I wonder if some of the vegetarians on the forum can help me with a few questions. Firstly why be vegetarian, yes I know the obvious reasons. Yes, meat today in general is not all that good, if you think of all the antibiotics ect. And yes it is very cruel - but then explain to me. If the main reason is it being crual to animals, then why do so many vegetarians still walk around with those leather bags, shoes ect? Doesn't that seem a bit odd.

I've been pondering on the idea of cutting meat out of my diet completely and until I can understand all the aspects of it I really can't just commit to making a stand on the matter.

Thx so much for your replies. Thinking of it as cadavors in your fridge is certainly enough to put you of meat for good.

My motivation for going vegetarian is the principle of ahimsa. Ahimsa can be translated as "nonviolence" and it can be applied in all aspects of our lives. The are 8 components or "limbs" of yoga: yama, niyama (sort of like the B attitudes if that resonates for you), asana (what is typically meant by "yoga"), pranayama (the breathing exercises), pratyahara (sensory withdrawal), dharana, dhyana (concentration, meditation) and samadhi (enlightenment). Ahimsa is one of the yamas (restraints or things we shouldn't do). In general it can be thought of as causing the least amount of harm as we go about our daily lives. Eating a plant based diet causes less harm to the animals and the environment and so therefore it is the right thing to do. It's pretty simple -;- and it has really helped me to maintain my commitment to a vegetarian diet (nearly vegan). And I grew up on a farm, so it's been quite the change! There are many people out there who are vegetarian for other reasons and that's great, but I think ahimsa provides a good foundation for making positive life change.

Namaste,

Cory

I was wondering if you have any theories about why there seem to be so many more food allergies diagnosed now as opposed to decades ago. I have a 3 year old with a tree nut (especially cashew) allergy to the point of a probable anaphylaxis response. She has quite a few friends with dairy, gluten and nut allergies. So, any illuminating thoughts from the resident food expert?

Thanks in advance!

She seems to be okay with foods that have been processed in the same factory as nuts thank goodness. I just have my fingers crossed that I won't have to use her EpiPen.

Yes, you're right. I have already been in contact with her preschool so they know nuts are dangerous for her. And, yes, I find it unusal too that so many kids have so many allergies. We are quite lucky to know early on. Thanks for the words of encouragement.

Doesn't it seem that bringing up children was a lot simpler when we were kids. now almost every 5th boy/child is said to have HDHD, when we were young they were call hyperactive kids - and there was no such thing as putting them on Ritilin and or other drugs. They were just sent to play out side and be careful. Now kids are of to therapy and gosh know what else. We had better diets and sweets and soda's weren't kept in my house, so no we didn't consume things like MSG or Tartrazine etc. We grew up on food and fruit and yogurt and cheese oh and that glass of milk each day.

Now this will be interesting for some of you to know. Here in South Africa TV was only availible in the mid to late 70's, and the early 80's they only started braodcasting from 6pm. We (and most of the people my age) played outside in the streets or in my case in the clay quarry and rail way lines (how we survived I dont kno) but we had to come home when the street lights came on, bath and bed by 8pm. We could in any case not stay up later than that cause we were too tired. I've tried to adopt the same "simple life" principles with my kids. Not always easy cause DVD's are some times the easy way out for parents.

 

I do appreciate that science made us discover antibiotics, because you can treat bad infections with it. You can make a cow groing up too, for what ? Is it a good reason ? Why to abuse ?

 

Science without conscience is nothing else than the death of soul.

 

For the moment, I prevent myself from OGM, in cooking my meal, in looking at what I buy. I know, you can imagine, now, every children of occident is an axperimental animal. All food is contemined with new products, that have never been tested before in a humen life. Children are exposed to plastic, PVC, toys, food, pesticids, they grow up assimilating those things in there own tissus. They will be vulnerables and changed for all there life. They will have reproductive organ changed.

It is the choice we make that makes this change.

Anouk

www.vini-yoga.net