Theos-Talk Archives (November 2003 Message tt00052)

Leadbeater said that in order to be clairvoyant like him, becoming
vegetarian was necessary to purify the physical body. He also mentioned
giving up sex, alcohol, and other steps towards asceticism. Someone reading
his books might become vegetarian, thinking it was required in following a
spiritual path, or thinking it would help them in their desire to develop
paranormal powers.

In climates that don't readily support a vegetarian diet, like in Tibet, the
Buddhist monks may eat meat. In better climates, they may be vegetarian. I
think the idea is based on harmlessness. Don't kill a higher sentient life
for food than necessary. Soybeans make fine food if you have the climate but
if that rabbit in front of you is your only option between eating and
starving to death, it's time for rabbit stew.

There is a tendency to formalize religious rules, getting precise and
legalistic, attempting to control every aspect of living one's life. It
comes from priestcraft and religious leaders with too much time on their
hands and far too little spiritual enthusiasm and inspiration. They want to
tell you how many times to bow on your prayer mats each day or how to cook
your food and wash your pots and pans. This becomes their preoccupation when
the inner fires have gone out in their hearts and they are left with nothing
else to do.

There are many arguments for becoming a vegetarian. None of them work on
someone who does not want to do so. They're mostly useful to reaffirm the
shaky self-confidence in a newly-minted vegetarian still dreaming of and
drooling at the thought of a juicy hamburger. A confirmed vegetarian is not
tempted and needs no justification. The question, "Why are you a vegetarian"
to such a person is silly, like asking someone why they read a book, drink
juice, or yawn when sleepy. It's just something that they do, a part of
their life, not due to some driving motivation. A veggie novice may hang on
with some grand motive for being good or doing good in the world. Such
self-reassurance is unneeded when one has changed.

The simplest reason I've heard for becoming vegetarian is that the thought
of killing animals for food and eating them is repellant. One is naturally
turned away from eating animal flesh. Many other reasons have been given by
different people. The reasons, though, are not powerful tools to convert
carnivores into veggie eaters. They are personal and as different as people
are. I see them more in line with those things we may tell ourselves when
trying to change ourselves, those little affirmations, slogans, or thought
phrases that keep us focused on our goal when effecting some aspect of self
change.

I would say that all external aspects of self-change are secondary to the
spiritual path. They aren't the main focus, but are side effects of inner
progress. The real change comes from an inner lighting of a certain fire of
mind, a sense of excitement about life, a growing creativity to do and
change things in the world. The big step is finding an outlet for doing
something unique to brighten the world, something others are not as well
suited to do, something that feels increasing right to do as one continues
the process of inner discovery. As one becomes a light in the world, one
progresses. The spark within is lit, but is not fanned into a flame unless
it comes in contact with external tinder, the raw materials and
opportunities of life that we have at hand before us!

-- Eldon

-----Original Message-----
From: krishtar_a [mailto:krishtar_a@brturbo.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 2:13 AM
To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Theos-World En: vegetarianism


Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 8:12 AM
Subject: vegetarianism - Krishtar


Hi everybody

May anybody help with some vegetarianism references on theosophical
teachings?
Leadbeater and Annie wrote some articles and books on it.
For faster references, where is it at?
 
Krishtar



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