The Great Values of A Vegetarian Diet ¤
Edited by Jenfeng Lu
Translated by Judy Fang
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Introduction
In this chaotic and disordered society, disasters and calamities continuously occur around us. By the Benevolent Grace of LAO MU, the Benevolent Vow of Buddha Maitreya, and the Benevolent Virtues of our Supreme Father and Mother Teachers, we (all Dao brothers and sisters) are fortunate to encounter the Great Dao bestowed upon the Earth. When we received the Holy Touch from our Supreme Masters, our Sacred Conscience was enlightened and revived. We realized that all beings and all things on the Earth are one. We began to respect the lives of all beings and all things around us, and we refused to eat meats on the dining table, because we understand that this meat is the flesh of our fellow human beings reincarnated into animal form.
Numerous wandering human beings like us, addicted to the sea of wine and the forest of meat, must reincarnate lifetime after lifetime. However, because of this great opportunity of receiving Dao, cultivating and consecrating, we are able to see the light and reach the shore. Moreover, we turn over a new leaf by cutting off at the root the karmic debts that cause our lives to be tangled and complicated. Finally, we are able to regain our purity at the end.
The Great Dao is bestowed on Earth to save humankind from disasters and calamity. “Great calamity is approaching; time is critical.” This warning not only appears in many of Buddha’s revelations, but it is also mentioned in the Old Testament three thousand years ago. Many prominent scientists also predict that disaster is inevitable and that we will have to face this great calamity. Unfortunately, as we can see, only a small number of people in the world have received Dao. Even among them, those who adhere to a vegetarian diet are few. If humankind continues to be self-indulgent, killing and eating meat, when will the resentment and hatred among all sentient beings ever come to an end? How will the natural disasters and manmade crises be eliminated? How will all sentient beings on the Earth avoid annihilation when they encounter these calamities? When will this troubled world become a Pure Land?
In order to encourage people to become vegetarians, to receive, cultivate, and consecrate the Great Dao, and to regain their sacred conscience in time, it is necessary to fully elaborate the great values of the vegetarian diet and the harmful effects of meat consumption. Everyone needs to know the horror of eating meat and the values of the vegetarian diet. Once everybody refrains from eating meat and adheres to the pure vegetarian diet, the Pure Land will soon come to Earth!
From a health viewpoint: the dangers of eating meat
(A) Cancer-causing substances
The meat we eat contains at least five different kinds of toxic substances.
When animals are killed, they suffer abrupt and intense pain, causing them to be terrified, angry, and sad. Their bodies then produce toxic substances. Once we eat the meat, these toxic substances are absorbed into our circulatory systems and spread all over our bodies. Our internal organs are poisoned and cells are damaged. Eventually we will be sick and die. At Washington Psychological Laboratory in the United States, scientists studied the effects of psychological changes on physiological health. A glass container was placed in ice water, with its opening above the water. Research subjects would blow air into the flask. Once the air meets the ice-cold glass wall, it condenses into liquid. The study showed that when the research subjects were in a normal psychological state, the breath condensed into clear liquid. On the other hand, when the subjects were full of hate, anger, fear, and jealousy, the condensed liquids appeared in different colors. Chemical analysis found that the colored liquids contained lethal toxic substances. “Jealous” liquid could kill a mouse within minutes, while the “resentment” liquid contained such a high degree of toxicity, for up to one hour, that it could possibly kill 80 people. Moreover, studies have shown that nursing mothers with emotional disturbances can cause their babies to be sick or even die.
These scientific findings point out two significant implications:
(a). During the moment when animal lives are taken away and the animals suffer from extreme pain, they are in an intensely negative mood, which stimulates chemical reactions in their body, producing strong harmful substances. These harmful substances, once consumed and digested, are prone to cause acute or chronic illnesses. In essence, these harmful substances can cause tumors or cancer to grow in the bodies of meat-eaters. Therefore, eating a vegetarian diet is the best means of maintaining health.
