12.

Vegetarianism

The word ‘vegetarian’, coined by the founders of the British Vegetarian Society in
1842, comes from the Latin word ‘vegetus’, which means ‘integral, healthy, fresh,
vigorous’. For example, ‘homo vegetus’ means a mentally and physically vigorous
person. Thus, the original meaning of the word implies a balanced philosophy and
moral perspective on life; much more than just a diet of fruit and vegetables.

Health and nutrition

In 1961, the journal of the American Medical Association concluded that “between
90% and 97% of heart illnesses could be prevented with a vegetarian diet.” Since then
it has been scientifically understood that, after tobacco and alcohol, a meat-based diet
is a major cause of death in West Europe, the USA, Australia, and other Westernised
regions of the world. In one investigation, 214 scientists from 23 countries showed a
direct correlation between one’s diet, cholesterol levels and heart disease. Whilst
scientists from the University of Milan and the Maggiore Hospital showed that
vegetable protein helped maintain low levels of blood cholesterol. Similarly, in an
article in the British medical journal ‘The Lancet’, D.C.R. Sirtori concludes that
people with a high level of cholesterol associated with heart illnesses could well
benefit from a diet where the protein source is from vegetables.
Related to cancer, research shows that cancers of the colon, rectum, chest and uterus
are very rare in those who eat very little of no meat, such as the Seventh Day
Adventists, the Japanese or the Hindus. An article in ‘The Lancet’ supports the above
research. The National Academy of Science stated in 1983 that “people would be able
to prevent many types of common cancer by eating a diet with less meat and more
vegetables and cereals”. The reason why meat eaters are more prone to such illnesses
is quiet simply that the intestinal tract of the human being is simply not fit for
digesting meat.

But, wait a minute! Is it not the case that human beings evolved as carnivores? Do we
not need animal protein? The answer to both questions is an unreserved no. The
Swedish scientist Karl Non Linne affirms, “The structure of the human body
compared with other animals shows that, both externally and internally, fruit and
succulent vegetables constitute its natural diet”. In terms of protein, the Swedish
institute Kalonska and the German institute Max Plank have demonstrated that the
majority of vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts and cereals are excellent and sufficient
sources of complete proteins. The fact is that vegetable proteins are much easier to
breakdown and assimilate than animal protein, and at the same time they do not
produce toxic by-products as do animal proteins.

In a series of comparative tests of resistance, made by Dr. Irving Fisher of the

University of Yale, those whose diet was vegetarian yielded results showing twice the
resilience compared to those who had a meat-based diet. Similarly, a study conducted
by Dr. J. Iotekyo and V. Kipani from the University of Brussels showed that
vegetarians were able to perform physical tests two or three times longer than meat-
eaters, and that the vegetarians fully recovered from fatigue five times faster.

In terms of resources, Jean Mayer, a nutritionist from University of Harvard,

estimated that a 10% reduction in the production of meat would suffice to free up
cereals to feed 60 million people. Another price we pay is in the contamination of our
environment. The discharges from the slaughterhouses, now euphemistically called
‘Meat Processing Plants’, are one of the main sources of river pollution. In the book
“population, resources and the environment”, it is shown that the production of one
pound of wheat requires only 30 litres of water, whilst one pound of meat requires
between 2,500 and 3,000 litres of water.

It can thus be seen why many people consider ethical reasons to be of up-most
importance in choosing the vegetarian diet.

In an essay titled “In relation to meat eating”, the Roman author Plutarco wrote, “I
must really ask myself for what reasons Pythagoras did not eat meat? For my part, I
am fascinated and must ask myself by what great accident and in what mental state
was the first man who used his mouth to tear up and bring to his lips the meat of a
dead creature, bringing to our tables the pallid, putrid bodies of the dead; and then
adventured to call this ‘nutritious food’ to that which before was a living being who
had its own happiness and sadness, who cried, who moved, who lived? How could his
eyes support this sight of death, of this body with its throat cut and body members
hacked up? How is it that this contamination of nature did not turn his guts whilst
drinking the blood of the dead?”

Similarly, Leon Tolstoi warned us, “Whilst our bodies are the living tombs of
murdered animals, how can we expect any ideal conditions on the Earth?” Pythagoras,
2,600 years ago, said, “They who kill animals to eat meat tend, in the end, to massacre
each other.”

The principle religious scriptures order mankind to live without killing unnecessarily.
The Old Testament instructs us to not kill (Exodus 20:13). In Genesis (1:29 and 9:14)
it is said, “But meat with life, which is its blood, you should not eat, because it will
certainly demand the blood of your very lives, as every animal will demand it.” In the
Evangelism of Peace of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Jesus says, “And the milk of all beasts
that move and that live on the face of the earth shall be your meat, but the flesh and
blood that gives them life you shall not eat.”

Lord Budha (Siddharta Gautama) came with the purpose of stopping animal slaughter
by establishing the religious principle of “ahimsa” (non-violence) by which, together
with vegetarianism, he established it as a principle step in the path to conscious
development. In the Manu Samhita, the ancient law book from India, it is said,
“Having considered the disgraceful origin of meat and the cruelty of killing living
beings, one should completely abstain from eating meat.”

In the Bhagavad Gita (5:18), Krishna (the Supreme Personality of Godhead) explains
that spiritual perfection starts when one can see the equality of all living beings as
spirit souls; “The humble sage, in virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a
peaceful and erudite brahmana (priest), a cow, an elephant, a dog and a social pariah.”
Human beings were destined to be carnivores?

It is very clear that a living cow produces more food for society than a dead one by
the continuous supply of milk, which gives us yoghurt, cream, butter and other
protein-rich food.

For a healthier life.

“When we lose respect for animal life, we also lose respect for human life.”

Srila Guru Maharaj

Translation and interpretation by Gopananda dasa