Make Today Count – Happy February 29!

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Happy 29th of February! An extra day every four years – what a great day to get caught up on things. Unfortunately, many of us need to work today so it’s not much different than any other day. But to some, it’s their birthday – so happy birthday (or in the Buddhist terminology “happy continuation” day) to you! For me, today felt a little different. It was sunnier than it has been lately in the morning (which is good for my bamboo plant on my desk at work) and it was an easy day at work, just the way I like it. But, I thought about those around me, those who are no longer with us; and the past and the future. Today is an extra day that won’t come around for another four years. Did you do anything to make it count? Whether it is treating yourself or someone you love, or helping a homeless person by giving two dollars (or as we call it in Canada, a “toonie”), what good you do today intentionally or unintentionally, mentally, physically or verbally creates a ripple effect in the continuum of consciousness for the better. The same goes for bad actions, too.

Today I bought myself a hoodie and gave some money to a homeless beggar that I see every week. Some days, I can give some money and other days I really have nothing on me and feel sad that I can’t help him out. Some people complain that beggars make good money panhandling, but it can be hard to have to ask people for money whether it’s friends or strangers. I always smile and say hello, whether I can give money or not that day. I think of it as helping and building my good karma. If more people were friendlier to one another, think how much better our communities would be!

So if you don’t think you made today count as much as you would have liked, think of tomorrow and ask yourself “how can I make today count?” Then at the end of the day tomorrow, ask yourself “what did I do today?” If you can, help others. If you feel that you are unable to, then at least do not harm.

Namaste.

Om Mani Padme Hum

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Enemies will not be enemies forever. Someone who is your enemy in this life may not be an enemy in the next. Someone who is your enemy in this life may have been your friend or nurturer in the previous life. There is no guarantee that this enemy will be or has been an enemy forever.

A good meditation is to cultivate compassion to everyone, including your enemies. Sitting comfortably, think of someone you are fond of and/or love. Cultivate compassion towards them in your mind and in your heart. Mentally send them compassion and wish them happiness. Think of someone neutral, that you do not have any particular attachment to. Cultivate compassion towards them in your mind and in your heart. Mentally send them compassion and wish them happiness. Think of your enemy or someone you have difficulty getting along with. Cultivate compassion towards them in your mind and in your heart. Mentally send them compassion and wish them happiness.

This cultivation of compassion isn’t overnight success, but in time (maybe years) it will become second nature to think of an enemy and still be compassionate towards them.

The news I had heard about someone that had caused me a lot of strife turned out to be true. I don’t handle news of death very well, usually in shock upon hearing it at first in disbelief which makes me sound like I don’t care at first, but it’s actually because I don’t know how to react at first. This person I hadn’t given much thought in the last six years. It was part of the past and I had moved on. I did not wish her harm because it looked like we both moved on and hadn’t seen each other in five years. Upon hearing of her name on Thursday, brought me paranoia that something from my past that caused me turmoil was about to start again – how foolish and sorry I feel now for thinking that! I pray that my one time considered “foe” is now at peace, wherever she may be now.

Om mani padme hum.

Compassion & Forgiving Enemies

 

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I got some unexpected news today that I still am not sure whether it is true or not. But it made me think of what the Buddha teaches about having compassion towards enemies. Only enemies truly teach us about patience and compassion. Friends may try our patience sometimes, but in the end we still love them and tolerate them more easily. It is enemies that make us stronger, more compassionate, more patient and tolerant. I am a skeptic sometimes, so when I hear news, it sometimes takes a while for it to sink in whether it’s true or false. Some news I handle better than other news, and in the end I come to my final conclusion about the story. The news I heard today about someone’s death, really made me skeptical and I can’t let it overcome me in many ways. I questioned how true I hold myself to my Buddhist values. It goes to show that I (and many others) still have a lot to do in order to cultivate compassion to our enemies – and tolerance to those who toy with us. Forgiveness is something that is taught in every religion, but few of us hold forgiveness on a universal level to all sentient beings. I thought I had forgiven my enemy and moved on, as I had forgiven myself for being angry as well, but the news has brought up old wounds. There is no use unearthing the hatchet, what’s done is done. Although I still may not believe the news to be true, I still must cultivate compassion whether it is true or not.

