In regards to eating meat

[Monica]

Not the one where I run to the bathroom every few hours,

I just now caught this. For some reason, the first time I read it I thought you were running to the bathroom every few minutes or so.

Actually, 1 bowel movement per meal is optimal. It makes sense, if you think about it. What goes in, must come out. A properly functioning digestive system moves stuff through quickly and efficiently. It's meat and dairy that slow down the process, so people have erroneously concluded that 'once a day' is normal. It's not! Once a day means constipation. So if you're eating every few hours, and pooping every few hours, you're doing great!

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The other portion of healing has to do with forgiveness of self and a greatly heightened respect for the self. This may conveniently be expressed by taking care in dietary matters.

I interpret this to mean that, as we forgive ourselves and respect ourselves, we naturally gravitate towards a healthier diet and lifestyle.

However, this quote is often used as a justification for eating meat and junk foods, with the mindset of "It doesn't matter what you eat as long as your forgive yourself afterwards."

NOT saying you are doing that, Ankh. I've seen that mentality expressed here before, with that exact quote backing it up, so I thought I'd mention it.

40.14 Questioner: In dietary matters, what would be the foods that one would include and what would be the foods that one would exclude in a general way for the greatest care of one’s bodily complex?

Ra: I am Ra. Firstly, we underline and emphasize that this information is not to be understood literally but as a link or psychological nudge for the body and the mind and spirit. Thus it is the care and respect for the self that is the true thing of importance. In this light we may iterate the basic information given for this instrument’s diet. The vegetables, the fruits, the grains, and to the extent necessary for the individual metabolism, the animal products. These are those substances showing respect for the self.

Taken in the context of this quote, for the greatest care of one's body, care and respect are of greatest importance.

However, that doesn't mean that care and respect for one's body is of greater importance than compassion.

One could care deeply about one's own body, while disregarding the suffering of animals. I don't think that's what Ra is advocating here.

Again, this isn't directed at you, Ankh. I'm just commenting on the quotes you posted.