(b). Negative mentality can cause the production of harmful substances in the body; in fact, the majority of illnesses are caused by psychological problems. On the other hand, positive mental states, such as peace, tranquility, satisfaction, happiness, loving, caring, benevolence, and compassion, can enhance the cellular metabolism. Positive mentality can also facilitate the removal of body waste, as well as enhance absorption of nutrients. The body will naturally be full of energy and vitality, and will stay youthful and healthy. Therefore, cultivation of the mind is the best means to build up the health of our body. The good and evil of our thoughts will make a tremendous difference between health and sickness.
After the animals have been killed, the cell function in their bodies instantly ceases. The protein in the cells congregates and certain enzymes are released, causing the production of harmful free radicals, which will be toxic to whoever eats the meat. The intestinal mechanism of humans is not born to digest meat. Meat can be ingested by the human body, but it can take as long as five days for it to be excreted out of the body. (Vegetables only require one day.) Therefore, the toxic meat will stay in our bowels and be harmful to the lining of the bowel. This is the cause of the formation of colon and rectal cancer.
These toxic substances cannot be eliminated by cooking. Eating meat is thus a major cause of cancer in our gastro-intestinal system. The rapid growth of the population and the increase of materialism have drastically increased the demand for meat. Meat and poultry must be produced at a faster pace. The slaughtering and transportation processes have become mass productions. These animals have been pushed, pressured, locked up, tied, and hung in cramped quarters with bright artificial light. They have been placed in filthy environments from birth until their deaths. Their bodies have been mutilated and tortured, and their minds are full of dreadful feelings. Therefore, their bodies have produced even more harmful substances and suffer from more diseases.
Once humans eat such sick and poisoned meat, it is not a surprise that we become sick. Scientists would like to name humans who are meat eaters as “the end of the food chain.” At the beginning of the food chain are plants absorbing the sunlight, fresh air, and water to grow; then some animals eat the plants, while large animals eat smaller animals; finally humans eat both plants and animals. Nowadays farms and orchards throughout the whole world use toxic chemicals, fertilizers and insecticides. As the animals eat the plants, these toxic substances will stay in their fatty tissues permanently. The meat-eating animals will absorb these chemicals in their fatty tissue. Eventually humans will be the last destination of all these harmful chemical residues.
According to scientific investigations, the toxic residue from insecticides contained in meat is thirteen times higher than the amount found in vegetables, fruits and grasses. Insecticides and toxic chemicals are primary causes of many cancers. People can avoid or reduce the harmful effects of insecticide on vegetables and fruits by washing or peeling the skins. In order to accelerate the growth process, animals are forced to eat antibiotics, steroids, tranquilizers, and chemically enhanced feed. Some may even have to receive growth-hormone injections. These drugs and chemicals are strong cancer-causing agents.
While the meat is on the market for sale, it may appear to be discolored if stored too long. In order to maintain its fresh color, nitrates and nitrites are usually added. These chemical preservatives are also cancer-causing substances. Besides all the cancer-causing factors, when too much meat is consumed, our livers may be overworked to detoxify these chemicals. Once our liver is overworked, we will suffer from liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, or liver cancer.
(B) Acidity of the blood
The quality of our blood determines the health of our bodies. Normal blood is mildly alkaline. A pH value of seven is neutral, from one to seven is acidic, and from seven to fourteen is alkaline. The pH value of healthy blood is 7.35, which is slightly alkaline.
When protein, fat and carbohydrates are metabolized in the body, a variety of acidic free radicals are produced. If the potent acidic radicals stay in the body, they will cause many diseases. In the meantime, they can age the excretory functions of our bodies. In order to maintain normal excretory function, we must keep adequate levels of calcium, potassium and other minerals in our blood. These minerals can maintain our blood at mild alkalinity. Hence, we must avoid eating acidic food; we must eat a mineral-enriched alkaline diet instead.
Most meat contains phosphates and sulfates, which will be turned into sulfuric and phosphoric acids in our bodies. Our blood then tends to become more acidic. On the other hand, most vegetables contain large quantities of the minerals that make our blood stay in an alkaline condition. There are rare exceptions, such as rice, that contain high quantities of phosphates. As mentioned above, phosphates tend to turn into phosphoric acid in the body. Because rice is the main food and energy source of Asians, they definitely need to eat mineral-rich vegetables and fruits to maintain the blood in a healthy alkalinity.