 

 

I have some meditating to do…

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Vegetarianism and The Forgiveness of Suffering

 

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I have come to terms that although I try to be vegetarian, there are some things that include animal products that are unavoidable and a necessary evil. As I stated in my last post, I have started taking glucosamine chondroitin as recommended by my doctor. Although I rather not take them, which contain exoskeleton of shellfish, bovine cartilage and gelatin, I have little choice otherwise if I want to protect myself. This virus that I have has lasted for over three weeks and could continue for another month or even longer. It has spread into my hands and knuckles in my right hand these past four days and makes it very painful to type – which makes it hard to work. Regular painkillers do very little to heal the inflammation that spreads from one joint to the next. It has improved over the past three weeks, but once it settles into a joint it stays there for at least two days, get progressively worse, then disappears and then reappears in a different joint like my hip or ankle.

I’m reminded of the Dalai Lama who is a vegetarian at his home in Dharamsala, India but has been advised by doctors to eat meat ever since he came down with jaundice many years ago. It makes me think, that one of the most revered and well-learned monks in Buddhism eats meat occasionally for the benefit of his health, then maybe it is not so harmful that I take glucosamine chondroitin recommended by my doctor to treat my inflammation of my joints. If I don’t do this, the inflammation can cause damage to my own cartilage and cause further damage and problems, and most of all – more pain. No one wants suffering and everyone wants happiness. Taking care of my health is to take care of my family and friends. If I am not well, then I can’t work. If I can’t work, I can’t take care of my husband and dog; pay bills, debt and so on. I am surprised that I have missed very little work since I became sick three weeks ago, with sleepless nights, morning pain, evening pain and even pain that has left me just about paralyzed from the hips down.

Some vegetarians may not understand, but there is suffering in the world every day, every minute in every sense of the word. We can’t be there for everyone, and we can’t save everyone at once. But, if we take our little corner of the world, and try our best to help others and ourselves, it can make a difference. I may not be considered a “hardcore” vegetarian for taking medicine that includes animal products, but that is for me. I still won’t eat the meat of animals because I have no desire to, but I haven’t found something to help cartilage other than to replace it with cartilage. I have found in a vegetarian magazine foods that help with inflammation, and I am going to try to eat those foods, and avoid foods that cause inflammation. But, I will try everything to help myself including taking glucosamine chondroitin which is clinically proven to help with joint inflammation and pain. After 3 weeks of pain everyday – which may be normal in the golden years – but at 29 isn’t something ordinarily expected. I can finally start meditating again, which I haven’t done in weeks because I couldn’t sit for more than 5 minutes without pain either in a chair or sitting Burmese style – the sciatica was the worst.

I suppose the point of this post is not to neglect yourself, not to try to fit into a doctrine if it begins to be detrimental to yourself; follow an honest and other-oriented life dedicated to helping others and focus locally just as much as globally. I promote the vegetarian lifestyle, vegan, even flexitarian. If Buddhism is flexible, then I should allow myself to be forgiving of myself just as much as I try to be forgiving of others. Sometimes we are our harshest critics.

 

Now for some honey lemon ginger green tea.

 

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Namaste.

P.S. Happy Family Day and President’s Day.

Vegetarianism – For All The Right Reasons

I went to the doctor today (again) and finally got answers to my mysterious arthritic illness. I have a virus. The doctor didn’t elaborate on what it is exactly, but whatever it is, is spreading among people and is like a cold or flu; except I don’t have any sneezing, chills, fever, runny/stuffy nose or any of those symptoms that are associated with typical viruses. This one just causes inflammation in the joints and makes me feel like I’m 80 years old with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

The doctor gave me a prescription for an anti-inflammatory medication to take for a month – yes, a month as if going through this for three weeks wasn’t enough. If it doesn’t get better in a month, even if my blood tests come back normal, I’m to go see a specialist or another physician and they’ll look into this again as to what may be causing it.

