A Friendly Conversation: Exploring Omnivorous vs. Vegetarian Diet

[Tenet Nosce]

The actions/prohibitions themselves might have substance, but what makes them hogwash is that they're presented as rules and regulations.

Right!

I think it's both. If it were internal only, then what would be the point of interacting with other-selves at all? We do all affect one another.

Also, if we are all mirroring and projecting onto one another, what is really inside and what is outside? Inside/outside loses its meaning when we recognize the holographic nature of the universe.

I would say the point of the mirror is to realize that changes on the outside occur as a reflection of changes on the inside, and to realize that attempting to control the outside to affect the inside is futile. Certainly- a critical lesson!

Yes, we affect one another. But I would suggest that the effects are still primarily a result of an internal response. For example, if I show compassion toward you, I grow because I have experienced myself as compassionate. Whether or not you respond positively to the compassion, or even respond at all, has no bearing on the growth potential which I experience.

Similarly, in your interactions with me, your growth is determined by your response to me. I could be acting compassionately toward you, or be a total ass. What is important for your spiritual growth is how you experience yourself in responding to me.

Ah, but who's to say that some people might not get wonderful spiritual growth from such experiences? It is all catalyst, after all.

Well sure, we grow from experience! But in order to do so, the experience must be internalized, which means on some level we need to recognize the place on the inside which matches up with the external experience. Otherwise it just rolls off our backs... you know like people who have the same experience over and over again but don't seem to learn anything or gain any wisdom from it.

Such an approach might not be appealing to you or me, but clearly is appealing to many other people. I don't think we can really say that approach isn't right for them.

I would suggest that the appeal of that approach has do to with the false promise that it is possible to change oneself, without actually doing the internal work. Anybody can try a new diet or wardrobe, but spiritual growth is work. Real work. And some people just aren't cut out for it. They want the "quick fix" or the "magic pill" or the "special rules" to follow. They want the ETs to land or the Ascended Masters to appear and magically put everything right in their lives. One day they will come around, and ultimately nothing is lost. But I don't think it will happen unless or until one is willing to do the work on oneself.

Catalyst is simply catalyst. The soul is the substrate in the alchemical reaction which occurs. Without that, nothing happens.

I do agree with you that it isn't our place to say what is right for another. But this is the place to share our fallible opinions on the subject! Who knows- I've been wrong before. But I have yet to see an actual living example of somebody who effected a real, lasting change in themselves... without actually changing themselves.

On the other hand, I have witnessed many people attempt to alter the outer world in order to change their experience of themselves, and failed. I will concede that perhaps it is a necessary step along the way, in order to firmly learn what does and doesn't work. I mean- the only reason I know is because I tried it myself and failed!