A digest for conscious living
I had to wake up extremely early this morning in order to make it to the Doctor’s office to pick up prescriptions for antibiotics for me and my wife. Because of this I was not able to meditate, but I will be doing a session as soon as I finish this entry and before bed.
I am tired, but feeling better and slightly clearer than I have been recently. I was feeling rather down during the first part of the day, but during my lunch break I watched a video on Youtube that changed my perspective. It was a video showing the conditions that many animals live in in order to maintain supplies for the world’s meat industry. It was disturbing and shocking to see that so many sentient creatures are made to suffer to such a degree in order for human beings to be able to mindlessly overfeed themselves.
The most troubling part of the process for me was witnessing how most industry animals are separated from their young extremely soon after birth never to see them again. It made me think of my daughter and how I would feel if some even more intelligent race of creatures had separated me from her shortly after her birth. Regardless of how much intelligence or emotional capacity is assigned to these animals, it is simply a crime against all life to take part in this process. All life should have recourse to certain basic rights, and amongst them should be the right to be with their young.
It is by the grace of the fickle goddess of chance that we are at the top of this food chain. Our intelligence however does not grant us the moral authority to treat other creatures this way. It generates tremendous amounts of negative Karma for all human beings to bring such suffering on other creatures. I know that there is suffering in the Universe, but I can no longer take part in creating this kind of unnecessary suffering for other life.
Goodnight,
Kikta
Hey bro,
Yea Anna Lea and I have been giving a good deal of thought as to how we are going to proceed with our diet and at the same time maintain a good conscience. I have recently faced the truth about where most of the animal products from in the world today and it is indeed disturbing. I dont think there is anything intrinsically wrong with eating meat of animal products, I just think that what is important is how the animal is treated and slaughtered that matters. Apart from the fact that I am convinced that the prana that is created through the suffering that many of these creatures go through is toxic to any creature that consumes it after its death, its also just a matter of realizing what the industrialization and commercialization of the process is doing to other sentient beings, and our environment. I dont want to take part in that process.
I think there are solutions however, like if you can find a farmer who you know and trust from whom you can get your animal products. Or if you research the brands that you buy and can live with the way the operate. Im actually considering getting my hunting license so that I can hunt dear during season and then rent some sort of freezer storage space so that I can consume it throughout the year. This way I can at least have the peace of mind of knowing that the creature Im eating was able to realize itself in harmony with its environment. Also, I think somehow that killing it myself is a much more dignified and manly way go about it. I think if done with the respect and gratitude, it could become an experience which puts me in touch with my humanity and the earth. Not to mention the fact that it would give the poor animal a fighting chance to get away, which I find in a way is more dignified and respectful.
Are you going Vegan? I saw a documentary that upset me deeply, and I committed to eat less and less meat. And when I do, I try to pick free range, organic, grass fed, etc…
The slaughtering process is also very important.