He did recommend that I take some herbal supplements to help with the inflammation. One was vitamin D, which everyone has a deficiency of vitamin D to some degree in the winter months due to the lack of sunlight and he recommended that I take it until about May. That’s OK, I can do that. He also recommended omega-3 – which yes, mainly comes from fish, but can be found in flax seed and I even have seen such supplements at the stores that have vegetarian formulas for omega-3 supplements. Then comes the word that I’ve been hearing a lot lately since this started: glucosamine chondroitin. I’ve known that it is good for joint health and reducing damage caused by inflammation in joints. I went to the store (good ol’ Zellers… which if you’re American is like Kmart, but owned by The Hudson Bay Company, aka “The Bay”) and found the almighty Glucosamine Chondroitin. I found some that were just glucosamine that said vegetarian formula and others that said “shellfish free”. But the larger one that said shellfish free was nearly $40 and for only 60 capsules that says to take two pills with food three times a day was $17! Then I found a brand on sale for $11. Same stuff right? Looked like it to me and since I’m on a budget until my tax refund comes in and I’m in pain, I’ll take what I can get.

So I get home and start reading the bottle, trying to look for what the heck this stuff is anyway. Medicinal ingredients: glucosamine sulfate (potassium chloride, shellfish exoskeleton)…500mg; chondroitin sulfate (sodium, bovine cartilage)…400mg. Bovine cartilage?! Shellfish exoskeleton?! Sounds pretty nasty to me. But I just paid $11 for this stuff and it’s supposed to help me. Now, I’ve been in pain for three weeks with migrating arthritis all up and down my spine, to my knees, to my knuckles, to my hands, wrists and feet, so I’m hoping this will help. I should have stuck with the omega-3 – I rather have fish than “bovine cartilage”. But, both seem pretty gross.

Although I will not eat a steak, chicken or fish, I feel I have to take this supplement to make myself feel better. I fear that this stuff is actually grosser than it is, and putting it in me actually freaks me out, but it’s recommended by a doctor that I trust and many people I know trust this remedy too. I have been vegetarian for a year, and try to avoid animal meat and protein. I guess I have to accept this although many might not understand. If this works, and this virus goes away, then I won’t need to take them anymore.

 Here’s to good health.

Namaste.

Don’t Be Afraid

When I became vegetarian one year ago yesterday, I was fortunate that not many people questioned why I chose to be vegetarian. When someone would ask, I would give very limited reasons, so as to avoid being dragged into a political debate. I started out vegetarian for animals’ sake, and then for my own health. Not many people can understand the concept that animals have feelings and thoughts. How can we decide which animals to eat and which not to? For example, Hindus won’t eat cows; Jewish won’t eat pigs or shellfish – and not many people will argue with them on why they won’t eat those animals – that would just be plain rude, wouldn’t it? Then why for someone who has religious freedom to eat whatever they want and chooses not to eat animals, it’s considered absurd? Most North Americans gawk at people who eat dogs because we wouldn’t eat our own dog, but don’t feel the same about the average cow or pig? What about chickens? Who doesn’t love seeing a cute baby chick all yellow and peeping? Then when they’re grown up, we think of the smelly chicken coop, and yet still want to eat them and their eggs?

It’s a twisted cultural society we live in. When we think of others as deserving of happiness as much as we believe we deserve, our attitudes towards others change. This mentality should be extended toward humans and animals equally.

A thought occurred to me this week: it’s funny how some people get defensive when your beliefs ‘suddenly’ differ from their own. What do they have to fear? Is it insecurity in their own beliefs that they feel threatened? It really is strange to hear how others defend killing other beings for the sake of their own needs when we have so many other options. Same goes for war – but that’s another issue for another day.

As we get older, most of us grow as individuals and with that our beliefs change as ignorance diminishes.  When I mean ignorance, I speak from the Buddhist concept of “ignorance.” We must all continue to grow as individuals and society to improve ourselves.

