Vegetarianism Why vegetarianism? The way that we breed animals for food is a threat to theplanet. It pollutes our environment while consuming huge amounts of water, http://students.emory.edu/ECOSEAC/greenbook/eating.htm
Extractions: Environmental awareness involves understanding the impact of our individual behaviors and lifestyle choices on the rest of the world. What may seem like a very personal decision can actually have far-reaching implications for all of us, and for generations to come, who must come to terms with the disastrous environmental situation we find ourselves in. What we don't know can hurt us! This is why we've included here a section on the benefits of organic farming and vegetarianism. It is our belief that the vegetarian diet is a huge step towards reducing the waste and pollution we generate in our daily lives. Why organic? The word "organic" is used to describe food which has been grown without the use of artificial fertilizers and pesticides. Organic food has been grown by working with nature rather than against it, by recycling natural materials to maintain soil fertility and encouraging natural methods of pest and disease control, rather than relying on chemicals. The environment benefits.
Beyond The Matter Thoughts on metaphysics, life, vegetarianism the universe and our place in it. http://www.spiritual-dimension.com/english/
Extractions: I haven't commented here yet on Hurricane Katrina and the many, many animals that had to be left behind during the evacuations. I think it's partially because I can't look at the pictures or read the stories and still get it together enough to form a coherent thought about the whole thing. So, I won't attempt to. Instead, I'll just encourage you to donate some time or money to Noah's Wish or the HSUS . Don't forget about the members of the families that had to be left behind. Also, please read some thoughts from other bloggers who verbalize what I'm thinking better than I can at the moment: I also want to remind you not to forget your local charities. Non-relief charities were hit particularly hard after September 11th and the tsunami as most of people's charitable giving was directed at relief efforts. I suspect the same will hold true with this disaster. September 06, 2005
Vegetarianism - Why Hindus Don't Eat Meat An essay by Dr.Jai Maharaj covering the spiritual, ecological and health rationales on vegetarianism amongst Hindus. http://www.flex.com/~jai/articles/hinmeat.html
Extractions: Posted by Dr. Jai Maharaj Vegetarianism is the key to good health and happiness. The Hindu view is multi-dimensional, including the ecological, medical and spiritual, as is evident in the following excerpts from Hinduism Today Besides being an expression of compassion for animals, vegetarianism is followed for ecological and health rationales Reasons In the past fifty years, millions of meat-eaters Hindus and non-Hindus have made the personal decision to stop eating the flesh of other creatures. There are five major motivations for such a decision: The Dharmic Law Reason Ahinsa, the law of noninjury, is the Hindu's first duty in fulfilling religious obligations to God and God's creation as defined by Vedic scripture. The Karmic Consequences Reason All of our actions, including our choice of food, have Karmic consequences. By involving oneself in the cycle of inflicting injury, pain and death, even indirectly by eating other creatures, one must in the future experience in equal measure the suffering caused. The Spiritual Reason Food is the source of the body's chemistry, and what we ingest affects our consciousness, emotions and experiential patterns. If one wants to live in higher consciousness, in peace and happiness and love for all creatures, then he cannot eat meat, fish, shellfish, fowl or eggs. By ingesting the grosser chemistries of animal foods, one introduces into the body and mind anger, jealousy, anxiety, suspicion and a terrible fear of death, all of which are locked into the the flesh of the butchered creatures. For these reasons, vegetarians live in higher consciousness and meat-eaters abide in lower consciousness.
TIME Magazine: Veggie Tales vegetarianism resolves a conscientious person s inner turf war by For vegetarianismshould be about more than not eating; it s also about smart eating. http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101020715/story.html
Robert Ransom Odom Raising conscious awareness through the channeled wisdom of Red Sand Coyote. Includes event calendar, articles on earth changes and vegetarianism, and rates for private readings. http://www.robertodom.com/
Islamic Concern: Animals In Islam Investigating Halal Meat Imam Hafiz BA alMasri Speaks on Islam and Animals.Fatwas on vegetarianism What People Are Saying About Our Site http://www.islamicconcern.com/default.asp
Extractions: Thanks to Westernized factory-farming methods that are used in many parts of the world, animals suffer hideously in the industries that kill them to produce meat, milk, and eggs. These products not only bring pain and suffering to the animals themselves, they are also implicated in a variety of human diseases, including cancer, heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The intensive production of animals for food is also extremely damaging to the environment.
