In regards to eating meat

[Monica]

One thing I'll mention is that there is service to self and service to other-selves, does that make animals other-selves?

That is a very good question; one that I asked myself previously on this thread, but has not been answered.

If this is true wouldn't it be of service to the animals to allow them to be of service to us?

An ox can be of service by pulling a plow, in the same way that a human can be of service by doing physical labor.

However, the ox probably isn't aware of it as service, because it is still in 2D. The action is the same - physical labor - but the ox isn't given a choice, so is it service?

Furthermore, the task of 2D is to become self-aware. Service becomes relevant in 3D.

If the fates of animals are "automatic", I think that really alludes to the fact that WE are the Guardians, just as the shepherd is. This means we are also responsible for the caretaking of the planet, being composed of the first density. In this light, it would seem the consumation of our charge would indeed be poor guardianship, especially since as mentioned there are forms of food which do not require a violation or intentional harming of life.

Well said!

Animals are more useful to help GROW food rather than to be food.

Agreed! It's very inefficient to use animals for food. And very, very bad for the planet overall.

Also, many animals are still primitivistic because they are /treated in the manner of beasts/. The reason we do not regularly telepathically communicate with animals and plants is because we have given them the identification of being incapable of communication with us, we reject them regardless of how they yearn and reach out.

Good point! Which is all the more reason eating animals is adding to the problem. As long as animals are viewed as 'things' to be consumed, they aren't being recognized as brethren.

I deliberately offered the suggestion of killing a cat or dog, to make the point that most humans would cringe at the idea of killing a cat or dog. They would also cringe at killing a cow, but would cringe more at killing a cat or dog. Not because the cat or dog feels pain any more than the cow, but because humans have been conditioned to think of cows as 'food' whereas cats and dogs are 'family pets.'

our exaltation of ourselves has produced such pride as we feel we are the masters of life, yet are we not all subject to similar Guardianship above us? Are we not within life, as cells within a body, and are we not at the moment attacking that body with neglection and rejection?

Yes. People are much more cut off from the fabric of life, due to our technological society, as well as religious influences which teach that "man is supposed to take dominion over the Earth" which I find very destructive.

Will we be Guardians of the Earth in Harmony with the Planet, or will we be the Guardians of the Earth in Harmony with Ourselves? We all know the implications, the choice is right in front of us, all there is now, in this world, is action.

Agreed! I would add that 'guardian' is different from 'dominion'; the latter indicating control and subjugation, whereas the form indicates gentle guidance.