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The root of man’s eternal bliss is not a matter of conjecture and speech, but of fact and conduct; it is the factual acknowledgement of his own conscientiousness, followed up by his constant righteous cultivation till he reaches neither perception nor non-perception, rather the serenity of the divine benevolence.
The significance of forsaking idol worshipping:
In our everyday life it is inevitable that objects of various kinds, colours, shapes and sizes are seen to be all around us; and being able to perceive them, they are easily absorbed through our eyes into our minds. Hence images of various forms are imprinted into our memories.
On one hand if we adopt an excess liking for any particular object or person, our mind will keep on thinking about it, albeit unconsciously. Immediately cravings and desires arise within us which in turn erupts into a chain of reactions of greed, hatred as well as delusions both in our thoughts and behaviours. We find ourselves to be mesmerised. However this unruly state of mind is contrary to the Principle of Righteousness. When our mind is acting in such a way frustration, sorrow and pain is ever present. This in turn robs us from attaining a state of tranquility and realising our Spiritual Truth.
We are living in a materialistic world, and yet we are able to maintain serenity of mind by discarding the fury of objective desires and selfish gain. In so doing, we awaken our mind to the phenomenal realisation that everything in existence is ever changing and transitory. Whatever is born must die. Everything both living and non-living, which is bound by time and space is but a compound of elements which will dissolve sooner or later. Henceforth a realistic acceptance of “do not worship idols” becomes an essential part of true development.
Thus the Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng said:
“The mind should be framed in such a way that it will be independent of external or internal objects, at liberty to come and go, free from attachment and thoroughly enlightened without the least beclouding.”
Man must not only succeed in the cessation of worldly attachment, he has yet to manifest his natural great compassionate love to all living beings whether they are superior (human beings) or inferior (animal beings). To begin with man has to eradicate the erroneous concept of:
- Animals are meant for man to eat
- Animals bear no spiritual body and it is therefore acceptable for man to ‘Kill’ them for food.
If only we would first sit back and think with loving kindness, we would arrive at a merciful factual realisation. Yes, man and animal alike has the right “TO LIVE”. Whatever we cannot create back to life, we have no right to kill, besides when the very thought of “KILL” arises in our mind we simultaneously kill “the inborn Universal Love” in ourselves. Therefore to fulfill our compassion towards all beings we must become a vegetarian.
Vegetarianism is essential to Spiritual fulfillment.
(One of the basic necessities in Truth Cultivation)
The reasons’ leading to the increasing numbers of people taking up vegetarianism in today’s modern society varies all over the world.
They are:
- Health
- Ethics
- Ecology
- Economics
HEALTH:
Meat eating is detrimental to the health of human beings for many reasons. Although concentrated protein can be found in meat, it is a poor source of other food elements e.g. minerals, vitamins and carbohydrates. Animal toxins disrupt the proper metabolism of carbohydrates resulting in diabetes.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS:
- Slaughtering animals causes extreme suffering and they live in constant fear, for animals have feelings just as humans have feelings.
- The killing of animals breeds insensitivity towards all beings. Pythagoras once said: “those who kill animals for food will be more prone than vegetarians to torture and kill their fellow men.”
- Cause and effect deals justly with anyone who acts against the Law of Nature.
ECOLOGY:
Vegetables, fruits, grains and dairy products provide a perfectly balanced diet. Excess protein ingested through consuming animal flesh produces liver ailments, high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. Flesh of dead animals contains many toxic elements such as:
- Waste, germs and drugs injected to offset animal diseases can be found from the dead animal’s bloodstream.
- At the time of slaughter, poisons which arise from fear are released into the bloodstream of the animal.
- As soon as the animal dies bacteria from the decay process commences because flesh is an excellent insulator and not all bacteria are killed by cooking.
ECONOMICS:
Flesh foods are more than 50% water and therefore extremely costly to buy as a source of protein. The same area of land used to produce 1 ton of animal flesh can produce 10 to 20 times more highly nutritive vegetable food. For every 100 lbs of dry substance eaten by animals, only 4 – 16 lbs comes back as flesh foods.
The difference between various behaviours and aspects of vegetarians compared to vegetarianism taken in conjunction with Truth Cultivation.
VEGETARIANS
- Not withstanding the fundamental purpose e.g. cows, horses, goats.
- Dieting for the purpose of physical health without thought of self-cultivating or extensive study of Nature’s Law; neither any thought relating to Spiritual merits.
Those who observe the 5 precepts:
- abstain from killing living beings
- abstain from robbing
- abstain from adultery
- abstain from false speech
- abstain from intoxication whilst cultivating the essence of mind, and are unaware that this is the hour to announce the Great Tao. To liberate all sentient beings from bondage of “becoming and annihilation.”