Extractions: by Lin Ching Shywan, from Vegetarian Cooking Chinese Style I have been a strict vegetarian for more than four years now. When I first gave up meat, quite a few of my friends and relatives expressed concern; most people seem to have the idea that vegetarian food lacks adequate nutrients. And being vegetarian can be a more than minor inconvenience with the amounts of meat and fish that people now eat. Chinese have a traditional notion that foods that are "warming" in nature, like meat, are important for building up physical strength; so in the minds of some of the older generation, one could not possibly get all the nutrition one needed form the "cool" bean greens, white radishes, and so forth that vegetarians favor. In their book, the only things that strengthen the body are foods like tiger phallus, snake blood, stewed chicken and crab in wine. Before taking the big step, I didn't give nutrition, convenience, or building up physical strength a second thought, since my reason for becoming vegetarian had nothing to do with any of these. I became vegetarian because of my belief in Buddhism. Why do Buddhists advocate vegetarianism? The main reason is "mercy", and because we "cannot bear to eat the flesh of living creatures." And our belief in karma tells us that we must eventually suffer the consequences of our evil actions. A Buddhist sutra says: "The bodhisattva fears the original action; the myriad of living creatures fear the consequences." This means that the bodhisattva knows the seriousness of the consequences and does not do evil things; neither does he think about the causes of bad consequences. Finally, I also believe that a vegetarian diet better enables one to keep a pure body and mind and this purity is an important foundation of self-cultivation. My conversion to vegetarianism was based on these three considerations.
Islamic Concern: Halal Vegetarianism The Qur an the Hadith and the history of Islamic civilization offer many examplesof kindness, mercy, and compassion for animals. http://www.islamicconcern.com/halalvegetarianism.asp
Extractions: HALAL LIVING Are you eating "halal" meat? Did you know that your sheep have probably eaten chicken in their feed? Or that your dairy cows have probably had pork bones in their feed? A new article shows that this problem extends beyond meat in America - even animals in the Islamic world are fed these products. The Qur'an is clear about the special lives of animals: Seest thou not that it is Allah Whose praise all beings in the heavens and on earth do celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise, and Allah knows well all that they do. Sura 24:41 There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you. Nothing have We omitted from the Book, and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end. Sura 6:38
Christian Vegetarian Association The CVA believes that vegetarianism expresses the compassion and peace of Christ because the diet spares animals from suffering, alleviates world hunger, protects the environment and preserves human health. http://www.christianveg.com
Extractions: I was looking through the booklet that came with the Moby CD Everything is Wrong , and I noticed that he included several very revealing quotes from important people about vegetarianism and human compassion. So, I decided to use those as the seed of my own personal collection. Be enlightened. I don't understand why asking people to eat a well-balanced vegetarian diet is considered drastic, while it is medically conservative to cut people open. Dean Ornish, M.D. I have no doubt that it is part of the destiny of the human race in its gradual improvement to leave off eating animals. Henry David Thoreau Your choice of diet can influence your long term health prospects more than any other action you might take. Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet. Albert Einstein Until he extends the circle of compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace. Albert Schweitzer If you have men who will exclude any of god's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.
WellnessMD: Vegetarianism Vegetarians are people who do not eat meat, fowl or fish, but do eat grains andvegetables, plus dairy products (lactovegetarians) and/or eggs http://www.wellnessmd.com/vegetarians.html
Extractions: About Dr. K Vegetarians are people who do not eat meat, fowl or fish, but do eat grains and vegetables, plus dairy products (lacto-vegetarians) and/or eggs (ovo-vegetarians) or both (lacto-ovo). Vegans eat no animal products at all. For more information on how vegetarianism can help our planet, visit Earthsave The NEW Pracitical Guide To Becoming Vegetarian is a great guide for beginners as well as long time vegetarians. Many terrific recipes are included plus our
History Of Vegetarianism - David Hartley (1705-1757) Brief article noting this psychologist's contribution to vegetarianism, and his influence on Percy Bysshe and Mary Shelley. http://www.ivu.org/history/renaissance/hartley.html
Extractions: David Hartley English philosopher and physician. In Observations of Man (1749) he introduced the theory of psychological associationism. Observations on Man (as quoted in The Extended Circle by Jon Wynne-Tyson) Note: the following comment was found on an American Universiry website in respect of Percy Bysshe Shelley In July 1812, Shelley began writing one of his most famous poems Queen Mab . At this time he was concerned with education and was reeducating himself and preparing for his poem by studying a collection of Medical Extracts, Sir Humphrey Davy's Elements of Chemical Philosophy, Mary Wollstonecraft's Rights of Women, and an early psychological thesis, Observations of Man, by David Hartley . Queen Mab, however, was politics disguised as poetry. . . . Secondary themes were temperance, vegetarianism, and republicanism. What Shelley was preaching came to be understood as a "vision of the good life built on atheism, free love, republicanism, and vegetarianism." It is also perhaps siginificant that Shelley himself became vegetarian at the beginning of March 1812, presumbaly whilst reading Hartley's book in preparation for Queen Mab.
