In regards to eating meat

[Monica]

I misread

OK thank you for clarifying that.

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Perhaps , Monica, the largest hurdle for me to overcome when reading this thread is that you seem to have said that vegetarians are making the Right choice, and omnivores are making the Wrong choice in their dietary habits. That is in a nutshell what I perceive to be the basic message that is coming across in these pages. Amidst all the points and counterpoints and info and links, etc.

I have never said that, and have repeatedly stated that each person must decide for themselves, and have asked only that they consider Ra's words to the extent necessary for the individual metabolism.

I have also specified, multiple times, that aspiring to ideal doesn't necessarily mean we will always be successful in adhering to that ideal, on a daily basis. None of us is perfect, and because of the present state of this planet, it's impossible to 100% avoid animal suffering. But refusing to participate in the atrocity of factory farming, at the very least, is something that is IS doable for most of us.

So yes, the implication is surely there, that I may think it is 'wrong' for spiritually aware people to ignore the reality of suffering of this magnitude, and to contribute to the system of suffering more than is necessary for the individual metabolism.

I think it's 'wrong' for spiritually aware people to wantonly throw their litter on the street too...to steal or kill other humans...do we all agree that those things are 'wrong' for spiritually aware people to knowingly, consciously do?

If the answer is 'yes' to that question, then I am not doing anything different from anything anyone else is doing. The only difference is that we have a disagreement about which things are 'wrong' for a spiritually aware, STO oriented person, to knowingly and consciously do.

So let's say I do think that. So what? If others disagree with me, and feel totally comfortable with their choice, based on their own values and convictions (or lack thereof), then they wouldn't care what I thought. It would just be another opinion, and you know what they say about opinions, right? Everyone has one...

But the very fact that my opinion elicits such a strong emotional response, indicates that maybe, just maybe, people are not entirely comfortable with their choice.

That is for them to reflect upon, if they choose to. But it is not my responsibility as to how they respond to my opinion, when expressed in a courteous manner, which I have done throughout this entire thread, despite others being, shall we say, less than courteous.

Yes, I have been guilty of occasionally showing frustration, but hey, others have too. None of us is perfect. (shrug)

for the record I do have compassion for you, but not based on what is written here.

Are you saying hat I described didn't stir up any feelings of compassion for what vegetarians endure? That is disappointing. I shared that with an open heart, hoping that meat-eaters might at least attempt to see this from the point of view of the vegetarians, even if they don't agree or completely understand.

But I know that I cannot have any expectations from other people, so I accept it.