Community: Forum: Wisdom & Spirituality
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Share your wisdom related to veg*n spirituality, yoga, meditation, life, etc... or ask a deep question you seek answers to.
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| Vegetarianism according to Bhagavad Gita Bg 9.26 patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ Word for word: patram — a leaf; puṣpam — a flower; phalam — a fruit; toyam — water; yaḥ — whoever; me — unto Me; bhaktyā — with devotion; prayacchati — offers; tat — that; aham — I; bhakti-upahṛtam — offered in devotion; aśnāmi — accept; prayata-ātmanaḥ — from one in pure consciousness. Translation: If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it. Purport: For the intelligent person, it is essential to be in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, in order to achieve a permanent, blissful abode for eternal happiness. The process of achieving such a marvelous result is very easy and can be attempted even by the poorest of the poor, without any kind of qualification. The only qualification required in this connection is to be a pure devotee of the Lord. It does not matter what one is or where one is situated. The process is so easy that even a leaf or a little water or fruit can be offered to the Supreme Lord in genuine love and the Lord will be pleased to accept it. No one, therefore, can be barred from Kṛṣṇa consciousness, because it is so easy and universal. Who is such a fool that he does not want to be Kṛṣṇa conscious by this simple method and thus attain the highest perfectional life of eternity, bliss and knowledge? Kṛṣṇa wants only loving service and nothing more. Kṛṣṇa accepts even a little flower from His pure devotee. He does not want any kind of offering from a nondevotee. He is not in need of anything from anyone, because He is self-sufficient, and yet He accepts the offering of His devotee in an exchange of love and affection. To develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the highest perfection of life. Bhakti is mentioned twice in this verse in order to declare more emphatically that bhakti, or devotional service, is the only means to approach Kṛṣṇa. No other condition, such as becoming a brāhmaṇa, a learned scholar, a very rich man or a great philosopher, can induce Kṛṣṇa to accept some offering. Without the basic principle of bhakti, nothing can induce the Lord to agree to accept anything from anyone. Bhakti is never causal. The process is eternal. It is direct action in service to the absolute whole. Here Lord Kṛṣṇa, having established that He is the only enjoyer, the primeval Lord and the real object of all sacrificial offerings, reveals what types of sacrifices He desires to be offered. If one wishes to engage in devotional service to the Supreme in order to be purified and to reach the goal of life – the transcendental loving service of God – then one should find out what the Lord desires of him. One who loves Kṛṣṇa will give Him whatever He wants, and he avoids offering anything which is undesirable or unasked. Thus meat, fish and eggs should not be offered to Kṛṣṇa. If He desired such things as offerings, He would have said so. Instead He clearly requests that a leaf, fruit, flowers and water be given to Him, and He says of this offering, “I will accept it.” Therefore, we should understand that He will not accept meat, fish and eggs. Vegetables, grains, fruits, milk and water are the proper foods for human beings and are prescribed by Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself. Whatever else we eat cannot be offered to Him, since He will not accept it. Thus we cannot be acting on the level of loving devotion if we offer such foods. In the Third Chapter, verse 13, Śrī Kṛṣṇa explains that only the remains of sacrifice are purified and fit for consumption by those who are seeking advancement in life and release from the clutches of the material entanglement. Those who do not make an offering of their food, He says in the same verse, are eating only sin. In other words, their every mouthful is simply deepening their involvement in the complexities of material nature. But preparing nice, simple vegetable dishes, offering them before the picture or Deity of Lord Kṛṣṇa and bowing down and praying for Him to accept such a humble offering enable one to advance steadily in life, to purify the body, and to create fine brain tissues which will lead to clear thinking. Above all, the offering should be made with an attitude of love. Kṛṣṇa has no need of food, since He already possesses everything that be, yet He will accept the offering of one who desires to please Him in that way. The important element, in preparation, in serving and in offering, is to act with love for Kṛṣṇa. The impersonalist philosophers, who wish to maintain that the Absolute Truth is without senses, cannot comprehend this verse of Bhagavad-gītā. To them, it is either a metaphor or proof of the mundane character of Kṛṣṇa, the speaker of the Bhagavad-gītā. But, in actuality, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Godhead, has senses, and it is stated that His senses are interchangeable; in other words, one sense can perform the function of any other. This is what it means to say that Kṛṣṇa is absolute. Lacking senses, He could hardly be considered full in all opulences. In the Seventh Chapter, Kṛṣṇa has explained that He impregnates the living entities into material nature. This is done by His looking upon material nature. And so in this instance, Kṛṣṇa’s hearing the devotee’s words of love in offering foodstuffs is wholly identical with His eating and actually tasting. This point should be emphasized: because of His absolute position, His hearing is wholly identical with His eating and tasting. Only the devotee, who accepts Kṛṣṇa as He describes Himself, without interpretation, can understand that the Supreme Absolute Truth can eat food and enjoy it. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama/ Rama Rama Hare Hare Chant and be happy Post Date: 01/09/16, Replies: 7 | ||
