products for drums etc.

Personally I feel that diet is a matter of individual choice, and what

is more important is the manner in which the food is prepared and served

rather than what appears on the plate. To use a "meat" example -

consider the difference between a burger from a hamburger chain and one

prepared at home. The store bought burger is slapped together with no

real care or thought for the person eating it, and lacks the flavour of

homemade food which is infused with love.

OM Shanti

Michele

> Harsha (Dr. Harsh K. Luthar) wrote:

>

> 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]

Good Morning Harsha:

 

Your words are words of sense and balance becoming a vegetarian is simply

one step in ahimsa and not necessarily the most important. I am reminded of

this each day in my own home as I am the only vegetarian, my daughter and

ex-husband live with me because they are unable, at this time, to live on

their own. There are often comments made about the "lack of meat

situation".....in trying to reach a peaceful point with this what has been

decided is that they can purchase cooked meat and eat it on paper plates or

micro-wave it in the basement. Since I teach yoga in one part of the house

and pay most of the bills I do not feel that I need to be dealing with the

lingering odor of cooking meat. What has been the biggest challenge to me

is to be non-attached to my own beliefs and not to become militant about my

own stand. I often think of Krishna's teaching to Arjuna about the

importance of non-attachment as I walk through this as it keeps me from

judging or resenting them for their own viewpoints. To my mind keeping from

judging others or feeling superior is a very important principal of ahimsa.

 

Just my two cents worth.

 

Namaste,

Linda

 

>>>>> > 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