Why I am not a vegan

[native]

As far as the work mentioned by Icaro - the STO path requires sacrifice of energy to do any work. We can sacrifice our own energy or the energy of others. Gardening is hard, but is it as hard as the idea of having to kill the animals yourself for food? (let alone the work gone into raising the animals...)

They're valid points. While I've come to realize that no matter what direction you go, effort in some form is needed in life, I just wonder what kind of effort. Is physical effort the answer, or is work in consciousness the answer? I'm fortunate to live in an area where I'll always be able to have a large garden even though it only contributes somewhat, unless you're aggressively homesteading (in which case that is basically your life), but I just wonder how far into our evolution we must constantly worry about basic needs. Ideas in spiritual evolution suggest that we have latent powers that are available which should make life easier.

My main issue is that my life-choices are supported by the effort of others, yet perhaps it's not really my job to worry about that. By that I mean I don't want to work hard in a field so I'm not going to (aside from a modest garden), and others should try it out and see how they feel about it, and if they don't like it they should say to hell with it as well. Should we break our backs for all eternity? It seems as if all catalyst exists on an individual level. I don't know if you can tell, but I get confused about this stuff and don't feel I necessarily know the answer. In one hand, I worry about the poor Mexican picking my vegetables, so maybe he/she should say no more. But then what will they do for money? Is it my responsibility to be worrying about these things? Is it all an illusion? This confusion tends to lean me towards the idea that living a sacred and ritualistic way of life is the answer..simply attempting to be appreciative and aware. Thanks for listening to the nonsense of my mind