Why Vegetarian? The Environment & cruelty to animals
Ranked #5,377 in Food & Cooking, #95,221 overall
Why are people vegetarians?
Like everybody vegetarians have to watch their health. I'm sometimes surprised at the fire with which meat eaters can worry about the health issues associated with vegetarianism, when they DO go out and eat fast food themselves. Do they really think that's healthier?
Why I'm a vegetarian - spiritual reasons
The most important reason I'm a vegetarian is totally different however.
Basically I'm a vegetarian for spiritual reasons. Many Theosophists feel, like many people who do yoga, that eating meat just isn't good for your spiritual development.
Eating meat is said to coarsen the aura: making a person more susceptible to aggression, strengthening the lower emotions.
This isn't to say that only bad people eat meat. Nor that all vegetarians are saints. That would be foolish.
It is saying that if you want to be a better person, grow spiritually, becoming a vegetarian is one of the things to consider.
If it's the only thing you do - it is obviously not going to help much. But combined with introspection, service to others, meditation perhaps - vegetarianism should be a help in changing your life.
The Inner Art of Vegetarianism : Spiritual Practices for Body
by Carol J. Adams
The Inner Art of Vegetarianism : Spiritual Practices for Body
Amazon Price: $5.00 (as of 02/13/2012)
About vegetarianism as part of spiritual practice. If you like this book there is also a workbook.
Eating animals just isn't good for the environment
wasting space and energy
It is really simple: if one acre of land is used to grow vegetables a lot more people can be fed with them, than if the same acre is used for grazing livestock. It's just less efficient.
BTW
Eating fish is also a problem: fishing has become so easy through technology that many of the fish species people consume are in danger of becoming extinct.
Vegetarian Food for Thought: Quotations & Inspirations
by Gail Davis
Vegetarian Food for Thought: Quotations and Inspirations
List Price: $14.95
Used Price: $5.11
Quotes from famous people on why they are vegetarians. From Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Alice Walker, Candice Bergen, Rachel Carson to Gandhi, and other notable vegetarians. But also ancients like Plato and Gautama Buddha.
Animal cruelty
Those of you who eat meat contribute to those problems, unless of course you eat organic meat.
Why are you a vegetarian?
Vegetarianism: Movement or Moment?
by Donna Maurer
Vegetarianism: Movement or Moment?
Amazon Price: $22.58 (as of 02/13/2012)
Takes a look at vegetarianism from the perspective of social science.
Books advised by readers
The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World by John Robbins
Here, the man who started the "food revolutio more...0 points
Are you a vegetarian? Did you know about the environmental advantages?
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vegival
Feb 8, 2012 @ 3:00 pm | delete
- This was a very interesting read! I couldn't tell, though, if you are promoting a vegetarian or a vegan lifestyle. Sadly, the dairy, egg, and free-range industries contribute as much to animal suffering and environmental damage as the meat industry. If you're interested, please check out some of my lenses, such as http://www.squidoo.com/veganism-what-s-wrong-with-dairy-and-eggs
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tandemonimom
Nov 6, 2011 @ 4:36 pm | delete
- Some people do better eating less meat, others do better eating more. I am most definitely on the "better eating more meat, the redder the better" side of the equation. I gain weight and lose brain function on a mostly vegetarian diet. I agree that the standard American diet is beneficial to no one, but eating organic, local foods whether plant or animal is more healthful for all (and while I'm not perfect in this regard, I do strive to feed my family organic and free-range plants and animals).
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Bahrns
Nov 6, 2011 @ 6:18 am | delete
- I am not a vegetarian but I love vegetables. I understand your reasons and probably I will lessen my meat intake... thanks for info!
material handling
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TapIn2U Nov 6, 2011 @ 1:32 am | delete
- This lens hits home! I love vegetables but I do have some meat cravings at times. This is a wake up call. Thanks for the reminder. Fantastic lens! Sundae ;-)
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somebodylied
Nov 4, 2011 @ 7:12 pm | delete
- I personally eat a mainly paleo diet, can't say I agree with the vegetarian movement. You can simply look at the animal food chain, they eat animals so why can't we? I do however feel strongly about cruelty to animals, such as caged poultry, and do make a conscious effort to always try to eat organic. As a vegetarian I am sure you eat alot of grains and stuff and you must know that these trigger insulin significantly, just some food for thought.
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spirituality
Nov 5, 2011 @ 3:55 am | delete
- I don't really think I eat more grains than the average omnivore. Loads of milk products actually, as I'm dutch. Nuts and beans are standard vegetarian fare - and I do eat more of the first than I used to. Still, not better or worse than meat in terms of insulin.
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juliavm
Nov 4, 2011 @ 10:45 am | delete
- I tried to be a vegetarian once. During lent season, i decided to go vegan for a month. But after eating meat my whole life, it was very difficult. I do want to try again though. Maybe I'll just wean my way out of eating meat?
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jennabee25
Nov 4, 2011 @ 7:32 am | delete
- My husband and I are vegetarians for health reasons. It's been well worth it.
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Scanabella
Nov 2, 2011 @ 5:59 pm | delete
- My niece is Vegan for most of her life, so proud of her. We are eating less and less meat
and more locally grown veggies whenever possible to find.
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ThatsYourPeople
Nov 2, 2011 @ 2:57 pm | delete
- We've just started on the path to veganism with help from a friend who has been trying to get us to do it for years. We're doing it for spiritual reasons. I thought it would be hard but I think we just weren't ready before. It's amazing how easy it is when you are. You just start thinking about food in a different way.
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by spirituality
I'm a webmaster and student of religion and spirituality. See my website on religion and spirituality: www.katinkahesselink.net or my spiritual blog:... more »
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The Inner Art of Vegetarianism : Spiritual Practices for Body
The Inner Art of Vegetarianism : Spiritual Practices for Body
Amazon Price: $5.00 (as of 02/13/2012)
Activist Carol Adams explores the inner life of spiritual growth with the outer life of practical compassion. She shows how the reasons for becoming a vegetarian are deeply wedded to spiritual practice.
Adams reveals how the practice of creating mindfulness and disciplining the mind meshes with becoming an activist for nonviolence, and shows how in our busy and stressed-out world it is essential to sustain and replenish the soul through spiritual discipline. Adams discusses breath awareness, meditation, yoga, journaling, and dreamwork as examples of how to keep true to yourself and your beliefs, maintain your mental equilibrium, and prepare truly delicious meals with thoughfulness and care. This is an essential book for all those who wish to have their soul nourished and follow the spiritual path of vegetarianism.