A meat diet will make the blood acidic, which is the fundamental cause of sickness of our bodies. On the other hand, a vegetarian diet can maintain our blood at proper alkalinity, keeping it in good shape. A vegetarian diet is the foundation of a healthy life.
Because acidic blood is like a nursery for cancerous cells, a meat diet is a main cause for cancer. On the contrary, a vegetarian diet is the suppressor of cancer.
(C) Blockage of the Blood Circulation
Animal fat contains a high level of cholesterol, which acts like candle wax. Once cholesterol gets into our blood, it sticks to the walls of the blood vessels. Months and years later, the piling up of cholesterol has gotten thicker, causing our blood vessels to be narrower. Our heart must then must pump harder to supply the blood to the organs. Increased constriction and pressure cause our body to develop myocardial infarction (heart attack) and stroke (brain hemorrhage). The end results may be hemiplegia, coma, and death. Circulatory diseases and cancer are the two most lethal diseases of humans. The AMA reports that “a vegetarian diet can prevent 90%-97% of the heart attacks.” Not only do vegetables not contain cholesterol, but they also have large amounts of fiber. The fiber in our bodies acts like a broom. It can sweep all the waste in our bodies to the excretory organs and discharge them faster. Therefore, a vegetarian diet can not only prevent heart attacks and strokes, but also guard our excretory organs from kidney stones, bladder stones, constipation, gout, hemorrhoids, appendicitis, etc.
(D) Overworking of the Kidneys
Meat contains large quantities of urea and uric acid. In order to get rid of all of these nitrogen compounds, the kidneys of meat-eaters must bear three times greater a burden. This overworking of the kidneys may cause the deterioration of renal function, kidney diseases, gout, etc. These are all chronic illnesses because they have the characteristics of low cure rate, high mortality, expensive medical bills, and physical and mental sufferings.
When our kidneys cannot dispose of the over-abundant nitrogen compounds, uric acid will be deposited in the body. Once these compounds are absorbed by our muscles, they will harden and form crystals. These crystals remain in our bones and joints, causing arthritis, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis. Again, these are all chronic illnesses, and will torture the victims until their death.]
If these crystals remain in the nervous system, they can cause the human body to suffer from neuritis and sciatica. In certain serious cases the patient may lose the motor and sensory functions of their central nervous system and become partially or totally paralyzed.
Loss of Control of Blood Sugar The pancreas secretes insulin, which helps the tissue to use the glucose that we ingest and absorb from our daily diet. Since meat is acidic, it requires a higher amount of insulin to digest. Therefore, over-indulgence in meat may cause a shortage of insulin and loss of control in the cellular absorption of glucose. Once the blood sugar in our body surpasses the normal range, it can cause diabetes. Diabetic patients have weaker immune functions and tend to suffer from many complications. To prevent a diabetic patient’s blood sugar from getting out of control requires a strict diet and careful monitoring of their blood sugar and medication. Diabetes is a very difficult disease to control; it is a chronic disease with a high mortality rate. It makes the victims suffer all their life until death.
An alkaline vegetable diet is the best way to reduce the occurrence of diabetes.
Infection by Germs Just like human beings, animals get sick too. Worse, animals do not have the health knowledge that humans do. Farm animals may eat garbage, feces, wastewater, leftover food, other dead animals, or even chemical waste, etc. Therefore, animals carry all kinds of viruses, bacteria, tumors and cancerous cells, as well as numerous parasites under their skin and hair. The meat-eating humans then become the graveyard of all these awful and dirty bugs. This is such a horrible fact! Humans take all kinds of bacteria and viruses into their stomach every day. No wonder, they get bogged down by all kinds of diseases, and end their life in such chronic, suicidal behavior.
II. From a health viewpoint: the benefits of the vegetarian diet
(A). The endurance of a hard-laboring worker who is a vegetarian is about three times longer than that of a meat-eater. The recovery time from fatigue is only one fifth that of a meat-eater. This is the conclusion of scientists who have done investigative work on athletes and laborers.
(B). Perusing the history of sports, such as swimming, basketball, soccer, weightlifting, boxing, wrestling, power walking, marathon racing, bicycling, etc., we find that many world records are held by vegetarians. Their powerfulness, endurance and energy are far superior to meat-eaters. This fact has greatly impressed many scientists.
