A beautiful example of non-violence for all creatures is reflected in the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. He loved all animals. In fact, they flocked around him and didn’t hurt him when he got lost in prayer. There is an anecdote from the life of San Francisco. Once he was sitting near a lake. A fisherman who caught a large fish passed by in his boat and offered his catch to San Francisco. The saint happily accepted the catch and called the fish “Brother.” He immediately placed the fish back gently into the water, bringing it back to life. It is said that the fish, thanking its savior, continued to swim near the place where Saint Francis was sitting in prayer. The fish would not leave that area until the prayer was said and the saint had given him permission to leave.
The life of Saint Francis was a long epic of love. He gave freely to beggars and served his fellow men day and night. He freed the injured animals and fed them with his bare hands. One day, as he was walking, he saw a man carrying two lambs on his shoulders. The animals hung upside down. Saint Francis asked the man what he was doing with the lambs. When the man replied that he would take them to market to sell at the slaughterhouse, San Francisco’s heart was filled with compassion for the animals. He changed the coat he was wearing in exchange for the lambs and put the animals in the care of a friend with instructions to ensure the welfare of the animals and not to kill or harm them in any way. Therefore, if we wish to find God, then we must love and care for all of God’s creatures. That is why the vegetarian diet is part of the spiritual life.
If we really believe that we are one world, then all its members are our family, whether they are human beings or animals. Then we will love and serve everyone as if they were members of our family. In this way, we can contribute to a world of peace and love.
Recognizing the need to keep our bodies functioning without losing sight of the goal of non-violence, we must follow the vegetarian diet because it results in the least possible destruction.
For those seeking self-knowledge and God-realization, vegetarianism offers another benefit. Those involved in spirituality find that all the saints of all traditions tell us that God or creative power can be found within. To discover our Creator and our true self as a soul, we must turn our attention. The recommended process in each religion is through meditation or inversion. It requires sitting quietly and focusing our attention in a place where we can connect with the divinity within. To do so, we have to quiet our mind and look inward to find the inner Light and Sound of God.
There is a stream of Light and Sound that we encounter when we meditate. The Spiritual Masters teach a meditation called Surat Shabd Yoga, or Shabd Meditation, in which we focus our attention inward to find the Light and Sound within. The Light and Sound are already there, we just need to learn the technique of meditation to help us find it.
Meditation requires stillness. Right now, our attention is focused on the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and outward sensations of this world. This static and noise prevents us from tuning in to the internal Light and Sound. A meditation technique to help us find the divinity within is called Shabd Meditation.
To get an idea of how simple the technique is, we have an introductory meditation called Jyoti Meditation. In this, you sit in the most convenient posture, in which you can sit for the longest time. Close your eyes gently as you would if you were going to sleep. Fix your gaze in front of you. To keep your mind still, repeat whatever Name of God you feel comfortable with, mentally and not out loud. By looking in the midst of everything that appears in front of you, you can experience bliss, peace, and joy.
In order to concentrate on meditation, we must be calm and collected. If we eat meat from dead animals, our own conscience will be affected. We know the effect that our own hormones have on our body. Imagine how many stress hormones we are adding that were circulating in animals, birds or fish when they were being slaughtered or slaughtered to be used for meat! All of that is part of us when we participate in it. The food we eat not only has an effect on our physical, emotional and mental makeup, but also on our spiritual consciousness. If we are trying to lead a life of non-violence and compassion, if we are trying to become more serene and peaceful, if we are trying to control our mind and senses to focus within ourselves and find God, then naturally we will want to go on a diet. that helps us achieve our goal.
When the Roman poet Seneca learned of Pythagoras’ teachings, he became a vegetarian. He was pleased to discover, to his amazement, that his “mind had become more alert and enlightened.”
We can see the many benefits of vegetarianism. Whether one tries this diet for physical health, to improve intellect and mental well-being, or for spiritual growth, they will find benefits.