Health, Happiness, Diet and the Middle Way

Being diagnosed with fibromyalgia has made me rethink my own dietary lifestyle and activity. Having two long term disorders (the other is bipolar type II for nearly 14 years) and now fibromyalgia at almost 30 years of age, I have to re-evaluate almost everything.

My bipolar disorder has been mainly under control for the last three years. It’s hardly an issue, but still needs to be maintained. Fibromyalgia has now been added to the mix. Lovely. But that can’t get in the way of living. Life doesn’t stop for illness or crises, it keeps going. It’s impermanent, and keeps changing and we have to adapt.

My doctors have preached a balanced diet for many years. My psychiatrist keeps recommending fish oils, particularly omega-3. Omega-3 is known to increase mood stability, brain development and is also good for the heart and joints. Omega-3 can be found in flax seed for example, or in a non-vegetarian diet, fish – particularly salmon.

I have been vegetarian for almost over a year and a half. I would say I am proud of myself for that, but it’s nothing special since there are many, many vegetarians in the world, but still an accomplishment after having the typical North American “meat with every meal” kind of diet nearly all my life.

I have the unfortunate news to say that I have started to eat fish. But, it is for my health. I started about a month ago, and when I saw my doctor a couple of weeks ago after not seeing him for a year, he said that my complexion had more colour and I seemed healthier. (I was vegetarian when I saw him last year.) Now, many people on vegetarian and/or vegan diets say that their complexion and health has improved being on such a diet, and if it helps, do it! But, I think because of my health issues it has worked against me.

For example, many people of vegetarian diets will lose weight. Since I started eating more vegetables and grains (but still dairy for calcium), I’ve gained weight! However, that may have been attributed to the beginning of fibromyalgia and approaching 30 years old, but is still a puzzling fact.

The Dalai Lama, one of the most revered Buddhist teachers of our time, once was vegetarian and developed jaundice. His doctors told him he needed meat in his diet and now includes it. His diet at home is primarily, if not all, vegetarian, but he will graciously accept if offered, like a simple monk who is in almsgiving.

The Dalai Lama: One of our most compassionate teachers of our modern time.

Although I am not technically vegetarian (to the fullest degree), I eat a vegetarian breakfast and lunch every day and at night fish about four to five nights a week, on other nights it’s still vegetarian. So, “technically” I’m pescatarian (I know it’s a big word, for a simple concept). But, now, since I am more aware of the life the salmon once had, I am grateful for its nutrients to help me. Not only do I eat because I am hungry, I eat for my health. If we are not healthy and able bodied, we can’t be actively helpful to other people and sentient beings. If we neglect our health to the point of creating our own suffering for the good of our future karma, then we are like the ascetics that Siddhartha Gautama joined, then later left and came back to teach them about the Middle Way.

Buddha taught about the Middle Way

Although my reasons for becoming vegetarian then pescatarian may differ from other peoples, but I don’t believe they are unique. Many people who have fibromyalgia also suffer from some sort of mental disorder like depression. Doctors are now starting to realise alternative treatments rather than to keep drugging patients and turning them into addicts and/or customers. Diet is the most important cornerstone in treatment of mental illness and, in my opinion, fibromyalgia. But everyone’s different.

So, although I am no longer a card-carrying vegetarian Buddhist, I still believe in the idea of vegetarianism and wish everyone to try to eat vegetarian options more often. A primarily vegetarian diet can improve health significantly rather than the typical North American “eggs and bacon / steak and potatoes / hamburger and fries” diet.

A primary diet of vegetables and fruits filled with antioxidants can help heal our bodies and minds, improving our health.

We need to remember the Middle Way; everything in balance and moderation. My balance may be different than yours, but we will all find what works for us. This post is dedicated to all our good health and happiness.

May we be happy and healthy.

Meat-Free BBQ!

