Vegetarianism

Are you one of those growing number of people who have decided that meat eating is wrong whichever way you look at it - either morally, ethically, economically, spiritually or for health reasons? If the answer is no, consider the following facts:

MORAL AND ETHICAL REASONS

In 2000 in the UK 700 million innocent animals were slaughtered to satisfy the human palate. Mankind goes on perpetrating these obscenities on the defenceless creations of God and yet expects peace and happiness for itself. Gandhiji said the following about cow protection but the same sentiments apply to all animals - "Cow protection to me is infinitely more than mere protection of the cow. The cow is merely a type of all that lives. Cow protection means protection of the weak, the helpless, the dumb and the deaf. Man becomes then not the lord and master of all creation, but he is its servant." The next step in the progress of human civilisation has to be the liberation of animals from the tyranny of mankind.

ECONOMIC REASONS

When around 10 million people are starving in the world today, most of the fertile land in the USA and other European countries is used to grow crops to feed animals, which are in turn consumed by human beings. This is an absolutely wasteful way of feeding ourselves; e.g. for every 16 pounds of grains fed to cattle only one pound of meat is produced. It is estimated that a 10% reduction in meat production will result in enough grain to feed 10 million people.

HEALTH AND NUTRITIONAL REASONS

Most of the modern killer diseases are associated with the over-consumption of fats, mainly animal derived. As early as 1961, the Journal of the American Medical Association said: 90 - 97% of heart disease can be avoided by a vegetarian diet. Meat is suspected of causing a host of cancers such as cancer of the stomach, cancer of the breast, cancer of the bowels, leukaemia and many others. Death by food poisoning is also an ever present threat to meat-eaters. The high level of cholesterol in eggs means that they must be avoided completely if one wants to avoid heart disease. Nutritionally speaking, vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains are an excellent source of protein and are easier to assimilate than those of meat.

SPIRITUAL REASONS

For every single action that we perform there is a reaction. If we cause pain and suffering to other living beings, then in this life and in the next, we will in turn suffer the consequences of our impious activities. In the Vedas it is mentioned that one who kills a cow will suffer the same fate for as many lives as there are hairs on the cow he killed. The reactions of karma equally affect those who kill, deliver, sell, prepare, cook, serve and eat the meal. There is no escape from the stringent laws of nature for anyone who aids and abets the animal slaughter industry. Indeed all the major religions advocate the ideals of vegetarianism:

1. The Annushasen Parva, Mahabharat says "Undoubtedly all those human beings who prefer meat to several forms of food are like vultures."
2. The Manusmrti says "All supporters of meat eating are sinners." It further states, "One whose meat I eat will eat my flesh in the next life."
3. The Christian Faith also says in Genesis (1.29) "Behold, I have given you every herb-bearing tree in which the fruit of the tree-yielding seed, it unto you shall be for meat."
4. Guru Nanak, Founder of the Sikh Faith, said "My disciples do not take meat and wine."
5. Lord Buddha said, "Meat is food for sub-human beings".
6. The Acharang Sutra of the Jain Faith said, "All creatures desire self-preservation, hence no creature should be slaughtered."
7. Gandhiji said "I do feel that spiritual progress does demand at some stage that we should cease to kill our fellow creatures for the satisfaction of our bodily wants."