Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Veganism/Fruitarianism and Religion

Those that are at all into religion, should already be aware that when you get down to the nitty gritty of it, the essence of pretty much every religion is about doing no harm, treating others with the respect that we ourselves expect, or fundamentally deserve, and generally loving and helping others when and where we are able.


Breakfast abomination


Buddhism, for example, has what it calls the 5 precepts, the first of which clearly states that one should undertake the precept to refrain from harming all living creatures (ie, both humans and other animals alike, and I'm supposing the ultimate harm is death!).

Albeit, I've yet to really meet a Buddhist that fully understands what that entails, and goes out of their way to put it into practice. (even the dalai lama regularly eats the flesh from other beings)..

Christianity, in addition to jesus's teachings of respect for others, has the very clear 6th commandment given in the old testament "thou shall not kill" (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17)..


A true carnivore would look at this creature, and think "food".


Specieistic scholars addicted to the scorched flesh of butchered animals, have tried to distort the true meaning of the commandment, and would have us believe that it refers purely to the murder of another human being, where I would seriously doubt that any such exception was ever intended.

Islam, supposedly the fastest-growing religion on the globe, quotes several times in it's Koran, that one should show respect for animals:

...but to hunt...is forbidden you, so long as ye are on the pilgrimage. Be mindful of your duty to Allah, unto Whom you will all be gathered.
(Koran, surah 5, verse 96)

It teaches that in Mecca, the birthplace of Mohammed, no creature can be slaughtered and that perfect harmony should exist between all living beings.. Which is odd, as I can't quite imagine that all the restaurants there are vegan..


Definitely not food.

Whoever is kind to the creatures of God is kind to himself. (the Prophet Mohammed)

There is not an animal on the earth, nor a flying creature flying on two wings, but they are all peoples like unto you. (Koran, surah 6, verse 38)

Ahimsa is an east Indian term that relates to the principal of non-violence toward all life. Ahimsa is an important tenant of both Hinduism and Jainism

- Animals are seen as sentient beings worthy of human love and protection. Killing animals for food or any other reason is supposedly completely unthinkable to an adherent of Ahimsa, although I suspect as with other religions many disciples will ignore or regularly turn a blind eye toward this tenant. - Violence toward animals is said to negatively affect a person's destiny and fate. The idea is that one reaps what one sows and the adherents of Ahimsa believes that the violence and misery experienced by a murdered animal will be metaphysically transferred to the flesh-eater during his own lifetime.


What gives us the right to eat animals?

The Bahai Faith teaches that respect for animals is just, and even supports it's followers to become vegetarian. Some even choose to cut out all animal products, and eat vegan. Admittedly, not all followers have the insight enough to equate respect for animals with diet at all, so I'm guessing that vegetarians in the faith are most likely to be in the minority..

Furthermore, Abdu’l-Bahá said, Fruits and grains [will be the foods
of the future]. The time will come when meat will no longer be eaten..


The next time those Mormons come knocking on the door, take a look at one of their small colourful brochures.. They often have one baring a picture of an idylic setting with colourful fruit baskets and lions lying peacefully next to lambs..

This they see as a future paradise, clearly portraying the Isaiah prophecies of a time when carnivorism will stop, even as behaviour between other species.. To me, it makes perfect sense that in order to bring about such a setting, we will all need to change our eating habits.. Apparently a fact that not one of those young mormons I've spoken with, has ever understood or appreciated.. Although, perhaps they were Jehovas Witnesses? I've always ignorantly confused the 2 groups.


Real food, for real people.

I'm quite certain that a few google searches would show similar thoughts expressed by other religions.. Quotes that are generally swept under the carpet by both leaders and followers of each religion.

The Pope, head of the catholic faith, similar to the dalai lama, is a regular flesh eater, devouring gluttonously all creatures great and small.

So clearly, it appears to me, and I repeat myself, the core of all religions is about Non-Violence..

The most nonviolent of all food, and thus the pinnacle of religious food, is unquestionably fruit. - No exploitation, killing or theft from animal or plant - No unjust imprisonment, branding, castration, torture or eartag punching of voiceless innocent animals.. - No acre upon acre of annual mono-agriculture, reliant on heavy industry tractors and harvesters, resulting in the loss of many small animals lives, and the loss of habitat of creatures of all sizes.. (The statistics in that industry of how many accidents, and deaths to humans alone, annually, is quite shocking - as well as millions of mammals and other creatures sliced by combines, harvesters).


Alive with colour

Fruit is the only food given freely and generously from the plant which bequeaths it all..

If you think of heaven as a place where you can sit and fish all day, then think again. I am convinced that heaven is heaven for all, including the fish.

Adopt a fruit diet, and help humanity evolve toward the light side!

Peace,
mango.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Topsy-Turvy Wolrd - 11 - Religious(?) world Leaders

I started thinking about the worlds foremost supposedly spiritual world leaders..

And you know what..? I don't think any of them are vegetarian..

Which is odd, when you stop and think about it, because at the core of all religions, isn't there this driving force of "do no harm", love they neighbours, treat others respectfully, and thou shalt not kill..

