Comments on: A Vegetarian Diet for Yoga

By: Rachel Glowacki

Rachel Glowacki — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:43:04 +0000

Well said! Have a have healthy and happy Thanksgiving.

By: Mark Knowles

Mark Knowles — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:03:53 +0000

Absolutely! A vegan diet doesn’t make kind people. Kind people choose a vegan diet.

By: Rachel Glowacki

Rachel Glowacki — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:55:17 +0000

An important revelation that many people need to understand or just pure exposure to the original intent of yogic philosophy. I totally admire your heart and your compassion to share this principle with us, it is moving, passionate and convicting, and very real. Thank you Mark. I do still believe that there are loving, kind, generous, giving, honest, people out there that are not vegan, practice and teach yoga. And there are Swamis that I have met and retreated with even, who hold dear to the traditional doctrine of a vegan life style, and are rude, cold, and basically unkind.
Bless you for sharing so openly. AwesOMe work.

By: Mark Knowles

Mark Knowles — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:05:22 +0000

Thanks Rachel
Actually these questions are among the most commonly asked.
1) As Master Patanjali States in YS I.33 we should tell others nothing. If we are asked or, for example, if someone comes to a Jivamukti Yoga class, or reads an article by a Jivamukti Yoga Teacher then we may expound on our “experience strength and hope”. As long as we are simply passing on the knowledge gained from a REPUTABLE source such as Master Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra we cannot control how others feel. A mother may admonish her child if he gets into the cookies, this is not a judgement, she is simply passing on a valuable lesson of not taking what is not his. She has learned that this may make the difference between his having a happy, joyous, and free life or becoming a burden on society.
2) Plants are indeed living. The point is to do the LEAST amount of damage possible. So, is it doing the least damage by killing a cow or a plant. PYS II.30 even reiterates with Aparigraha-not taking more than is needed. NO ONE consuming meat can honestly claim that is what they are doing when one is fully aware of the resources needed to produce a pound of beef. 3) Ayurveda is the science of Life. Yoga is the science of the mind. I can only speak from the perspective of a Yoga teacher and student. Master Patanjali is quite clear on ahimsa. Furthermore meat shortens our lives-this is proven.
4) How do I mindfully and prayerfully cause a living being to be killed for my unnecessary consumption? How could I pray to an omnipotent, benevolent being to please bless this creation of His which I caused to be tortured, boiled alive, hung upside down with its throat cut still kicking, cut its beak off, or skinned alive.
5) There is nothing kind and honest and loving about the abovementioned things. And if we say that “kind, loving, and honest” only applies to humans, then they’ve completely missed the goal of Yoga-Union. As Yoga teachers we have a responsibility to uphold the lineage of great Masters such as BKS Iyengar and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Master Patanjali, and Lord Krishna by presenting this to the student.
It’s when we try to apply our mere few years to the mix that we as a race get into trouble, we may actually believe the lies we tell ourselves!
If we’re not practicing for the real experience of Yoga then of course, none of this applies.
Mark

By: Rachel Glowacki

Rachel Glowacki — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:56:34 +0000

You are so passionate Mark with your convictions and leading a life that exemplifies your devotion to the traditional yogic philosophy. I totally believe it is of the utmost importance in understanding our roots and and sharing the original intent of what yoga is. I think the Golden Rule says it all and also “making compassionate” eating choices will guide many along on this path. I do think we need to be sensitive to others beliefs and convictions as well. If we tell others they are not real yogis for not following the vegan diet, then we are placing judgments on them and that is harming our neighbor, no? There are some ayurvedic recommendations for the Vata dosha that include meat, and that is an ancient medicine(for more info scroll down and read Ellie Bolland’s post on Ayurvedic) that combines yogic teaching as well. It is clear that traditional yogic teaching believes that is an insult to kill a living thing, for that is an insult to its Creator. Iyengar presented that in “Light On Yoga.” SO what about plants? They are living, no? How far do we go….? I think whether we eat meat or not, we make our choices mindfully and prayerfully. Bless our meals and may it not only nourish our bodies, but also our minds, and souls. If one chooses to eat meat and is a kind, honest, loving person, then how is that not yoga?