Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians

Home Links INFORMATION Contact SERV What's New

 

SPIRITUALITY AND YOUR DIET, 
IS THERE A CONNECTION? 

© Meria Heller 2002 www.Meria.net

"The most important part of vegetarianism is the real shift in consciousness that takes place. There is a true correlation between our food choices and violence in the world. The only person who would disagree with that is a meat-eater" – Peter Burwash, Davis Cup Winner. 

"In my view, no chemical carcinogen is nearly so important in causing human cancer as animal protein"- Dr. Colin Campbell, Ph.d, Director, The China Health Project.

"I don’t eat meat because meat brings out negative qualities such as fear, anger, anxiety, aggressiveness, etc. Vegetables peacefully offer themselves to the earth when ripe, thus allowing a sublime and peaceful thought-consciousness"- Carlos Santana, Musician.

"Truly man is the king of beasts for his brutality exceeds theirs. We live by the death of others: we are burial places" – Leonardo Da Vinci, Artist, scientist, poet and musician.

I know what you’re thinking: "more vegan propaganda to make you feel guilty". How do I know? That’s how I used to react to it too. You see, without being properly educated and aware I too was using my body as a burial ground for dead meat. Even when I thought about giving it up, I made up the same excuses as many of you readers do. Vegetables are alive; my grandparents have always eaten animal products and they lived to be 100; yadda, yadda, yadda. All excuses, all alibis. My teacher, Sun Bear used to say that there was no difference eating a plant yanked out of the ground screaming and kicking, than eating an animal that was tortured and murdered. It was HOW you took that food that made the difference. He suggested taking food in a sacred manner. Not to contradict Sun Bear, but I’ve learned there’s more to it than that. I do agree that without prayer and ritual over any food (or any other object we take from nature) it is not a good mix for any human.

There is more, much more. The past two years I have devoted long days and nights producing an internet webcast (www.Meria.net). Part of what I do on the show involves reviewing books worthy of note, and interviewing the authors. I am an activist. A spiritual activist, environmental activist, a human rights activist and now proud to say an animal rights activist as well.

I have had the privilege of interviewing John Robbins of the old Baskin-Robbins fame and fortune. John walked away from his family business because he understood the dietary dangers of animal products to human beings. He also understood the horrific treatment of animals created for human consumption. His latest book "The Food Revolution" was the turning point for me.

I became aware of Robert Cohen, author of "Milk, the Deadly Poison" www.notmilk.com. His book told the story the dairy industry (you know, the people who tell you milk is good for you?) doesn’t want you to know about the terrible treatment of the animals and the bastardization of what "grandma" might have been calling "milk" 50 years ago. Our meat and dairy today is a far cry from what grandma and grandpa were eating. Loaded with chemicals, antibiotics, fat and diseases they are creating a time bomb of disease in each and every one of us. All with the sanctions of the Government agencies that are supposed to protect us. When did you ever hear of mad-broccoli disease?

Charles Patterson, the author of "Eternal Treblinka" dedicated to Isaac Bashevis Singer makes the connection between killing animals and killing people as clear as possible. The connection between our food factories here in the U.S. and Hitler’s "camps" during the war will astound you. Dehumanization of the species always lead to approval of murder. Unless you can really be honest hearted when doing your research, you will continue to come up with excuses to justify your fork. However, in today’s society the only means left to us to protest the garbage we are fed (and that includes bio-tech foods) is to vote with our fork. That’s right, your fork.

After interviewing people like Howard Lyman "Mad Cowboy"; Dr. Neil Barnard, President of the Physicians for Responsible Medicine"; Dr.Richard Schwartz on Judaism and vegetarianism; Bruce Freidrich of P.E.T.A., and countless other doctors, activists and authors I KNOW what I’m talking about.

However, if the reasons of good health, cleaner planet, cleaner water and air, happier, healthier animals doesn’t do it for you, let’s talk spirituality.

I have been a teacher most of my life. I am a Reiki Master, Healer and visionary. For years I had heard that vegan eating actually opened your spirituality up much more than if you were still a meat-eater. I thought "hogwash" (pardon the pun). However, I am here to tell you that it’s true!