I apologise for the abruptness of this post. Trying to write for two days with sciatic pain and distractions have been too much to bear. I appreciate each of you who read this and continue the vegetarian/vegan way by practising love and compassion.

Finding My Comfort Level – Almost 1 Year Later

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My one year anniversary being vegetarian is two days away and to say that temptation to slip into my previous eating habits hasn’t come across my mind would be a lie. However tempting it may be to order a filet mignon, I still rather eat a baked potato, steamed veggies and a side order of garden salad. It’s funny how I’ll watch a commercial for a steakhouse and as normal people would drool at the sight of a piece of cow on a plate, instead I’m focused on the side dishes of mashed potatoes, salad and garlic bread.

I’m still coming to terms of my comfort level in my vegetarianism – where to draw the line so to speak. As in my previous post, there is suffering in every aspect of life whether intentional or not. Many animal products are used in items that most people would not think that they would have. Many foods, although considered vegetarian or vegan, will state that their product may include or have come into contact with dairy or other animal by-products. I believe the point to be vegetarian or vegan, is to reduce your own direct impact or involvement of the suffering or use and consumption of animal products. One shouldn’t become militaristic in this venture, because as much as you try, some things may be unavoidable, but that doesn’t mean you should give up your beliefs if you feel passionately about it.

For instance, I try to avoid candies and items that include gelatin, like gummy candies and marshmallows. Gelatin is derived from the collagen inside animals’ skin and bones – sounds pretty nasty, right? When I can avoid it, I do. But, even some medications in capsule forms include gelatin. Sure, you can avoid those ones that contain it and opt for others that are vegan friendly. But, what if you received a prescription for a medication you really needed and your health depended on it, and you’re vegan, would you deny your health for the sake of staying true to your belief? May sound harsh, but in that case, I would want to get better and take the medication for the sake of my health and to stay healthy for my family.

Due to my own health concerns that I face, I find that I should consume Omega-3 on a daily basis. Omega-3 can be found in many other foods other than shellfish and fish, although the highest concentrations are found in fish. I have sometimes contemplated eating fish, but my new found morals conflict with the science that I know. I know there are supplements, and I’m still looking for the right ones available near me. I have considered Omega-3 supplements; however, most on the market are from either fish or krill. Although I’m not eating the flesh of the fish, it is from fish and therefore not vegetarian.

Buddhism in general doesn’t teach of a vegetarian diet, but compassion to all is the main theme. Buddha himself wasn’t exactly vegetarian and even the 14^th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, who is vegetarian mostly when he is at home in Dharamsala, India eats meat occasionally as a recommendation from his doctors. I suppose, a vegetarian diet as proven to have overall health benefits and is a compassionate diet, does not entirely show how compassionate one person is. A person, who lies, steals and cheats but is vegetarian, is not proven to be better morally than an honest, truthful and faithful person who eats meat.

These questions and philosophies conflict me, but they raise me up to think more about my beliefs and what I will stand for.

In general, I rarely crave to eat meat… like chicken when it looks tempting, but then I think of all the stuff that goes with the chicken, and I rather eat that! Food is a social commodity. We all have happy memories of eating with family and friends, and most likely there was meat involved and we’re attached to that feeling it brings us. Turkey at Thanksgiving and Christmas, birthday events, celebrations, etc. all have pleasant memories that keep us wanting to experience it again. Sure, I miss going to The Keg restaurant and eating a steak – it’ll look odd going to a steakhouse and asking for the filet mignon with side potato and veggies and to hold the steak. Paying $35 for a potato and veggies. It really is cheaper to eat at home.

A vegetarian diet is technically cheaper than a meat eating diet, and it has many benefits. I have thought of adding fish to my diet and I’m still on the fence. Will anyone understand what a pescatarian is? Will I be able to justify it? Will I only eat fish once a month? Once a week? A few times a year? Or do I just take fish supplements? But, then I wouldn’t be vegetarian. It becomes a social thing perhaps of what others will think in the vegetarian community. But, perhaps, it shouldn’t matter. What should matter is compassion to all, kindness to all, and helping others, and if you can’t then at least do not harm them.

