Theos-Talk Archives (February 2008 Message tt00072)

Hi Nigel,

Perhaps in the individual sense one could not say that the animal 
offered itself. But on some level of consciousness, the collective 
level perhaps, it might be said that the animal kingdom willingly 
sacrifices itself that humans may be nourished. It is a noble 
sacrifice, after all, putting the welfare of others ahead of one's 
own welfare. Animals show unconditional love, as many pet owners have 
testified. 

In the Pacific Northwest, when the tribe of Native Americans needed 
to replenish its supply of the products they gleaned from a whale, 
the hunters prayed and fasted and did ceremonies to bring a whale to 
them. When they were ready the band of twelve hunters launched their 
long canoe into the Pacific Ocean and began searching for a whale. At 
home the wives fasted and prayed for a successful hunt. If the search 
was successful, the hunters threw a harpoon into the whale and then 
rode their canoe behind it until they were able to bring it to its 
side and tow it back to the beach near their village. They sent 
prayers of gratitude to the spirit of the whale, who, it might seem, 
must have participated in the process. If you can imagine a 20 foot 
canoe and twelve men armed with wooden spears catching a whale, when 
that whale, which is quite a lot larger than the canoe itself, and  
had the whole wide ocean in which to roam, it seems likely that there 
is some level of understanding of the meaning of altruism in the 
animal kingdom which transcends that in the human kingdom. 

Gratitude is a very powerful principle. It completes the cycle of 
supply and demand that keep us alive and provides us with what we 
need to live spiritually as well as physically. We ask for what we 
want, we receive what we need, and our gratitude for the gift, 
whatever it may be, closes the cycle of the energy required and 
prepares it for the next such cycle. If we are not aware of any sense 
of gratitude, we leave an empty place in the "hoop of life," which 
someday must be mended. It seems we have a lot of mending to do. 

Adelasie

On 10 Feb 2008 at 6:00, nhcareyta wrote:

> Dear Adelaisie
> 
> You write, "...if we are aware of the sacrifice offered us by 
> the animal who died..."
> 
> This seems to imply that the animal voluntarily offered itself to be 
> slaughtered "that we may be fed."
> 
> Surely this is not what you meant?
> 
> Kind regards
> Nigel
> 
> 
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "adelasie" <adelasie@...> wrote:
> >
> > Dear Friends,
> > 
> > It is never too late to make a change. Consciousness is everything. 
> > Even if we eat meat, if we are aware of the sacrifice offered us by 
> > the animal who died that we may be fed, if we express gratitude to 
> > it, to the universe which provides us with sustenance, we are 
> making 
> > a difference. Bit by bit more and more people will remember that we 
> > are a part of nature, that what happens to other of nature's 
> children 
> > also happens to us. We can help to bring about that change of 
> > consciousness.
> > 
> > Adelasie
> > 
> > On 9 Feb 2008 at 22:58, MKR wrote:
> > 
> > > I think if we are able read and see cruelty and recognize what it 
> is, that
> > > is the very important first step. Many who watched the videos and 
> saw what
> > > was written may not have paid any attention to or recognition of 
> cruelty.
> > > Once cruelty is recognized, then each one of us can respond to 
> the best of
> > > our ability.
> > > 
> > > Everyday, we read about the number of people killed and hurt by 
> war and
> > > other acts of Nations for varied reasons justified by 
> politicians. Most do
> > > not see or recognize the cruelty that man is perpetrating on 
> other human
> > > beings. Once we see the cruelty, each one of us can decide how to 
> respond
> > > and take action in our own way. We may not change the world or 
> set right the
> > > cruel practices in a day. But we have to make a start by not 
> directly or
> > > indirectly supporting these activities, instead of trying to put 
> band aid on
> > > the results of these activities. As time goes on, if more and 
> more people
> > > start recognizing the truth, then a day will come that there will 
> be a mass
> > > movement against cruel practices. Let us all start in our little 
> way.
> > > 
> > > mkr
> > > On 2/9/08, Cass Silva <silva_cass@...> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >   We continually eat fear and lower our vibrations through 
> consuming
> > > > animals. I am hypocrite enough to admit that I thank the animal 
> for giving
> > > > up its existence for me, but it really is a band aid, if I was 
> serious about
> > > > the morality of it, I wouldn't eat the animal in the first 
> place.
> > > > Even in this day and age I am quite certain that when a cow is 
> slaughtered
> > > > none of its parts are wasted. I guess we grew up believing that 
> our bodies
> > > > needed this protein as well as being told that animals were put 
> here for
> > > > man's smorgasboard. Both are clearly lies. Yes we are savages, 
> moreso,
> > > > because we have developed intelligence, which doesn't seem to 
> have made much
> > > > difference.
> > > >
> > > > Cheers
> > > > Cass
> > > >
> > > > adelasie <adelasie@... <adelasie%40sbcglobal.net>> wrote:
> > > > Interesting comparison, Cass,
> > > >
> > > > ...as barbaric as a savage eating the heart of a lion to 
> transfer its
> > > > strength to the eater.
> > > >
> > > > The "savages" might have known more than we do about the unity 
> of all
> > > > life. To pray to the animal to come so that the people might be 
> fed,
> > > > or the courage might be shared, to use all the parts of the 
> animal
> > > > for goods that would be made by hand, the only source of such 
> goods,
> > > > to express gratitude to the animal for its sacrifice, to face 
> the
> > > > animal on foot with hand made weapons, this presents quite a
> > > > different scenario. Now we use technology to create weapons 
> that no
> > > > animal could survive. Do we use all the parts of the animal and 
> waste
> > > > nothing? Do we express our gratitude to another life form for 
> its
> > > > sacrifice that we may live? Do we kill an animal so that our 
> tribe
> > > > can survive? Or are we motivated by profit above all?
> > > >
> > > > It seems reasonable to realize that the Japanese are not the 
> only
> > > > nation engaged in some such activity. Maybe we are 
> the "savages."
> > > >
> > > > Adelasie
> > > >
> > > > ---------------------------------
> > > > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! 
> Mobile. Try it
> > > > now.
> > > >
> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > >
> > > > 
> > > >
> > > 
> > > 
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > 
> > >
> >
> 
> 
>