I wouldn’t have believed it myself. Could I have been more at peace? More spiritual? More in-tune and attuned with the Universe than I already was? YES. I am living proof of that. For some reason I had not connected the fact that I no longer worry or have any fears to the fact I stopped eating animals, and animals products. Yet, it was the only thing that I had changed.

In Keith Akers' book "The Lost Religion of Jesus" he contends that Jesus was a vegetarian. It is a very thought provoking book. In other books I’ve read (including the Bible) many people were chosen by "God" because of the way they treated animals, Moses and Noah for example.

In an age where we hear the word "compassion" a lot, and then see it used as a weapon to destroy other civilizations, we need to put the meaning back into the word. In order to have compassion, one must BE compassionate. Think Jesus, Gandhi, DaVinci, the Mother Teresa’s of the world. That is COMPASSION. To give one’s life for a friend or a cause, that is compassion.

How can we be a truly compassionate spiritual being and go along with the mass terror inflicted on millions of animals a year and the unnatural treatment of animals (from rape to murder alive).You may turn your head from the "ugly" material that is out there proving this, but that doesn’t eliminate the ugliness. What about calling or comparing other races of humans to "animals"? This makes it possible for the masses to turn their head when a genocide of a particular race happens on this planet. Are you seeing the connection here?

I hear a lot of talk about being spiritual. I see much less "walk" of it. It is not enough to talk the talk, but a true spiritual being walks the talk and talks the walk every minute of their day.

I must tell you this:

I have never felt better in my life physically, mentally or spiritually since being vegan

I can feel my power coming back from the murderers who produce the pain for food by not eating it.

I have experienced a much wider variety of food than I thought possible without meat.

I know that I am walking my talk, and protecting the entire circle of life by simply not contributing to the suffering on the planet of the voiceless, whether people or animals.

May I offer you some suggestions as a spiritual teacher? First, get into some prayer and meditation on your eating habits. Ask Spirit for help and guidance on this matter. Read many of the books out there, I have a great list on my website. Listen to the interviews by the best doctors, field people, authors available in my archives. Then make up your own mind. Ignorance is no excuse, remember that. When your grandchildren come to you one day and ask what you did during the holocaust of the animals, what will your answer be? If you believe in a creator who the Bible says has animals sitting around his throne, what will your answer be when asked? Let go of all your excuses. Stop being defensive of your behavior. Forgive yourself and move on. Time is short. The world is running out of resources and humans are contracting many horrific diseases due to their ingesting poisons in their food.

Make up your mind to eat as low on the food chain as possible. Listen to Ronnie Cummins interview on GE foods. Buy ORGANIC. You will taste food the way it’s supposed to taste. The way food DID taste when our grandparents were young. Food without chemicals, pesticides, antibiotics and who knows what else. Get creative with your cooking. I feel as though I’ve started to learn how to eat all over again, and it’s FUN. Then, sit back and enjoy the inner peace that WILL come to you as your body gets healthier and in tune with the natural world from the inside out.

"When one becomes a vegetarian, it purifies the soul" – Isaac Bashevis Singer, Author, Nobel laureate

-------------------------------------------------

Meria Heller is the most popular newscaster on the internet. With loyal listeners in the tens of thousands in over sixty countries many have achieved inner peace through connecting with her sincere depiction of the plight of humanity and Mother Earth alike.

All shows are archived for relistening 24/7 and many of the authors/teachers in this publication have already appeared on her show. Available at www.Meria.net.

 

 

 

The Order of the Cross ] Ellen G. White ] Nourishing Ourselves ] Life as a Vegetarian Tibetan Buddhist Practitioner ] Is Nothing Sacred? ] Does God Support Factory Farms ] Eighteen Reasons Jews Think They Should Not Be Vegetarians ] A Spiritual Imperative? ] The Universal Prayer Circle for Animals ] Press Release ] Church Silence Promotes Violence ] [ Spirituality and Your Diet ] How to Encourage Christians to Become Vegan ]