(10-04-2014, 05:54 AM)Parsons Wrote: Not knowing how the plant feels does not give carte blanche to assume they don't suffer.
Not knowing how the plant feels does not give carte blanche to cause suffering to animals, whom we know with 100% certainty DO suffer.
Furthermore, as has been pointed out repeatedly, eating animals causes many MORE plants to die.
(10-04-2014, 05:54 AM)Parsons Wrote: If the plant suffers, your argument falls apart because no matter what, a part of the second density Creator is suffering.
The plant does not have vocal chords or lungs or limbs to flail about when dying. It can not viscerally express suffering. An apt analogy would be a person who is complelty paralized but has control of their senses. A better analogy would be if an animal were to be compltely paralized but could still experience all 5 physical senses. If they were tortured (not going to get graphic, use your imagination) and are unable to cry out in pain or unable to physically react in any way, is it safe to assume they aren't suffering?
You haven't bothered to read those discussions about plants, have you? This has already been addressed extensively. I'm not going to waste my time repeating it all for you. I will say only that your analogy is poor, because a paralyzed person wasn't designed that way.
(10-04-2014, 06:49 AM)Unbound Wrote: Sure, if one's spiritual focus is oriented around the development of compassion. That, in my mind, is not the one and only avenue of spiritual evolution.
True. There is another path: the STS path. I sometimes make the mistake of assuming that everyone here is aspiring to the STO path.
Oh, and there's the path of no-path, no-choice, repeating 3D, the sinkhole of indifference. Yes, there is that.
(10-04-2014, 06:49 AM)Unbound Wrote: Honestly, I think that picture represents some of the most advanced spirituality I understand, the dance of death, we are all equal in the end and you only have your own experiences.
I can see your points, but I perceived it as saying we're all just physical, ending up as dust, rather than spiritual beings who leave the body behind.
(10-04-2014, 06:49 AM)Unbound Wrote: For myself, I do not feel guilty about my choices, so in death, I will not look back and think to myself, "Damn, I wish I had've done _______", because in my mind what is important is to appreciate your experiences for what they are rather than what you would prefer or like them to be.
Maybe that is my issue with the whole meat thing is I can clearly see the whole suffering issue, but I don't really have a guilt-complex over it.
Have you watched the slaughterhouse videos I posted? (just curious)