(C). The longest-living, most powerful, and fastest-running animals are all vegetable-eaters. Fast-galloping and high-jumping horses, deer, mountain goats, and giraffes are all vegetarians. Others animals with great lifting power and endurance, such as oxen, horses, and elephants, are all vegetable-eaters too.
(D). Many vegetarian diets contain more essential proteins than meat. For example, meat contains 20% protein, in contrast to 40% protein in soybeans, double the protein content of meat. Some nuts, seeds and beans have 30% protein content. The proteins that the human body needs are composed of eight kinds of essential amino acids. They can be obtained from the combinations of two kinds of vegetarian food sources, such as grains and legumes. Other essential vitamins and nutrients are to be found in fruits and vegetables; they are rich in fiber, which helps with our excretory systems. Therefore, a vegetarian diet is far superior to meat, and it does not harbor all the harmful substances found in meat. A vegetarian diet is the best medicine bestowed by nature to help us stay healthy, beautiful and youthful.
(E). The six years of World War II ended by the Americans dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the two most prosperous cities in Japan. These two southern cities in Japan were totally destroyed in a flash. Yet it was discovered afterwards that there were very few cattle casualties. Later, the scientists found that a herd of sheep aboard a U.S. Navy ship had gone through the nuclear blast, but did not suffer any casualties from the nuclear radiation. Cows and sheep are grass-eating animals. The grass contained potassium, the chemical that made possible these animals' resistance to the radiation. This was a revolutionary discovery, and it has religious implications as well. The philosophy behind the vegetarian diet is benevolence and compassion, which turns out to be the best shield against catastrophe.
III. From a physiological viewpoint: comparison between a meat diet and a vegetable diet
From a long period of research and observation, scientists have discovered that the physiological structures of animals are closely related to their eating habits. Based on their dietary habits, animals can be categorized into three groups: meat-eaters, grass-eaters, and fruit-eaters.
The flesh-eating animals, including lions, tigers, leopards, wolves, dogs, cats, etc., have sharp claws and bulging incisors for tearing and biting the flesh off of weaker animals. Their bowels are short and straight, only three times the length of their body; their shorter bowels can quickly expel the digested and spoiled meat. This prevents the meat from staying inside their bodies too long and poisoning their blood. The acidity of their gastric juice is about ten times higher than in vegetable- eaters, facilitating the digestion of meat.
Vegetable-eaters, such as elephants, deer, horses, cows, camels, sheep, rabbits, etc., use plant leaves, grasses or fruits as their diet source. They all have flat molars that they use to slowly munch on tough grass and leaves. Their saliva is rich in alkaline enzymes to help in digestion. Their bowels are about ten times longer than their body length. Therefore, they are not suitable for eating flesh, which gets spoiled much faster than grass.
Fruit-eaters, such as gorillas, use berries or vegetables as their main diet. Like grass-eaters, they also have flat molars to chew, and their saliva is full of alkaline enzymes too. The digestive tract of gorillas is even longer, about twelve times longer than their body length.
Human bodies are actually built like grass-eaters. We have flat molars, and our intestines are about twelve times longer than our body lengths. Therefore, we human beings are natural vegetarians. We are not suitable for eating meat. Meat-eating is a bad habit formed by our ancestors, and it is against the natural law too.
IV. From an ecological viewpoint: comparison between a meat diet and a vegetarian diet
In order to satisfy the great demand of meat-eaters in this modern time, we use mass production methods to raise animals. The result is that large areas of land, water, electricity, manpower, grain, and other resources have been consumed, destroying and ruining many areas of natural forests.
(A). Meat diets cause the disappearance of forests
Raising large herds of animals requires large farms and great quantities of feed. Thus it is a necessity to chop down forests for this purpose; one after another, forests have been destroyed.
The nutrients in the soil are gradually washed off by rain. The quality of the soil becomes poor, and it cannot be used to cultivate crops. The underground water is pumped dry. After losing the shade from the trees and drying the moisture from the land, the compounded accumulation of carbon dioxide starts “the greenhouse effect.” The temperature of the Earth gets higher and the climate becomes intolerable; agricultural produce cannot be grown under such conditions.