The pope was recently here, visiting Sydney, for this crazy world youth day event, and I wonder how many hot dogs were served to the hungry religious masses that graced their presence for the occasion..

The Pope clearly has no respect what so ever for Gods creatures, but will most likely join in with the choir singing "all creatures great and small"..

Shoot, out of curiosity, I googled the Dalai Lama in an attempt to find out his eating habits, thinking that following the Buddhist principles to the key, as I had imagined there was a remote chance that he may, that there may perhaps be a slight chance that he had some compassion for animals, but alas, I discovered that even the Dalai Lama regularly eats flesh and doesn't appear to ask questions..

I got momentarily sucked in to trying to start a debate about that fact by responding to this guy Bill's comments here: (you'll need to scroll down the page to read my comments)

http://www.morinfamily.com:8888/blog/2007/06/13/1181751512264.html

When he didn't respond, I thought I'd offer him the chance to do so from his own blog:

http://digital-dharma.net/about-digitalzen/

But after a few futile attempts to engage him in a debate on Buddhist viewpoint of diet, he pointed out that I was wasting my time.. And consequently he deleted all my comments.. However, I recorded them before they got deleted:


  1. mango, on July 22nd, 2008 at 1:31 Said:

    Hi Bill,
    just like to draw to your attention that I replied to your comment here:

    http://www.morinfamily.com:8888/blog/2007/06/13/1181751512264.html

    peace,
    mango.

    Dear Mango,
    As regards His Holiness’ practice: that was his explanation, not mine. It is both non-judgmental and non-dualistic, and is the way I try to live my practice. Your choices seem to be different. That is none of my business.


  2. mango, on July 23rd, 2008 at 18:11 Said:

    Dear Bill,
    We live in a world that is full of judgment and dualism.. The Lamas choices are no more outside of this, than are my own, or yours..

    As for whose business publicly aired opinions are.. Well..they are publicly aired and shared..

    peace,
    Mango.

    His Holiness’ practice, and yours, are none of my business. If you think otherwise, that is your opinion, and none of my business either.

  3. mango, on July 24th, 2008 at 21:05 Said:

    Hi again Bill,

    I am expressing a view point.. that is all. If you post a comment on someone else’s blog, then you are expressing your viewpoint too..

    That is ok.. We are all entitled to express our opinions.

    I agree that my opinions are mine, yours are yours and the lamas are his..

    But what I don’t understand is your response that an aired opinion is “none of your business”, it looks like you are telling me that I should keep my views to myself as they have nothing to do with you..

    It seems that you yourself have been only willing to offer your own point of view to others despite the fact that you seem to believe that it is only “your business” what you believe.

    Peace,
    Mango.

    Dear Mango,
    You are not reading carefully. I said that His Holiness’ opinion is none of my business. I said that your opinion is none of my business. What has that to do with you?
    Namasté


  4. mango, on July 25th, 2008 at 17:46 Said:

    Dear Bill,

    maybe I need a lesson in logic..

    True, I may not be seeing things clearly.. This is what I see you saying:

    1. The lamas opinions are none of your business..
    2. My opinion is none of your business..

    Ergo.. I supposed.. (perhaps wrongly.. perhaps not).. that in your opinion, your opinions are “none of my business” (thus I should cease to discuss them?)..

    But if Dalai’s opinions are none of your business, why have you openly discussed what you believe to be his opinions and thoughts and actions? What has that to do with you?

    Peace,
    Mango.

    Perhaps we need to define “business.” I use it in the sense of a rightful concern or responsibility.

    Perhaps you can explain to me how His Holiness’ or your own opinions are any business of mine in that sense. Perhaps it is I who is missing something.


  5. mango, on July 25th, 2008 at 21:05 Said:

    Dear Bill,

    defining the words semantically, as you have partially done, I will agree with you that we ultimately take no responsibility for the actions of strangers.. In this case I carry no direct responsibility for yours or the Lamas habits.. Equally, neither do you, for his, or mine. And of course, he, for yours or mine..

    However, you did openly begin this debate by stating that:
    [The Lama] like most people who value human relationships over tradition, will eat meat if it is served to him in good faith.

    Now if you believe, as you state, that it is of no rightful concern of yours what he does or does not do, then why mention it in the first place?

    Indeed, why discuss anything at all (outside of yourself) if it is, as you believe, none of our business?

    I perceived you as an open guy, only too willing to share your opinion with others, and by doing so, I had assumed that you would therefore be open to discuss your views,and hear those of others..

    Perhaps I was mistaken.
    Peace,
    Mango.

    Dear Mango,
    This is pointless. I have no time for it. I will continue to post your comments, but I gave up sophomoric discussions like this more than 40 years ago, so you need not expect further from me on this subject. You must have something better to do; I know I have.
    Bill


  6. mango, on July 27th, 2008 at 4:52 Said:

    i was indeed mistaken
    peace,
    mango


Honestly, sometimes I am just soo good at wasting time, but I'd just love for there to be some way to communicate good ideas effectively..

I guess I really must learn to let go..

Hugs,
Mango

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