Vegetarianism in conjunction with Truth Cultivation.
Acquire the hereditary Dharma of the Essence of Mind through the practice of pledging. Using the self as an example to others by following the will of the Sage or Buddha, that is, to accomplish self-completion. With this quality complete, be as an example to others.
The virtue of Heaven is great and substantial; being able to present full development to the natures of all beings and things. Therefore the most precious on earth is Spiritual Truth. Whereas the most bitterly cruel occupation on earth is “killing living beings.” Thus in Buddhism the first precept of “not killing” or harmlessness gives root to our Buddha-Nature; from which arises our sense of compassion and morality.
Buddha says: “If you wish to know about the cause of wars in this mundane world, you just need to turn your ears to the bitter crying from the slaughter house during the mid-night.”
In Confucianism, “benevolence” comes as the first precept.
Mencius says: “So is the superior man affected towards animals that having seen them alive he cannot bear to see them die; having heard their dying cries, he cannot bear to eat their flesh.”
Vegetarianism in the quest of Truth cultivation can nourish mindfully our great compassionate love to all beings resulting in our spiritual brightness revival and henceforth annihilate karma-action.
Vegetarian in accordance to Physical Self
Righteousness in: 1) Actions; 2) Speech; 3) Thought
- abstain from killing living beings
- abstain from robbing
- abstain from committing adultery
- abstain from false speech
- abstain from intoxication drinks
Vegetarian in accordance to Mindfulness
Abolish 1) Greed; 2) Hatred; 3) Delusions
The first step to Universal Love is cultivation of a civilised mind. A non-violent philosophy of the Enlightened Truth that all life forms are rooted in the one-mind which is our common heritage. Abolish the error of evil thought, of greed, hate and false attachments. Liberate the mind from external or internal objects and in place yield to the Spirit of Gentleness and radiance. Multiply the merits of loving kindness, compassion and peace.
Mencius says: “Benevolence is man’s mind, and righteousness
is man’s path.”
An idealistic desire to vanquish pain and suffering, one’s own as well as others (human and non-human). Thus it is vital to man to perceive the feelings of commiseration which is the Principle of Benevolence.
Confucius says: “Now benevolence is the most honorable dignity conferred by Heaven, and the quiet home in which man should dwell. Since no one can hinder us from being so, yet if we are not benevolent this is being not wise.”
Vegetarianism in accordance with Spiritual Truth
The emancipation of avaricious desires, and fetters of selfishness, is a precious standard which leads to Spiritual Fulfillment. The achievement of complete sincerity in yielding to the purity of his physical self, his mind and his sprit contributes to the full development to his nature.
* Being able to fully develop his own nature, he is also capable of developing the nature of others and thus, transforming and nourishing the virtues of Heaven.
THIS IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF VEGETARIANISM, THE ESSENTIALITY TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY.
VEGETARIANISM IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PURIFICATION OF PHYSICAL SELF; MIND/SPIRITUAL SELF AND THE NATURE OF ALL NATURES.
From: Neither perception nor non-perception.
Above existence and non-existence
The illimitable void
One-pointedness, is yielding to the Spiritual Self which is free from external (environmental influence) as well as internal (self-infatuated conscious desires) attachment. Thus reviving one’s natural wisdom of Enlightenment, means being capable of magnanimity and courage. Henceforth transmitting and nourishing the virtues of the Spiritual Body through thought, words and actions of the physical body.
6th Patriarch Hui Neng said: “Those who are enlightened realise the truth in an instant, while those who are deluded have to train themselves gradually.”
“If we never let our mind attach to anything we shall gain emancipation.”
Harmoniously correspond every thought, word, and action with that of the one-pointedness of pure mind constantly.
Sutra of Hui Neng said: “With our physical body we take refuge in the Essence Body of Buddha. With our physical body we take refuge in the Manifestation Body of Buddha. With our physical body we take refuge in the Incarnation Body of Buddha.”
SOME QUOTATIONS FROM THE BIBLE:
GENESIS
CHAP 1: 29-30
: 29
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
: 30
And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
GENESIS
CHAP 9: 3-6
: 3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
: 4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
: 5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.
: 6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
PROVERBS
CHAP 15: 17
: 17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
ROMANS
CHAP 14: 21
: 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
: 23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Today
This is the beginning of a New Day
God has given me this day to use as I will
I can waste it or grow in its Light
And be of service to others
But what I do with this day is important
Because I have exchanged a day of my life for it
When tomorrow comes
Today will be gone forever
I hope I will not regret
The price I paid for it
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