http://www.lolife.com/2006/09/vegetarians-and-factory-farms/ blunt observations Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:15:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://www.lolife.com/2006/09/vegetarians-and-factory-farms/comment-page-1/#comment-312 mopsa Tue, 12 Sep 2006 04:53:55 +0000 http://www.lolife.com/newblog/2006/09/10/vegetarians-and-factory-farms/#comment-312 I ponder vegetarianism often for this very reason. Recently I was intrigued by an article I read in Yoga Journal that explained that the basis of an ideal diet is the attitude of ahimsa or nonviolence. Basically it rejects all food product relative to killing or harming of animals. And it encourages foods grown in harmony with nature, on good soils, ripened naturally, cooked in the right manner and with the right attitude of love. The thinking is that this kind of diet helps in the development of prana or vital energy and spiritual consciousness. The article went on to say that some yogis don't go so far as to insist on an all vegetarian diet. Instead they focus more on how the meat was raised -- with love and good care, and how it came to the table ---was it ushered out with sensitivity and prepared with love and good intentions. This makes great sense to me. It actually reminds me of this Albert Schweitzer quote I remember --something about if we lose respect for any life (meaning 4 legged creatures, etc) we lose respect for all life. Factory farms have no respect for the lives they are bringing into and out of this world. This manifests itself in hormonal imbalances, disease and all sorts of evil shit that meat eaters encounter every day. I'm not a vegetarian (yet) either. But I have started to think more deliberately about where my food comes from and how it gets to my plate. If there's no respect there, I don't really want it. I ponder vegetarianism often for this very reason. Recently I was intrigued by an article I read in Yoga Journal that explained that the basis of an ideal diet is the attitude of ahimsa or nonviolence. Basically it rejects all food product relative to killing or harming of animals. And it encourages foods grown in harmony with nature, on good soils, ripened naturally, cooked in the right manner and with the right attitude of love. The thinking is that this kind of diet helps in the development of prana or vital energy and spiritual consciousness. The article went on to say that some yogis don’t go so far as to insist on an all vegetarian diet. Instead they focus more on how the meat was raised — with love and good care, and how it came to the table —was it ushered out with sensitivity and prepared with love and good intentions. This makes great sense to me. It actually reminds me of this Albert Schweitzer quote I remember –something about if we lose respect for any life (meaning 4 legged creatures, etc) we lose respect for all life. Factory farms have no respect for the lives they are bringing into and out of this world. This manifests itself in hormonal imbalances, disease and all sorts of evil shit that meat eaters encounter every day. I’m not a vegetarian (yet) either. But I have started to think more deliberately about where my food comes from and how it gets to my plate. If there’s no respect there, I don’t really want it.

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