Vegetarianism Is Not A Synonym For Ahimsa An article attempting to define, classify, and distinguish between the two facetsof Jainism. http://www.anekant.org/vegetarianism_is_not_a_synonym_for_ahimsa.htm
Extractions: These days it appears that we have mistaken Ahimsä as a synonym for Jainism and Vegetarianism as a synonym for Ahimsä. Hence a person, who is vegetarian considers himself or herself a true Jain; and thus has the right to condemn anyone who is not a vegetarian!!! Let us first examine who Jains are: Jains are followers of JINA, the conqueror of inner enemies. These inner enemies are anger , greed , pride and deceit. These arise out of attachment (räg) leading to greed and pride, and aversion (dvesh) leading to deceit and anger. Now let us examine some fundamental teaching of Jainism: Ahimsä (Non-violence), Anekäntaväda (Multiplicity of viewpoints), Syädaväda (Relativism,Satya (Truth), Achurya (Not stealing) and Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness). Ahimsä or Non-violence is just one part of the Jain teachings and is based on love and kindness for all forms of life, as Jains believe that all life forms (Plants and animals) are equal, have souls and are capable of attaining salvation. How do we define Ahimsä? It has been pointed out in Jain scriptures that even the thought of evil is as bad as the action resulting in injury. It takes non-violence to its highest form in thoughts, words and deeds. The killing, which is done through the careless activity of thought, speech and body, is
Vegetarianism as a division of vegetarianism. We will not go further into this. Do you wantto learn more about vegetarianism or want help with a questions concerning http://www.animalsuffering.com/vegetarianism.html
History Of Vegetarianism - Theophrastus (?372-?287BC) Some excerpts from published works discussing the role of Theophrastus in the historical development of vegetarianism. http://www.ivu.org/history/greece_rome/theophrastus.html
Extractions: amazon.co.uk (UK) Extract from ' The Heretics Feast ' by Colin Spencer: We find a true vegetarian again in Theophrastus, Aristotles pupil. Born in Lesbos in 372 BC he studied in Athens under Aristotle and became his friend, travelling back to Lesbos with him, where Aristotle established a philosophical circle in Mytilene, the capital. It was here that Aristotle first studied biology and scrutinised the natural aims of plants and animals, for in knowing their final goals he believed that they could understand their structure and development. Perhaps his pupil began work on his own Inquiry into Plants and Growth of Plants, two books which have survived, but his own findings and thoughts differ from his teachers in quite radical way. He did not think that animals existed for the sake of humans, and thought killing animals unnecessary and unjust, and that the habit of eating them must have begun when war destroyed crops. If plants and vegetable food were abundant there was no need to eat animal flesh. Extract from a review of Animal Minds and Human Morals - The Origins of the Western Debate by Richard Sorabji. Review by Stephen Salkever:
Michael Allen Fox: Deep Vegetarianism Deep vegetarianism addresses the cultural, historical and philosophical backgroundsfor With its lively and controversial discussion, Deep vegetarianism http://www.temple.edu/tempress/titles/1399_reg.html
Extractions: 234 pp 5.5x8.25 "Detailed, thorough, and wide-ranging, this is the most comprehensive, original work on philosophical vegetarianism to date. Deep Vegetarianism addresses the cultural, historical and philosophical backgrounds for vegetarianism, details the impact to vegetarianism on one's thinking and living, relates vegetarianism to recent defenses of the moral status of animals, and very ably considers all the significant arguments for and against vegetarianism." Evelyn B. Pluhar , author of Beyond Prejudice: The Moral Significance of Human and Nonhuman Animals Challenging the basic assumptions of a meat-eating society, Deep Vegetarianism is a spirited and compelling defense of a vegetarian lifestyle. Considering all of the major arguments both for and against vegetarianism and the habits of meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans alike, Michael Allen Fox addresses vegetarianism's cultural, historical, and philosophical background, details vegetarianism's impact on one's living and thinking, and relates vegetarianism to classical and recent defenses of the moral status of animals. Deep Vegetarianism With its lively and controversial discussion
Aggressive Vegetarianism By Ram Puniyani One can go to the extent of saying that vegetarianism is also being used as a social No doubt one has the choice of shifting to vegetarianism with full http://www.countercurrents.org/comm-puniyani220505.htm
Extractions: Countercurrents.org R ecently while travelling on the early morning flight from Mumbai to Ahmadabad, I overheard my co-passenger's request for non vegetarian breakfast being denied by the flight steward on the ground that on Mumbai Ahmadabad route, non vegetarian food is not served. The same got confirmed a few days later when the management of the said airlines publicly stated that since the passengers on this route are manly vegetarians, and in case of some slip on the part of airlines staff if the vegetarian passengers if by mistake is served the non vegetarian food, it will be hurting their religious sentiments. Similarly during one of the trips to Ahmadabad when sipping tea with one of the young IT professional friend in his rented accommodation, I was aghast to see the landlord barging into the flat and making headway straight to the kitchen, inspecting something and going away. I could not hide my amazement and asked the young friend as to how someone can come and inspect your kitchen utensils, and that too even without the courtesy of asking your permission. He replied that it is more or less a routine practice in the city where the landlords or landladies keep a watch whether the tenant is cooking non vegetarian food.
Vegetarian Society (UK) Information Sheet - Statistics Large number of statistics from surveys from 1945 to the present day, covering the number of people in the UK who called themselves vegetarian, or avoided certain animal products, and attitudes towards vegetarianism. http://www.vegsoc.org/Info/statveg.html
