Let me start by saying that I believe in certain ‘truths’. I only put that word in quotation marks because I accept that there will be a lot of people who don’t see these things as being fact, and I wanted to express that my usage of this word may be, to others, a subjective usage.

As a Pantheist, I equate the whole of existence, seen and unseen . . man, plant, mineral, animal, etheric, …well, the whole damn Universe and everything we experience, along with the invisible and unknowable . . to BE divine existence; to be manifestations of different aspects of a whole. Call it what you will: God, the Source, the all, the connective unconscious, the universal mind … .we all are a part of it. The dieties, the stones, the sun, and all of life are physical manifestations of the same “divine mind”. (discuss w/ me the deity part some other time).All equally important, in their own way. Each part with it’s own purpose, each being a cause for so many other uncountable things that come to change, and being changed by uncountable other things.The Universe is in us. We are it. And, as a student of certain teachings (teachings many people on this platform state that they also abide by), I also acknowedge that everything is in constant sway between two interdependent polar ‘opposites.’ Ebb and flow. Life and death. Up and down. Yin and yang. One cannot exist without the other.

For there to be life, there must be death. Survival depends upon demise, and ‘good’ upon ‘evil’. I believe C.G. Jung, when he says that, ” One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” To me this says that, (among other things) on a spiritual path, you cannot just imagine that everything is sunshine and puppy dogs (though that would be sweet!). You must acknowledge the dark, the Yin in you and in the Universe. You must acknowledge and come to the terms with the fact that everything dies and that everything has it’s proper effect on the rest of existence. There is always a time and a place, for dark and light, for life and death, love and hate. Yet, so many new-agers promote yin and yang while telling everyone to be nothing but love and light… .but that is impossible, if you count the things I’m listing as ‘truths’ to be so. If you believe in the absoluteness of yin & yang.Some things must die, in order for others to survive. You must destroy, in order to create. THIS IS INEXCAPABLE … .at least to me, it is :-)

Death and change come in all forms and happen at all times. But things (or at least the energy of things) do not ever cease to exist. It does not ‘die’ . . it just changes. (This is why I believe in all types of reincarnation). So why do we see death as such a terrifying and abominable thing? And, if so horrible, then why do the swans sing? I’ve discovered that it is the reason or the cause of this percieved death, their fear and doubts about the afterlife, and our assumptions on the value of the living thing that motivates peoples’ fear and outrage over the “dying” or “losing”of something. We are utterly attached to life . .and isn’t attachment supposed to be an obstacle on one’s path? Shouldn’t reverence be shown to death as well? Where is the balance? ( and I’m not generally a morbid person)

What some define as necessity, others define as murder. But sometimes, the death of one things brings life to something else. Thus, the cycle continues. The everlasting circle of life that so many claim to admire and adore, yet so often seem to forget that they’re a part of it.

A disclaimer, before I go farther: This is not about whether or not I think you should be living your life a certain way . . It’s about why I get discouraged and feel alienated when others of slightly different paths, seem to demonize and demoralize me for certain aspects of my path … . mainly, that I EAT MEAT & SEE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I know that yogi Sadi Nardini does too :-) * She probably says this all better than I, as well, having more experience expressing herself (spiritually) to others, in a public light.

but, I’ll continue anyways :P

I get discouraged and feel alone and unable to fully relate to others, on a path of growth and wisdom, (as if banished to the tunnels beneath the path) when I see them declaring that it is meat is murder and it’s impossible for someone make steps on a spiritual journey, if they eat meat. But, if you’ve accepted the ‘truths’, the principles I listed in the first few paragraphs . . then you would have deduced, as I have , that this is ridiculous and offensive to my every effort involving my ‘soul’ and spiritual growth. And, though I know that these are generally good people and just want to do what they think is the right thing, I am getting increasingly annoyed by the self-righteous statements of vegans on a spiritual path … .such egos on them! Plenty a nightmarish road is paved with good intentions, by people who just think they’re doing the right thing, for the sake of others. Do we only mourn the death of things with beautiful faces? .

You cannot neglect the dark. You cannot live, without eating something dead, and consuming life! I believe that the only reason that plant-based foods tend to be reputed to have ‘higher vibrations’ is not because the plants weren’t murdered - because they were - but it’s because of the pitiful and tortuous life the poor creature, the animals endured before a greusome death. But these are things that can be avoided, but only to an extent because (as we all know in our bones) suffering tends to play a part in all sentient life. Because, without suffering, there would be no bliss. To what extent though, should it be controlled? It is in our control. And that is the point. These discoveries and tidbits give us each individual control and choice over our life and our path.…

In a mental existence, knowledge is power… . . However … .

I have grown tired of defending the fact (in philosophy forums, and in life, to bullheaded vegans) plant life is just as important and sacred as animal life. They refuse to even check up on or entertain the studies suggesting that plants can even feel fear and pain. They argue ( and I do mean argue) that animals are superior life because of sentience but what they really mean is control of a physical mind (and therefore, the Universe [? via correspondence ]). It is only our physical minds ( as opposed to our ‘spiritual’ body or mind), our egos that tell us that these things whose emotions and pains we can easily percieve, are so much more important ( in the grand web of things) than that plant life. I want to, with my human mind, say that I and the life of my physical body are more important than that forest, or that crop . . but is that really so? Who’s really making an important impact, leaving a good impression, doing the least harm? And so we strive to make an impact by being as ‘one’ with the Universe as we can be, by climbing our spiritual mountains and foothills, and making ourselves and therefore the world a better place. But we must also remember our place, in this world, and this web, this cycle of life… . and death. The animals we eat do not try to escape their place on this cycle, but they still have instincts and will fight for life … .but that is because they also have a mind, a personality, a physical body . . driven by instinct to live because their minds … . like, ours . . are thoroughly attached to life.

Will we ever find a way to shed the shackles of this attachment? Are we supposed to?

your thoughts?

* http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sadie-nardini/om-scampi-a-top-yogi-come_b_242189.html

http://unvegan.com/heroes/sadie-nardini-unvegan-hero/

(Source: theogonic-symphonic-tragedy)