In regards to eating meat

[Diana]

The internal yardstick that I use for this is that, while reading if I start to notice myself having restrictive feelings (fear, shame, guilt) then that tells me not to trust the material at hand. True spiritual works cause one to feel expansive feelings (peace, love and joy). End of story. (At least in my book!)

Yes, that is a sensible yardstick. I will add that in an ever-expanding existence, I think it is important to keep open, and not "believe." Believing closes the door on new information or insights.

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All the legitimate reasons to "Eat This, Not That" aside- I believe there is more important work to be done here besides maintaining our body complexes. When maintaining the body complex crosses over into being depicted as "spiritual work" that is when I think it crosses over the line. Yes, our bodies are miraculous and amazing biological machines. But they are machines, they are not the consciousness using the machine. Taking good care of my automobile does not make me a better person, just a smarter person.

Hmmmm, I have to disagree here. I just don't think you can separate the body from the whole picture. If my house is cluttered and messy, it effects my thoughts, making me less clear. If I clean my house and honor the space, it makes me more clear. If I were a really advanced being, maybe I wouldn't be so affected.

When my current body dies, and goes into the earth to be recycled, it will have an energy signature, or a density of what it carried and was. (Hard to find words here . . .) So I will, even in my cast off physical vehicle, be adding to physical existence my personal signature. In this way, too, what I have done with my body matters.