Sunday, October 16, 2005

Got a question? Ask Gandhi...

Here’s something I recently stumbled across:

Ask Gandhi
http://tinyurl.com/adx6y

(Union Square, NYC)

This is not to position Gandhi as a “hero,” mind you, just taking a little time-out to consider some of his words and deeds.

Gandhi sez:
“I have nothing new to teach the world. Truth and non-violence are as old as the hills. All I have done is to try experiments in both on as vast a scale as I could.”

“I have philosophical reasons to advocate vegetarianism.  I believe that the animals have spirits and souls also.”

“To forgive and accept injustice is cowardice.”

“One must be the change one wishes to see in the world.”

“Poverty is but the worst form of violence.”


Voice of Gandhi:
http://tinyurl.com/8v878

Winston Churchill sez:
“It is alarming and also nauseating to see Mr. Gandhi, a seditious middle temple lawyer, now posing as a fakir of a type well known in the east, striding half-naked up the steps of the vice-regal palace, while he is still organizing and conducting a defiant campaign of civil disobedience, to parley on equal terms with the representative of the king-emperor.”
(1930)

Video clip of the Dandi march:
http://www.harappa.com/wall/1930.html

Gandhi sez:
“Truth is my religion and ahimsa is the only way of its realization.”

“Ahimsa means not to injure any creature by thought, word, or deed, not even to the supposed advantage of this creature.”

The above quote reminded me of the American Vegan Society’s version of “ahimsa.”


http://www.americanvegan.org

From the AVS website:

Ahimsa is a Sanskrit word for non-killing and non-harming. It is not mere passiveness, but a positive method of meeting the dilemmas and decisions of daily life. In the western world, we call it Dynamic Harmlessness. The six pillars of this dynamic philosophy for modern life (one for each letter: A-H-I-M-S-A) are:

ABSTINENCE from animal products
HARMLESSNESS with reverence for life
INTEGRITY of thought, word, and deed
MASTERY over oneself
SERVICE to humanity, nature, and creation
ADVANCEMENT of understanding and truth

MZ: Of course, such tenets are not unique to veganism...but this lifestyle can push one in that direction.

Vegans (pronounced VEE-guns) live on products of the plant kingdom. Veganism is compassion in action. It is a philosophy, diet, and lifestyle. It is an advanced way of living in accordance with Reverence for Life, recognizing the rights of all living creatures, and extending to them the compassion, kindness, and justice exemplified in the Golden Rule.

Vegans exclude flesh, fish, fowl, dairy products (animal milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, etc.), eggs, honey, animal gelatin, and all other foods of animal origin. Veganism also excludes animal products such as leather, wool, fur, and silk in clothing, upholstery, etc. Vegans usually make efforts to avoid the less-than-obvious animal oils, secretions, etc., in many products such as soaps, cosmetics, toiletries, household goods and other common commodities.

Reasons for Veganism:
*An equitable, ethical relationship between human and other living creatures
*The physiological human design
*An enlightened concept of repairing and maintaining health
*Practical solutions to the population explosion
*Spiritual development

Lofty goals...but, as Gandhi explained:
“I claim no perfection for myself. But I do claim to be a passionate seeker after Truth.”

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Posted on 10/16 at 07:12 AM
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