BBQ Mixed Vegetables & Potatoes

This is how much vegetables I used, it was enough as one main vegetarian dish and a portion as a side dish. Feel free to use as much as you feel is needed.

Mixed Vegetables:

1 half red bell pepper (cubed)
1 half yellow bell pepper (cubed)
1 half red onion (sliced)
Green beans (tips cut off and cut in half)
1 half Zucchini (sliced)
2 handfuls of baby carrots (sliced in half lengthwise)
Handful of snow peas (ends cut)

Potatoes:

About half pound of mini yellow/gold potatoes. Smaller white potatoes can be used and also sliced into chips (or medallions).

Other:

Vegetable oil (as needed)
Vegetable Seasoning (other seasoning as desired)
Aluminium BBQ pans (sprayed with a non-sticking cooking spray)

In a mixing bowl, coat potatoes with vegetable oil and seasoning. I use Club House Vegetable seasoning and Club House Roasted Garlic and Peppers. Be creative! Mix oil and seasoning on potato slices. Place onto an aluminium pan (designed for BBQ).

 

Sliced seasoned potatoes in an aluminium BBQ pan, ready for grilling!

In another mixing bowl (or the same one just rinsed and cleaned!), add mixed vegetables, oil and seasoning. Add to another aluminium BBQ pan.

 

Mixed vegetables seasoned and ready!

Now it’s time to grill!

With the BBQ heated up to medium-low heat, BBQ for about 10-15 minutes. A trick is to layer the pans on top of each other, with an extra pan on top of the second pan to steam them. Check and stir the potatoes and veggies if necessary to ensure thorough cooking. When the onions have started to caramelize, you’re on your way and just about done!

Remove from heat and serve. Even great for kids and ketchup with the potatoes isn’t a bad idea also!

The end result all on one pan – after eating some, of course!

If you don’t have BBQ aluminium pans where you are, a wok designed for BBQ’s can do the job also. I’d recommend cooking the potatoes and veggies separate, because cooking times can vary.

Since becoming vegetarian, my choices for BBQ have been limited in my mind. But eating tofu/veggie dogs, meatless chicken breasts (products made from soy and grain formed into chicken breasts) and veggie burgers (which, however, are my favourite soy processed food) on the BBQ, can be limiting after a while.

As vegetarians, we can feel like we’re neglected when it comes to BBQ season, but with creativity we can make it just as good and even better being meat-free! Guaranteed if you make the mixed vegetables and potatoes, you’ll have meat-eaters coming around to have some, so you might want to make extra!

Summer’s just around the corner, so let’s enjoy meat-free BBQ too!

Vegetarian à la India!

 What I get asked most when I tell people I don’t eat meat is “don’t you get bored?” Honestly, it gets a little annoying. I say that I eat everything EXCEPT meat. How is that limited in options? It’s not! You can pick any meal, subtract (or substitute) the meat and it’s still a meal! I guess I could ask the same question to carnivores, “do you get tired of eating the same animals: chicken, beef or pork? The three ‘staple’ animal meats in every grocery store?” Honestly, just before I became vegetarian, I was pretty bored eating the same thing. As a vegetarian, I eat so much more variety than I ever did as an omnivore.

Mum did always say to eat your vegetables! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There’s a great little Indian restaurant that I go to at least once a week. I always order their vegetable curry (that varies from day to day) and sometimes a vegetable samosa (which are the best that I ever had). I crave it on the weekends, but don’t have time to go downtown to eat there. So, today I bought fresh vegetables and prepared Vindaloo curry sauce. I bought easy to make basmati rice and made a meal in less than 30 minutes. Here’s my quick and easy Vindaloo vegetable curry and basmati rice.You can substitute or add different vegetables based on what’s in season or to your liking. I’m a cheater when it comes to cooking, so if I can find it already made or rice that can be cooked in the microwave, I do it. As long as the end result is tasty, what’s the harm?