As my one year mark approaches, I can be proud of myself, but I still have some growing and soul searching to do. Kudos to anyone starting, continuing and surpassing the vegetarian diet and I will continue it as best I can. Tomorrow for lunch, Indian vegetarian curry and jasmine rice with salad.

Namaste.

Being Compassionate To All

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As a vegetarian, I choose not to eat meat as to avoid my participation in the death of animals; although, I eat cheese and dairy products, including eggs. From a vegan perspective, it is thought to be uncompassionate to eat dairy products and eggs based on factory farming and the conditions the animals live in to produce cheese and eggs. I understand this very well as I have sad heartedly endured seeing photos and videos of the suffering of these animals. But, even with a vegan diet, there is suffering involved.

Insects are killed with pesticides to protect crops; are they not entitled to live too? Insects will try to protect themselves from predators and pain, just like larger animals. Think of the farmers in less developed countries that harvest grain, rice and produce in harsh working conditions, long hours and little pay. You may not see this in North America, but imported produce and food from other countries may not have the same labour laws as enforced in North America. Think of your daily cup of coffee or tea, even enjoyed with soy milk, mostly comes from abroad toiled by labourers, or synthetic clothes and items manufactured in sweat shops in Asia.

As a compassionate person, it’s hard to think of all the suffering in the world there is. The hunger, the poverty, the injustice. We each need to come to our comfort level of where we stand. We can’t deny that there is suffering in the world, but we can choose to do our part to reduce our infliction of suffering on others and the world. To live is to suffer. Life is full of pain and suffering, it is a fact of life. I support vegetarian and vegan diets and lifestyles, but we can’t forget the human factor. Humanity can cause suffering, but we are capable of happiness, compassion and love. Cultivating love and compassion starts with each of us individually. As we show love for our furry companions and sparing the lives of animals at home and abroad, we should also remember to show love to our fellow humans.

“If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.” – His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama.

If you’re vegan or vegetarian like myself, it’s a good start to show love and compassion. Keep going. Show love to all sentient beings – and to yourself.

Namaste.

Just Breathe

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Breathing is something we do every day, every minute; mostly without even thinking about it.  So why is it when we become stressed, we forget to breathe?  Something so innate; something biologically instilled in us since the day we are born; we forget the simple act of breathing when we become consumed with rage, fear or stress.  Do you forget to breathe when you become stressed?  But you might say, “of course I breathe.  If I didn’t, I would cease to exist.”  True, but do you breathe mindfully?

I have learned through Buddhism, particularly from Zen Buddhism, about mindfulness.  When something becomes stressful to me, whether at home or at work, I have to pause for a few moments or minutes and bring myself to the present time.  Not thinking about what happened or what I’m supposed to do, or what will happen if I do “A” and not “B” and all the other hypothetical questions and situations that take me away from the present moment.  When you breathe mindfully, it brings you to the present moment where there is no worry or stress.  It’s just that moment.  It is a moment and then that moment will pass and a new one will begin.

Some people when they are stressed at work need to get up and walk away from the problem to clear their mind.  This can be good if you know how to do walking meditation and can go for a quick walk to bring you back to reality.  You can also sit at your desk and breathe mindfully instead of choosing to become stressed, angry or worrisome.

I am often amazed how as an adult, time moves very quickly in general.  One day we’re saying “Happy New Year” then next we’re saying “Happy New Year” all over again and find ourselves asking where the year went.  When you practice mindfulness, it’s like pressing the “pause” button on your DVD player and enjoying the moment away from distraction.  When you stop to breathe, you live in that moment – not the past, not the future, but now.

Next time you have your coffee or tea, stop and don’t think.  Just live.  Just breathe.

