Ahimsa and Vegetarianism
The lovely Mary from Rand(Om) Bites shared this link on Facebook the other day. Pop over and read it, it’s very interesting.
And I say, good for you, Sadie Nardini! I have been a vegetarian since I was 18, way longer than I have been a yogini, and for much of that time I was making myself quite miserable. I have never cared whether others eat meat: I even lived with a man who ate meat. I just didn’t cook it for him.
But, with myself, I was insanely strict. For many years, I didn’t wear leather shoes. I had smelly, wet, uncomfortable feet. And I had to buy new shoes often, because plastic shoes just don’t last as long as leather. When I moved to Melbourne, where I spend more time outside and it is wont to rain with no warning, I had to take stock: which is really better for the environment as a whole? One pair of leather shoes, worn almost daily for five years, or three pairs of plastic shoes a season?
I guess you know that the leather won. And I am much happier.
I also ate a piece of fish about three weeks ago, for the first time in fifteen years. I had been craving meat, steak specifically, for months before that, and no amount of lentils and supplements were taking the craving away. The fish did, though. I prayed over it, thanked it for giving its life for me, and then practically inhaled it. I haven’t felt that nourished in a long time, and it has made me re-evaluate (it’s an ongoing process) what is least harmful for me and the planet. At the moment, my views tend most strongly towards those held by Sadie. Good for her for speaking up.
I don’t know whether I would ever become a regular meat eater – it’s been hard for me even to accept eggs back into my diet – but I know that I am unable to sustain my health without eating animal products. I have tried. Twice. And if I am getting sick, where is the ahimsa (non-harming) in that?
Yes, it is a difficult question, Nadine. Ethical and spiritual reasoning aside, they taste good LOL j/k
I tend towards vegaquarianism these days, with occasional meals of chicken/beef when eating out. Whilst cooking spaghetti bolognese with my niece last night, I did pause to think while watching her drain every drop of blood from the minced meat packet into the saucepan … drip drip drop
I have a lot of leather shoes: I think maybe 12 pairs. They are much better for my feet than sneakers.
I also read that post and thought- Good for you! too
Although the comments were a little scary…
I agree, there is always balance, and always health. If I am unhealthy, then I am harming myself.
So yes- I eat meat. My diet is so restricted from digestive issues as it is, there is no way I could be healthy as a vegetarian/vegan. I’d be taking a million supplements, and honestly I’m too much of a ‘real food’ gal to think that synthetic vitamens/proteins is the healthy alternative.
Yay for eating fish! I also love that your ceremony prior. Such an honest and true practice that enhances your connection to our planet.
It’s nice to know I’m not alone.
I’ve done fish and seafood-only, all the way to strict veganism, and i really think it’s a matter of each person’s individual situation and choice. I have large uterine fibroids, which means I’ve been anaemic for a while. Finally I’m getting them removed and pre-surgery I need all the iron I can get. So, that means liver, steak as well as spinach and tons of Vitamin C. Ahimsa, like charity, begins with yourself.
There’s been quite a bit going around of late on this topic. Yoga Dork wote an article, as did Elephant Beans.
My training is in traditional Kasmir Saivism or non-dualism. So I come from a school of thought that says… we’re all one, and so there’s no difference in eating meat or vegetables.
At least, that’s where I’ve come to now, after many, many years as a vegetarian myself. I still don’t eat a lot of meat – mostly (non-farmed) fish, organic chicken, pork, game meats etc). Not a big fan of steaks as such.
Obviously, there’s the whole issue with how stuff is being farmed and managed, so I try to take care with what I buy.
But like some of the other articles and incredibly furious comments show, people hold this yogi = compulsory vegetarianism idea like its some kind of fundamental truth of the universe.
This is a very interesting topic. I have tried to be a vegetarian, and failed. I just like meat too much. Also I am constantly anaemic – even while eating meat – so it would be foolish for me to give up meat entirely. I do limit my meat intake, and I try to eat organic where I can.
I wanted to become vegetarian for environmental reasons. But it’s not that simple. Things that I would use to replace meat – beans, lentils, chickpeas, etc – are not grown in New Zealand, where I live. They come from the other side of the world so have a big carbon footprint! Here in New Zealand most of our farm animals live in about the best conditions in the world [pigs are the exception, but I very rarely eat pig meat]. They are slaughtered halal, so death is so quick they barely know what’s happened.
It’s easy to be moralistic about being vegetarian. I think balance is better – and it sounds like you have found it.