| Vegetarians - Why our Morals Matter A new video on You Tube called "Morals Matter" will tell you another reason why it is morally and spiritually important to be a Vegetarian. Please watch it. Post Date: 12/23/16, Replies: 0 | ||
| Veggies to the rescue!!!i need help Hi everyone, Ive been a member for quite some time, but dont really branch out as much. but lately i have found myself needeing some extra guidence that i know i can only find through fellow happy cow followers. My delema- is I am 25 years old stay at home with a husband,an 8yr old,15 month old,and 5month old baby! i feel i have lost my self both inner and outword of corse.i also have been brough to reality with medical news that has shaken our lil family pretty hard and i need to get health and fit like before. my husband although not veggie is very active and in great shape he gets a great workout at work,and i would love to workout with him out side of work but i have to do stuff that dont include having to find a baby sitter or paying big bucks for a gym. m pretty overwhelmed as it is,but reachin out to see if you guys know of a great veggie diet plan and some work out tips , i greatly appreciate you all and your time! ~E.mama Post Date: 03/15/13, Replies: 4 | ||
| What do you think about life? Share your views about life,its content ,glad,and sad moments. What does life mean in your opinion? Post Date: 06/18/08, Replies: 4 | ||
| Who is The Real Maitreya? Is it you or me? The problem is solved for me, this is my conclusion: therealmaitreya.wordpress.com/about/ ...but what do you all feel here at the Happy Cow forum? Post Date: 01/10/16, Replies: 8 | ||
| Why do people attack my sensitivity? I have always felt compassion for animals and people, but when I talk about how sad I felt when a deer was killed or what good veggie dishes there are to eat, many times people will either tease me, mock me or brag about how much meat they like. Why? This even happens with family, really 'nice' people as well as others. I do not tell anyone they need to do as I do; I hope they will, but I never lecture. Post Date: 01/19/14, Replies: 12 | ||
| Why people are so uncivilized! Firstly, please excuse me for my English because English is my second language. Ok, I visit gardenweb forum very often and I wanted to stop people from using barbaric glue traps and many other cruel ways to kill small animals when these animals enter their homes and gardens. I posted links to show many humane way of solving problem with creatures but I end up getting hateful messages because they much rather to use torture traps and poison to kill creatures. How can we make these primitive uncivilized people to get civilized like true human? They call mice, rats, and many other creatures pest but they are precious gift from God who deserve freedom,happiness,and our protection. How many of you agree with me? How can we change people who have no love and respect for God's little creatures? They said we must kill creatures as quickly as possible to protect us from getting diseases and destroying our houses and gardens. I don't have patient with barbarians. Post Date: 03/30/13, Replies: 8 | ||
| Why you are vegetarian or vegan? What kind of experience did you have when you decided to be a vegetarian or vegan? And why you are vegetarian or vegan? Post Date: 04/29/16, Replies: 9 | ||
| With wisdom comes knowledge. With wisdom comes knowledge, with knowledge comes responsibility. In the days of the "Old Church" many laws were given for the believers to follow. They were, if I may use the term, "Baby Steps". Many of the laws of old we are not held accountable to today. With the coming of Christ and the death and Resurrection of Christ the world changed. And when the world changed many of the rules changed. The basics did not and will not ever change. That would basically be the Ten Commandments. But the law of baptism was establish. The laws of animal sacrifice change. Along with many others. In the days of the Old Church we had no twelve apostles, no Christ at the head of the Church. The Spirit of Christ, ( the Holy Ghost ) was not given as a constant companion to man. It was all a normal family could do to provide for their family to survive. There was only so much farmland a man could plow and plant and harvest. There was not the means of preserving the produce of the field that we have today. Using wild game and even some domestic animals to survive during the off season was an necessity. Even in the days of my grandfather and my father produce was not a commodity that could be relied upon during the off season. It is very easy to see why they hunted and subsidized their diets with meat draining the winter months. If you know anything of the old Celtic Tribes you will know that when they killed an animal to use it for food the would say a prayer for and to the animal. Giving thanks and reverence for the beast giving it's all for the survival of the human. The eating of meat has been ingrained into the human for thousands of years. I can see without question how they justified the killing and eating of the beast. In today's world of produce being shipped around the world and delivered fresh a hemisphere away from the field is was grown in we have a greater wisdom and knowledge than they did just a few years ago. My parents did not have the advantage of fresh Santa Claws Melons, and Juan Canary Melons in the middle of the winter as I have. And what fresh produce they did have to select from in the dead of winter was comparative very expensive when measured by today's standards. I can eat fresh fruit twelve month out of the year and find relatively reasonable prices on it. I can have corn on the cob any time I want it. My parents did not have that luxury just fifty years ago when I was a wee lad. I remember just how much my mom and dad really splurged to give me fresh oranges for Christmas every year. As we see the world today and realize that the "Need" for killing animals for food and to survive is drawing to