 

Being Meat-Free Everyday

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Next week will mark my one year anniversary of being vegetarian.  The approach of the anniversary has made me think of my progress since becoming vegetarian.  I will admit that it was not easy at the beginning. Not because of will power, but more out of habit.  When you have eaten certain foods for nearly twenty-eight years, it can be a shock to change your diet.  I had never been on any diet before and never really took precautions as to what I ate.  I had my usual favourite items that I ate regularly for lunch and dinner and stuck to those.  Eating meat was a convenience that I took for granted.  It was something I ate regularly, was traditional around the seasonal times of the year and family tradition like kielbasa (Ukrainian smoked sausage) that my grandparents would bring from Montréal.  

When I began my vegetarian diet (although I don’t like to think of it as a diet, but rather a choice because I don’t have desire anymore to eat meat), I started by eating a lot of “meat alternatives” or “faux meats” as they’re called by the vegetarian/vegan community.  Some were good, some were bad and some, well, just shouldn’t exist.  They were a good transitional food that offers a lot of protein, vitamins and minerals that many meat products provide, however, most are made of soy and some people can develop intolerance to soy if consumed regularly.  Not to mention, soy can cause irregularity.  I have greatly reduced my consumption of processed soy products and opted for more wholesome foods that are vegetarian; I still enjoy Yves Mexican veggie ground round for tacos, President’s Choice Meatless Breaded Chicken Strips and Meatless Chicken Breasts (best on the BBQ).

Making the transition to vegetarianism isn’t as hard as one may think.  There are so many recipes that omnivores eat already, that you can enjoy without meat.  I’ll share two of my favourite simple vegetarian recipes here:

Roasted Carrots, Potatoes and Green Beans

You’ll need:

3 oven safe baking dishes
1 small bag of carrots
1 small bag of mini golden potatoes
A handful or two of fresh green beans
Margarine (or if you want vegan margarine)
Vegetable seasoning (such as Club House vegetable seasoning) and Garlic powder

Cut mini potatoes into quarters (as many as you’d like) and place in a medium mixing bowl. Add a little oil (vegetable or olive oil) and seasoning. Mix with your hands, enough oil to coat the potatoes but not so much as to have them swimming in oil. Place in your largest oven safe baking dish.

Heat oven to 400F. When oven reaches temperature, place potatoes in oven and bake for about 40 minutes, watching so that they don’t burn.

Place carrots in one dish. Add about a tablespoon of margarine on top and sprinkle seasoning over carrots. Carrots will take about 13-16 minutes, depending on your desire for tenderness.

Next with the green beans, cut the ends of the beans and place in another dish. Add margarine on top and sprinkle with seasoning.  Beans will take about 10-13 minutes depending on your desire for tenderness.

If you time it right, everything will be done at the same time.

It’s so good to roast veggies in the oven.  I made this recipe for three nights in a row after I bought baking dishes at Costco.

Vegetarian Caesar Salad Dressing (Also good as a dip) – This isn’t vegan, but with modification of substitutes it could be.

You’ll need:

Mayonnaise (Hellman’s Olive Oil Mayo with Free Run Eggs)
Jar of crushed garlic
Philadelphia Cream Cheese
Vegetarian Worcestershire Sauce (find this at any natural food/organic store)
Garlic powder
Salt/Pepper
Lemon juice (if desired)

I make this one by “taste”. Your main ingredients will be the mayonnaise, cream cheese and crushed garlic. You’ll need to add the Worcestershire sauce to add some “bite” to it or it’ll just taste like mayo, cream cheese and garlic. Don’t worry if it’s a little overpowering in one taste or another. You can add more of another ingredient to balance it out. Generally, I start with half a cup of mayo and a quarter cup of cream cheese, two to three teaspoons of crushed garlic, two to three teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce, and season with garlic powder, salt and pepper and add about a teaspoon of lemon juice. Make sure to blend well by hand or with a food processor.

I made this one for a work pot-luck social and I don’t think anyone could tell that it didn’t have any fish/anchovies!

We don’t have to all be vegetarian 24/7, but if everyone substituted one meal at least once a week for a vegetarian alternative, many people would realise that as a nation in general and globally, we consume way too much animal products, more than we need to and that meat is not a necessity of the human diet.