Vegetables Options:

Broccoli
Cauliflower
Mini yellow potatoes (boiled and cut in half) or Sweet Potato (cooked and cubed)
Baby carrots (whole) or cut large carrots
Green beans (whole with tips cut off)  / Wax beans
Onion (half and diced/cut)
Peas
Turnips (cut)
Rutabaga
Bell peppers (green, red, yellow)

I used VH Vindaloo curry cooking sauce as my base. No extra seasoning required. Prepare all vegetables first, preferably by boiling or steaming. The onions can be sautéed in a wok before adding the rest of the cooked vegetables to the onions. Heat the vegetables up then add the sauce and cook on low-medium heat for about 8-10 minutes to heat thoroughly but careful not to burn the sauce.

Have basmati rice prepared and then plated. I like to use Minute Rice Basmati rice cups that are individually portioned and take just 1 minute in the microwave. (So easy.)

Plate rice and place vegetable curry mix on the side or over rice. The rice tastes so good mixed with the Vindaloo sauce. It’s kind of spicy the more you eat it, but if you love curry you’ll love to experiment with what you can put in it.

Hot, spicy homemade Vindaloo vegetable curry! Mmm…

If you live with meat-eaters that just “have to have meat or it’s not a meal”, cook chicken on the side in a separate pan or in the oven and add it to their plate to mix with the curry. In my opinion, vegetable curry is a meal in itself and if you make enough, you’ll definitely want to have the left overs. In fact, I’ll be having seconds of my curry later tonight. Next week, I’ll be making my vegetable medley with yellow Thai curry.

Being vegetarian doesn’t mean eating just steamed or raw veggies. Don’t be afraid of flavor! Actually, since becoming vegetarian over a year ago, I feel I taste things much better than when I ate meat. So, if you’re thinking of becoming vegetarian or just skipping meat in a meal at least once a week, try different varieties of food that are healthy and you’ll soon find something you love. So, just because you don’t eat meat, won’t mean that you’ll starve if you just eat veggies (and fruits, can’t forget those!)

Namaste!

The Five Precepts – Buddhism

Buddha Shakyamuni (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sound pretty simple, basic and easy, right? These precepts are good morals for everyone to follow.

1. I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking life.

This precept can be interpreted as not taking life and/or eating meat. I am vegetarian, and try hard to refrain from taking food that comes from animals. Unknowingly, it has happened that I have eaten something with meat broth in it. It made me upset, but there was nothing that could be done about the past, only about the present time and made note NEVER to eat that again. (It was rice that had been cooked in chicken broth.) As much as I try to keep t the first precept, my karma is not perfect. Today, in my home, a spider came right in front of me from the ceiling and scared the crap out of me. I have arachnophobia, not as bad as when I was younger, but still enough. I’m too scared to even kill them; that’s how scared I get. I get my husband to “take care” of them. I don’t care what he does as long as they’re gone. (He usually ends up killing them.) I know it’s wrong, and not good karma, but I think about my home and want to keep my home insect-free. When we go camping though, that’s the bugs’ home and I try very hard to not interfere with them. Isn’t that funny or what? I know I still need to work on my compassion in that aspect. However, there’s little I can do when the pug eats bugs – it’s too late then!

2. I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking what is not given.

This one I think is simple and easy. I follow this one very well. Interpreted as “not to steal”, this in all belief systems is a “golden” rule.  Ever had something stolen from you? It’s a terrible thing to go through, big or small, but it’s also karma. By not stealing, it creates good karma.

3. I undertake the training rule to abstain from sexual misconduct.

This precept is also a rule and law in many societies against rape and adultery. This precept is rooted in respect: respect for others and yourself.

4. I undertake the training rule to abstain from false speech.

This one I think all laypersons have difficulty with. This precept speaks against idle chatter, divisive speech, gossip and lies. I try not to lie (even white lies are considered bad), but sometimes lying is a way of life for some – whether it’s to not get in trouble or to avoid hurting someone’s feelings. In that case, I believe it is intention and motivation that determines the karma from lying. Gossip and chatter are considered bad because they take away time for enlightenment.  This precept I still have to work on too.