an end it is well that we teach others this principle with respect and understand just as the Christ of the New Testament thought others. One will not unteach the tradition and teaching of the past that have survived for thousands of years over night. One will not teach these gentle truths by beating others into submission. If we are to teach and gain converts we must teach with patience and long suffering. We must have the forbearance and restraint to teach a new way of life. We have gained the wisdom of a "New World". With that wisdom we have gained knowledge. With that knowledge we have gained a responsibility to "Teach" a new way of life. "Teach" being the operative word. One does not teach by force. But by gentle persuasion. One of the greatest gifts that Christ gave to us is "Free Will". If we seek to take away this free will that Christ has given then are we standing not with Christ, but against him? The Ten Commandments yet stand, but Christ will not force anyone to obey these commandments. He will teach, He will persuade, He will lead and teach what is right and correct. He will do not more. He will not take away the free will he has given. Nor do I believe should we. With wisdom comes knowledge, with knowledge comes responsibility. We have a responsibility to "teach". ( this is just my thoughts ) Thank you all. Quasi Post Date: 09/13/12, Replies: 2 | ||
| women and religion Currently reading "Women Without Superstition: "No Gods, No Masters", a collection of writings by women authors in the 19th and 20th centuries. Among them are Susan B. Anthony, Mary Wollstonecraft, Frances Wright, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Annie Besant, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Emma Goldman, Margaret Sanger, and scores of other highly respected writer/activists. They tended to support the environment, human rights, animal rights, etc. One thing they shared in common was not basing their values on the words of any god or gods... Post Date: 01/04/17, Replies: 8 | ||
| Working with others I've been an atheist for even longer than I've been a vegetarian/vegan. I think atheism and the questioning mind it promotes played a role in my education about animal issues. Some folks choose to build a wall between atheists and believers that cannot be breached. I've had the pleasure of working with Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Jains, Hindus and others in my animal rights efforts. I include quite a number of "believers" among my most important teachers. The fact that we don't always agree has not stopped me from appreciating and benefitting from the views of religious folks as well as atheists. People who build walls have less time for building bridges. Post Date: 11/04/16, Replies: 2 | ||
| World Meditation Greetings Fellow Meditators, World Wide Group Meditation for World Vegan and World Peace has started. Watch this video for more details.. www.suprememastertv.com/worldvegan/ World Group Meditation Hours: 05:00 - 06:00 10:00 - 11:00 13:00 - 14:00 21:00 - 22:00 Time Zone : Central European Time Paris 11:00 - 12:00 16:00 - 17:00 19:00 - 20:00 03:00 - 04:00 Time Zone :GMT +8:00 Time Zone for Singapore/Beijing/Malaysia/Taipei Post Date: 08/21/14, Replies: 1 | ||
| Yoga Anyone? Hello, Am curious to know if any HappyCow site visitor practices yoga. If you do, what has your experience been like? What insights have you gained if any? Any tips for aspiring yogis? Post Date: 05/05/11, Replies: 18 | ||
| You must not kill any living being for the You must not kill any living being for the sake of your food. The killing is the greatest sin You must not kill any living being for the sake of your food. God has given enough vegetable food that contains all the ingredients present in the non-vegetarian food. After all, the source of ingredients of any flesh is only vegetable kingdom only. Eating the non-vegetarian food is not a sin because same ingredients exist in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods. But, you have to kill a living being for the sake of non-vegetarian food. The killing is the greatest sin. You may argue that you have not killed the living being directly. Such argument cannot stand. Since you are eating the non-vegetarian food, the living being is killed. You are responsible for its killing. Therefore, you are the principle shareholder of the sin. There is nothing wrong if you eat a living being after its natural death. In Hinduism, there is a sect of people called ‘Kapalikas’, who eat the dead living beings. Therefore, they do not acquire sin. The tsunami is always due to anger of God since you are killing the living beings present in water for food. The earthquakes are due to killing of living beings that exist on the earth. God in the form of Buddha and Mahavir preached the non-violence and severely opposed the killing of living beings. God in some other human forms might have followed the practice of non-vegetarian food in order to join with non-vegetarian people so that, certain other higher aspects to be preached might have been taken into consideration. That does not mean that God has encouraged the killing of living beings through non-vegetarian food. He might have kept silent on this issue in order to give importance to other serious issues. God follows the ignorance of the students in order to become friendly with them. To control a running bull, you have to run along with it for some distance before controlling it. All these are the basic concepts of nivrutti, which are the core of pravrutti. By following the ethics of pravrutti, you will avoid God becoming furious with you. Then, through nivrutti, you can please God. On one hand, you are making God furious by not following the ethics of pravrutti and how can you please God through nivrutti simultaneously? www.universal-spirituality.org Universal Spirituality for World Peace Post Date: 08/27/14, Replies: 3 | ||
| YouTube:Mahayana Buddhism On Vegetarianism Post Date: 01/10/16, Replies: 2 |
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