Much natural beauty has disappeared. Pure and clean air has become a rarity. Instead, the air that we are inhaling has become polluted and filthy. Sometimes it even contains poison. The migration of bird flocks, which used to help farmers get rid of insects, has decreased. Farmers must spray insecticides to ensure their harvests. The food in our diet has been contaminated with toxic substances. Without the protection of the forests, many species of animals have disappeared too.
(B). Meat-eating cultures have caused soil erosion
After the forests are destroyed, the underground water cannot be renewed. The water has evaporated or flowed away into the river or sea. The land has become barren. During years of exposure from strong wind and heavy rain, the soil is washed off and the land has become sunken, collapsed or engulfed by the river, lake, sea, or desert. Living space has become more crowded. Agricultural land has become scarce. Numerous wars in history were fought because of similar circumstances, that is, resources being in short supply.
(C). Meat-eating cultures have caused water pollution
Huge animal farms have produced large amounts of fecal waste, which is being dumped underground. The waste gradually sifts into the water source. Consequently, harmful substances such as urea, uric acid, bacteria, and poisons will be in the drinking water consumed by many people. The fecal contamination of water from animal waste is about ten times higher than contamination caused by human waste. In order to purify the contaminated water, we must pay a high price to build and maintain water treatment facilities and pipelines, greatly increasing our cost of living.
(D). Meat-eating cultures are destroying the ozone layer
The ozone layer, at a high atmosphere, is the protection zone above Earth that stops the penetration of ultraviolet rays from the sun. If there is no ozone layer, the UV light will directly hit the Earth. This can cause drought and skin cancer. All living beings on Earth could be annihilated from this cause alone.
During the process of raising animals, humans must use fertilizers to stimulate the growth of agricultural produce. Once the fertilizers have evaporated, the nitrogen is released and it rises to the ozone layer, causing damaging chemical reactions. Thus, the ozone layer becomes thinner and lighter. A hole has formed in the ozone layer, and it is gradually enlarging. Eventually this lack of ozone protection will become one of the most threatening factors that can end this world.
From an economic viewpoint: comparison of a meat diet and a vegetarian diet Originally, grains and vegetables were humankind's main food. For some reason, we humans abandoned this good dietary habit. Instead, we fed animals with grains and vegetables, and then we ate the animal flesh. This transformation has cost us a great deal. We use 16 parts of grains and soybeans in exchange for 1 part of animal flesh; the rest of the 15 parts of food have been turned into animal waste. Therefore, because of eating meat, we humans have wasted 90% of proteins, 96% of calories, and all the fibers and carbohydrates.
To support meat-eaters, it requires 6.5 times more land than that required by a lacto-ovo-vegetarian (a vegetarian who also eats dairy products and eggs). It is about 25 times more than that required by a pure vegetarian (vegan).
The water consumption to sustain a meat-eater is about 3.3 times higher than that of a lacto-ovo-vegetarian, and 13 times higher than that of a pure vegetarian. Water is wasted not only to feed animals, but also to irrigate the agricultural growth used to feed the animals. More water is required for washing the animals and barns, and cleaning up animal wastes.
Because humans are eating meat, it requires 12 times more water usage. This takes away the water for hydroelectric power plants; we humans are forced to look for other more expensive, more complicated, and more environmentally polluting ways to generate electricity. The end result is that the cost of electricity and the costs of living have been greatly increased in all societies.
The most serious problem caused by the humans who insist upon eating meat is that we waste most of the farmers’ hard labor in planting and harvesting crops to feed animals. In the meantime, we leave numerous people in different parts of the world in starvation. The calamity we are going to face is actually caused by the wrong choice of dietary habits made by humans ourselves!
From the Ultimate Truth viewpoint: comparison of a meat diet and a vegetarian diet Going through the entire history of mankind is almost like viewing a history of warfare. The progression of civilization is nothing but a record of the development of killing weaponry. Since the twentieth century arrived, scientific development has been leaping forward. Meanwhile, human material indulgence has reached its maximum; a common civilian can live more luxuriously than the past emperors. The consequence of this material indulgence is water pollution, air pollution, food contamination, environmental pollution, ecological disasters, and the pollution of people's minds. In addition, it is also going to bring epic catastrophes to mankind. Atomic bombs, hydrogen bombs, nuclear bombs, as well as ballistic missiles, can rain down from the sky, any place at any moment. The human mind is covered by an immense, horrible shadow: the fear that the end of the world is in sight.