5. I undertake the training rule to abstain from fermented drink that causes heedlessness.

This precept is to speak against drunkenness that can lead to breaking all the precepts. This one is no problem for me. I used to drink, occasionally and before that almost regularly many years ago for a short time, but the past few years it is rare to almost never that I drink. Why? No desire. Even when I feel like having an alcoholic drink, I take a sip and don’t want it anymore. I have no need to “escape” – escape from what? Nothing.

The precepts are guidelines for all practitioners and although they are common sense to many and sound simple, on a daily basis some may be harder to obey than others sometimes. Intention and motivation dictate the consequences that arise from karmas. Keep your intentions and motivations wholesome in all that you do and remember to keep the precepts in mind.

What’s To Eat Tonight? Vegetarian Mexicana!

This has been a busy week at work and it’s finally the weekend. With some extra time today to cook, I decided to make simple vegetarian fajitas. Here’s the easiest recipe:

Ingredients:

Tortilla wraps
1 red bell pepper (cut lengthwise)
1 green bell pepper (cut lengthwise)
1 spanish onion (cut in half, use only a half)
Fajita or Taco seasoning
½ cup of water
Shredded tex-mex cheese
Sour cream
Salsa

Mmm...

In a non-stick skillet or wok, put a little bit of vegetable oil and heat on medium heat setting. Add peppers and onions and heat until caramelized and lightly browned. Mix taco seasoning (about just under half a package) with ½ cup of water, and then add to veggie mixture. Heat and stir until water mixture is mostly dissolved and the veggies are coated.

On a plate, place tortilla wrap and place in centre your fixings like salsa, cheese and sour cream. (For a vegan meal of course, leave out the sour cream and cheese – or use vegan substituted sour cream and cheese like Daiya cheese.)

Place veggie mixture on tortilla, fold sides and wrap it up!

And here’s one of my favourite recipes for the summer:

Vegetarian Meat-less Chicken Quesadillas

Ingredients

President’s Choice Meatless Chicken Breasts (soy/grain protein – simulated chicken breasts – found in the vegetarian/alternative meat-protein section of your grocery store, mostly made from Gardein™) – done on the BBQ!
Shredded Tex-Mex Cheese
Tortilla wraps
Sour cream
Salsa

Barbeque meatless chicken breasts until fully cooked, (but careful not to burn them too much, otherwise they become rock-hard and crumble to dust when you slice them.) After barbequing them, let cool on a plate for 5-10 minutes (don’t refrigerate). Preheat oven to 375F.

Then cut into cubes or half slices and set aside. Take one tortilla wrap and place on parchment paper on a baking sheet, and cover half of the tortilla with shredded cheese mix. Place cubed/sliced meatless chicken on top of cheese half on tortilla. Cover same half with cheese, enough to cover the meatless chicken. Fold the other half of the tortilla on top of the cheese/chicken/cheese half. Press the fold down and flip on to the tortilla’s other side – this should keep the tortilla closed while the cheese melts.

Once oven is at 375F, place baking sheet in oven for approximately 6 to 10 minutes until cheese is melted and tortilla is lightly browned (the edge of the tortilla will darken faster than the middle, but it won’t mean the rest of the tortilla is cooked enough yet.)

When it’s ready, remove from oven and let cool for about 5 to 7 minutes. Cut into thirds or quarters and serve with salsa and sour cream.

For a vegan alternative, you could try Daiya cheese and vegan sour cream. Although I haven’t tried this recipe with Daiya cheese, it does seem to melt pretty well in Panini sandwiches that I’ve made.

Buen apetito!

Vegetarianism and The Forgiveness of Suffering

 

Image via Wikipedia

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.

 

Image via Wikipedia

 

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

Image via Wikipedia

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

Image via Wikipedia

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.