Yesterday on Supreme Master Television I released a long standing ideological prejudice! Yes, pats on the back are appropriate.
To state the matter briefly, the Teachings of Bahá’u'lláh advocate voluntary sharing, and this is a greater thing than the equalization of wealth. For equalization must be imposed from without, while sharing is a matter of free choice.
It was in a line from one of those topical scrolls from various striptures - this one on sharing wealth. But it spoke to me more about the seemingly opposed ideals of liberalism and socialism.
For long I’ve relied on the concept that spirituality is a kind of “meta-ideology’, above the common worldly ideological concept. What that means, is that an inward focus and spiritual practice will send out a practical ripple in the world with a natural harmonizing effect, negating the need for specific ideologies in creating a peaceful and harmonious world of plenty.
But nevertheless it’s been hard for me to fully renounce the idea that some kind of ‘ism’, meaning a systemic social institution, is not needed in the area of wealth distribution. I still assumed that some sort of control or limit in place would help humanity acheive a state of egalitarianism.
The line from the Bahai scripture implied that no such limits on wealth gathering should be imposed, because good deeds should not be enforced… rather they should be voluntarily offered to the merit of the giver. If society is strictly designed to be economically fair, it removes the chance for us to make it fair by the exercise of our own good will. And without exercising good will naturally it would be diminished.
This is not an endoresement of liberalism, it is a final emancipation from all ideology… and I feel pretty good about it.
Pat, pat, pat. Thanks Supreme Master TV.
A little rant for you (as if I’m trying to drive you away from my blog. Thank God I’m not advertising any more 
Don’t be afraid to do something. The more you courage you will get to open your eyes. The more your eyes are open the more you want to do.
There’s an amazing relationship I’ve noticed between being proactive and having the will to recognise larger problems. The more I’m willing to do to solve them, the more I can recognise problems in this world. On the downside, it’s hard to look at problems I’m not yet willing to tackle. I’d rather pretend they didn’t exist and work within my own comfort zone.
Lately I’ve been a little disappointed with our apathy towards larger, important problems. I’ve realised it’s really hard to recognise a problem if you’re not prepared to do something about it. I guess this relates a number of personal factors in someone’s life. Nevertheless, I wish everyone were aware of the positive cycle which is just one door away.
I guess that the only reason we’re born into an imperfect world to work for its betterment - and simultaneously our own. Why work just for ourselves when we can take nothing with us at the end? The only things we could possibly take with us are within: our inner state… our developed wisdom. Working for selfish reasons doesn’t develop these things as much as working for the world.
Don’t be afraid to do something. The more you courage you will get to open your eyes. The more your eyes are open the more you want to do.
No this is definately not one for Veggie Kitchen.
The Australian today is running a poll. Will you BBQ Skippy to help arrest climate change?
Here’s the result so far…
Unfortunately there should be another choice, better for our country in myriad ways. Vegetarinism is linked to far less heart disease, cancer (especially breast, prostate and colon) and diabetes, the “three killers” of Australians.
No doubt eating Kangaroos may cause less environmental and health damage. But it won’t come close in either category to the benefits of vegetarianism.
So if eating our national emblem irks you, know that is there is another choice, far more viable than the proposed two. Vegetarianism.
Good on you Rajendra. The internet is a great platform and I know you have all information people need to make the best changes and deal with climate change.
http://blog.rkpachauri.org/index.php?a=4
Dr Rajendra Pachauri, whose name I am only just able to spell correctly first go, has just been re-elected for another term as IPCC chief. He is famous for informing the high level officials and the general public alike of the the importance of lifestyle changes in curbing global warming. More specifically, he tells us that the quickest and best thing we can do is “shun” meat.
Cheers for that.
This is a national event in Australia, the first of its kind I do believe. From the Love Earth Gathering website:
Why Love Earth?
Love Earth - because love is a verb. Love is something we must do. Love requires selflessness. And only a selfless society can adopt the changes needed to abate climate change. It requires selflessness to change your diet, to give up your car and to shop frugally. And if we all act in this way we will end climate change.
… and…
What is the Love Earth gathering?
Concerned citizens are calling on your help to save our planet from the impending catastrophes of climate change. We believe that the policy makers of our time are going to great lengths to avoid the one solution that is easy and affordable and will have a dramatic and powerful effect in reducing global warming.
I’m a vegan of one year and a vegetarian of seven. I believe that a human being can sustain himself on a vegan diet without supplements. I am fully convinced that it is the natural and intended diet for human kind, biologically, spiritually, ecologically.
When even the pro vegan nutritionists emphasise the need to supplment B12 in the diet, it seems that the above is not the case. Veganism appears to be forced: an extreme diet only possible with supplemental ingredients. How does that fit in with my surety that veganism is biologically intended?
What do you think?
…Continue reading…
Need another reason to feel guilty about feeding your children that Happy Meal — aside from the fat, the calories and that voice in your head asking why you can’t be bothered to actually cook a well-balanced meal now and then?
Meat: Making Global Warming Worse - TIME.
Obama’s progressive stance apparently translates into moves towards human health and animal wefare, in the form of less subsidy for the meat industry and greater availablity of healther food for schools.
UPDATE: In contrast, Republican Vice president candidate Sarah Palin is a hunter, displaying a shocking disrespect for life which might translate into a continuation of aggressive foregn policy, possible only on the foundation of disrespect for human life.
This from Nikki Benoit, from the Vegan.com blog: Obama’s Vegan Moment.
As I was being handed the mic, Obama read my shirt out loud - “Vegan Outreach” . . . . .YES!!! HE DID!!! AND…he pronounced it RIGHT!!!
So, though it’s mostly a blur, I first thanked him for his strong position for helping our environment, which segwayed nicely into my factory farming question.
I stated how the UN’s reporting that animal agriculture contributes more to greenhouse gas emissions than all of transportation. I mentioned that over 10 billion land animals are funneled through egregious conditions in factory farms and that it requires an obscene amount of water and resources to maintain them [70% of all our grain goes through them]. I reiterated that our health epidemic is only compounded by our environmental crises and resource depletion, and what, as the leader of the most amazing nation, would he do about this [again, this is all a blur...I believe the media picked this up, too - I hope it made more sense at the time.]
His response included an admission that our infrastructure needs fixing, and that subsidies need to be taken away from large scale animal ag, helping small family farms. He acknowledged that our health care crises needs to incorporate preventative measures, including more fresh vegetables and fruit. He also said schools need more of these items versus pre-packaged food and meat products. And of course, he pointed the finger at China and India and that their new diet [which is mimicking ours] needs to be changed.
There were a lot of claps and hoots during my question from the crowd, even a Secret Service agent gave me a wink and a thumbs up!
Received a lot of praise afterwards, and was interviewed by Rollins College and TampaBay.com, so here’s hoping they run it!
As we know vegetarian (means vegan) is the greenest, healthiest, and all the rest of it bestest choice.
But the bad news is that the suffering of animals, harming of the environment and coasening of your physical being is inherent in many food products that one would usuaully think of as veggie.
Luckily ingredients are printed on labels. Be prepared to appear a bit odd in the supermarket as you stare at label after label for minutes on end.
This little card comes courtesy of Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association. Contact a center near you and they’ll be more than happy to send one out to you.
Or, here’s an online list of non-vegetarian additives you can print out yourself (scroll down half way).
I’ve been wanting to write more about lentils… becuase I know that they’re just about the most convenient and powerful protien source out there. Read about Lentils on About.com for more info.
A well cooked lentil soup every couple of days will compliment whatever protein I’ve been eating and guarantee that comfortable full strength feeling I like every day.
…Continue reading…