Why do we allow the situation to develop in such a horrible way? All the major world religions, gradually established over the past 3000 years, seek to solve the problem and to save mankind. Unfortunately, conflicts built up among the religions, and they are even a main cause of the warfare. The Old Testament, written 3000 years ago, has already predicted that the conflicts and warfare among the religions will be the direct causes of the very last world war, which could lead the world to its end.
Since we humans have acknowledged the oncoming danger and the blessing by the Grace of LAO MU, the Great Dao has been bestowed upon the Earth. Fortunately, humans have been revealing a few signs of awakened revelation. We now understand that all things and all beings are closely related like a single entity. There are no differences between nations, races, and religions. Every one of us is longing for the creation of a Pure Land on Earth.
Since we have recognized and realized that all beings and all things are one, we know we all possess the same emanated spirits of LAO MU, and we should all have the same love and care toward each other. This feeling is more loving, more intense, and more harmonious than flesh and blood. We should respect, sympathize, love and care for each other. We should not kill each other and act like a dominant species eating up the flesh of weaker species.
It has been quite popular recently for psychologists to use hypnosis to bring back the deeply embedded memories of our past lives. This trend has proved to us the truth of reincarnation. It also shows the marvelous and limitless nature of our subconscious. The sub-conscious is embedded in the mind of every sentient being and it is one of the functions of our emanated spirits of LAO MU (our inner spirit). The marvelous and limitless nature of our subconscious does not have to be taught or to learn; by nature, it is the “Heavenly Ability” of our inner spirit and we inherit it from birth.
While we humans are taking away the lives of other animals, selling their shells and skeletons, biting and chewing their flesh, all these cruelties will be vividly and clearly remembered in their emanated spirit of LAO MU (their inner spirits). In addition, their feeling of suffering in being killed, the distress of being sold, and the hate of being eaten, have all been mixed and become like seeds of revenge. These karmic seeds were deeply implanted in the minds of those sorrowful animals. When these karmic seeds sprouted, grew stronger and ripened, then the abused souls were obsessively finding murderers lifetime after lifetime, and the finding process will not stop until they have found the killers.
The abused souls' relentless urges of revenge seek repayment of the karmic debts by various means. Some haunt their debtors, like wandering souls and sorrowful ghosts; some go through a reversal in their reincarnations, eating the flesh of their debtors. Some achieve revenge by murdering their debtors, causing warfare or disasters, or even incurable diseases on their debtors. All of these brutal actions are to get even with their debtors so that their angers can be relieved. The meat-eating trend has become so prosperous in this modern time, that humans have killed incredible numbers of animals to satisfy their habits. The atmosphere has become full of unfairness, hate, anger, and the sense of being wronged, and it has stretched to the corners of the universe. The accumulated angry energy has almost reached an explosive point.
Therefore, the incidents and disasters occurring in the society and everywhere in the world have become more and more horrible and serious in scale. The End of the World phenomenon described by the scientists is more horrifying and fast approaching than what the Bible has predicted.
We are now facing the great calamity. The Heavenly Dao has been widely propagated in many countries of the world. In Taiwan and elsewhere in the world, vegetarian restaurants are increasing in number and in popularity. If it were not for the Great Dao disciples who devoted themselves to Dao cultivation, how could so many vegetarians be appearing on the horizon?
Our Benevolent LAO MU sent Buddha Maitreya, who compassionately vowed not to eat the flesh of others, to take charge of this great mission to bring the “Pure Land on Earth.” His benevolent teaching is to take the vegetarian diet as the first priority of Dao cultivation. HIS teaching is to save mankind from killing each other, and to end the causes of karmic debts among mankind. Once we are on the path of cultivation, the great calamity will no longer be a threat. Wars among the nations will cease, diseases will not torture mankind, and karmic debts among humans will be ended as well. Then, Heaven on Earth will appear before us. Everyone will be happy and benevolent, every family will be harmonious, and every country will be peaceful and friendly to each other. Mankind in the universe will be united as one and live harmoniously and peacefully. Finally, there will be no boundary between Heaven and Earth.
