Ahimsa or The Respect for All Life
Ahimsa comes from the Hinduism religion and essentially means 'respect for all forms of life'. This is the reason why many Hindus and some other peoples take up practices such as vegetarianism. It stems from the belief that in reincarnation, life is recycled between all living things - it is usually not a requirement of religion, but is a very honored practice as it is one of the only ways to achieve total enlightenment, or said by the Hindus as Moksha.
This ideology that we should respect all forms of life is not a single minded belief. Many of our current belief systems feel this way too, but to varying degress. It should be felt such that if we are to respect life, we should respect all life.
Animal life is often disregarded in Western culture, and it can reach appauling levels. While the use of animal meat is often a desired substance, it is certainly not a mandated source of food. In many respects, the path of vegetarianism is a good one. This is not to be confused with the path of veganism, which is the total abstainment from all animal related foods and products. Veganism can be a detrimental ideology, in that it removes a genuine means of survival in many harsh environments. If there is a way for us to live with animals and keep them alive, then it should be explored. Many people in the Hindu, Buddhist and other faiths abstain from eating meat derived from cows, as a cow serves an extremely useful purpose while alive. Cows produce what has become a standard in milk, and they are capable of land labor, much like horses are. Since they have such a positive value in life, many choose to respect them and refrain from eating beef products.
Perhaps it is not necessary to completely cease the consumption of beef for the above reason, but it certainly should be thought over the amazing atrocity that disregard for animal life has caused. Take this into consideration; as the United States of America, we consumed in 2004 about 27.6 billion pounds of cattle. (USDA) That is a lot of meat. Again, I'm not advocating the end of meat consumption... we just should be more aware of all the life that is being destroyed in order for us to eat so much meat. Ideally, meat consumption should be considered a limited food resource, and we should attempt to find our food from other sources such as vegatables and dairy. Not only will this statistically make the population more healthy (FDA) but it will help provide for a closer realization of Ahimsa.
Ahimsa is not limited to animal butchery. It also means respect for our fellow man. All religions and philosophies deal with this concept in some way. But somehow, we translate their messages to only affect the followers of that religion or philosophy. This should not be the case. If we are to respect ALL life, including human life, we need to respect ALL of it. If you are a Christian and you encounter a Muslim, you should respect him and he should respect you. You have made your choices in life, but that does not make you lesser beings, nor should it provide you any type of foundation for discrimination or any sort of disrespectful attitudes.
In contrast, however, we must all be on our guards to some extent. This is not an excuse for misunderstanding! But in order to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our own way of life, you are entitled to pass judgement on a person based by their character. But you can only do that once you know who they are. You do not know who someone is just because they believe in Buddhism. You do not know who someone is just because they work in politics. You do not know who someone is just because they like the opposite music from you. To know someone, you must experience their Effect on Reality.
Even once you think you know someone, you must always have that lingering doubt in where that person can surprise what you know and reveal something new to you. People do change. People are complex. This can work both ways, good and bad. While you may think you know someone, and that they are good and could never do anything bad - be aware that it is within their choice to remain as you know them, and within their choice to change.
To better ourselves, it is important to practice some form of Ahimsa. Whether you feel it is a noble cause to extent yourself to absolute Ahimsa (and become vegetarian, among other things) or you choose to follow a more lienient form of Ahimsa where you consume animal meat, but in limited (not necessarily regulated) portions, we should all agree that respect for one another is paramount.
This ideology that we should respect all forms of life is not a single minded belief. Many of our current belief systems feel this way too, but to varying degress. It should be felt such that if we are to respect life, we should respect all life.
Animal life is often disregarded in Western culture, and it can reach appauling levels. While the use of animal meat is often a desired substance, it is certainly not a mandated source of food. In many respects, the path of vegetarianism is a good one. This is not to be confused with the path of veganism, which is the total abstainment from all animal related foods and products. Veganism can be a detrimental ideology, in that it removes a genuine means of survival in many harsh environments. If there is a way for us to live with animals and keep them alive, then it should be explored. Many people in the Hindu, Buddhist and other faiths abstain from eating meat derived from cows, as a cow serves an extremely useful purpose while alive. Cows produce what has become a standard in milk, and they are capable of land labor, much like horses are. Since they have such a positive value in life, many choose to respect them and refrain from eating beef products.
Perhaps it is not necessary to completely cease the consumption of beef for the above reason, but it certainly should be thought over the amazing atrocity that disregard for animal life has caused. Take this into consideration; as the United States of America, we consumed in 2004 about 27.6 billion pounds of cattle. (USDA) That is a lot of meat. Again, I'm not advocating the end of meat consumption... we just should be more aware of all the life that is being destroyed in order for us to eat so much meat. Ideally, meat consumption should be considered a limited food resource, and we should attempt to find our food from other sources such as vegatables and dairy. Not only will this statistically make the population more healthy (FDA) but it will help provide for a closer realization of Ahimsa.
Ahimsa is not limited to animal butchery. It also means respect for our fellow man. All religions and philosophies deal with this concept in some way. But somehow, we translate their messages to only affect the followers of that religion or philosophy. This should not be the case. If we are to respect ALL life, including human life, we need to respect ALL of it. If you are a Christian and you encounter a Muslim, you should respect him and he should respect you. You have made your choices in life, but that does not make you lesser beings, nor should it provide you any type of foundation for discrimination or any sort of disrespectful attitudes.
In contrast, however, we must all be on our guards to some extent. This is not an excuse for misunderstanding! But in order to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our own way of life, you are entitled to pass judgement on a person based by their character. But you can only do that once you know who they are. You do not know who someone is just because they believe in Buddhism. You do not know who someone is just because they work in politics. You do not know who someone is just because they like the opposite music from you. To know someone, you must experience their Effect on Reality.
Even once you think you know someone, you must always have that lingering doubt in where that person can surprise what you know and reveal something new to you. People do change. People are complex. This can work both ways, good and bad. While you may think you know someone, and that they are good and could never do anything bad - be aware that it is within their choice to remain as you know them, and within their choice to change.
To better ourselves, it is important to practice some form of Ahimsa. Whether you feel it is a noble cause to extent yourself to absolute Ahimsa (and become vegetarian, among other things) or you choose to follow a more lienient form of Ahimsa where you consume animal meat, but in limited (not necessarily regulated) portions, we should all agree that respect for one another is paramount.
posted by ARF at 11:00 PM
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