So I have been asking myself a lot of questions lately. One of them, or two to be exact, is about my life style. Alcohol is one of them, whether or not I should give it up. Living in a country where it is rather uncommon to do so, I believe that 2010 will see some changes of behaviour about me drinking alcohol. Whilst I don’t see myself giving it up 100% yet, I believe that I will reduce it massively. It should be about enjoyment and not about diluting my senses. I experienced the absence of alcohol before.

However, as the title suggest, no Buddhist should harm any sentient beings, including animals. Hence I am contemplating of becoming a vegetarian, or similar to alcohol, abstain during the week and have one day at the weekend to enjoy some meat. More as a special treat. I recently watched a TV show about mechanically processed meat which almost made me throw up.

But why should I become a Vegetarian? There are lists of reasons why you should become a vegetarian to be found online. For me it is mainly about not eating cheap and nasty meat, processed meat, and to live more healthily. Of course I then need to feed my almost 6 months old boy vegetarian food too, and he can choose later in life what he would like to do. I think that is fair, don’t you?

Living healthier means living with less risk to get cancer. I read a book I can recommend on “Eat to beat cancer“. It gives you a good insight why eating meat in moderation is much more healthier. It is similar to me giving up smoking: it is just the healthier option to give it up, isn’t it? There is no argument about it either

According to a Buddhist source, a lot of Buddhists and non-Buddhist eventually lose their appetite for meat out of compassion for the welfare of other living creatures. But vegetarianism is not required in order to follow Buddha’s path. That makes sense. It is more about not killing an animal but there is nothing said about not being able or allowed to eat the meat.

So based on the above and the thought of how animals are slaughtered, I believe that I will step up the game and reduce meat or even stop eating it from next year.

Love and Kindness to you, and all sentient beings out there.

Volker

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Thank you for your post. I am better now, almost a weeks since I have been ill. But, there was not much time to stop, relax, think and get better. That is what people are missing out on these days.

I believe that illness slows us down and makes us reflect on the real meaning of life. That it is not all about money, career, and prestige but about love, happiness and self fulfilment.

Someone was asking me the other day that he has given so much for a friendship and not seen any return. He seemed really frustrated. I suggested that sometimes in friendships you are always on the giving end and that the friendship would not be sustained unless you get something back. However, the invested time, love and care in a friendship will come back one day, as the whole system works. Your karma will make it worthwhile.

That was difficult to understand for him but it made sense to me.

When you are ill you have to give: you need to give your body/yourself enough time to sort things out and you will get it back eventually. If not from this body, then a body in the future…

Marcelo, would that make sense at all?

Volker

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