| What do yoga and animal rights have in common? | | | | animals because it is allowed and sanctioned in the |
| Yoga is based on a discipline whose ultimate goal is to | | | | Judeo-Christian Bible. They claim that God created |
| achieve a state of total awareness. A place most of | | | | animals to be eaten and enjoyed and there is enough |
| us either lost or are unable to recognize due to | | | | evidence in the scriptures to justify this opinion. |
| selfishness, lust, greed, gluttony or indifference. | | | | The Bible teaches compassion to working animals, but |
| Many religious cultural traditions dictate emotional or | | | | also sanctions their slaughter and sacrifice. Should we |
| spiritual concern for animal welfare. The main concern | | | | be critical of the biblical Israelites because they |
| is not usually about the well being or suffering of | | | | regularly sacrificed and slaughtered young lambs and |
| animals, but rather how to raise healthier animals for | | | | bulls in the Temple? Historically, this was at a time |
| food, pleasure and recreation. A philosophical or | | | | when humans were sacrificed by neighboring |
| religious discussion about why non-human animals | | | | Canaanite tribes. In the Jewish religion only certain |
| were created often results in conflict and confusion. | | | | "clean" animals can be eaten. They must be killed in a |
| The sacrifice and feast of animals has occurred for | | | | specific way then prepared to ensure no blood is |
| centuries as evidenced through one of the oldest | | | | eaten. |
| books "the Bible." | | | | A true Hindu yogi would most likely never eat animal |
| Animals were destined for utilization ever since | | | | meat as it is considered sacred, especially if it were a |
| humans gained superiority over them with weapons of | | | | cow. The cow in Hindu culture is treated as a pet, |
| destruction like fire. The fate of an innocent lamb, | | | | loved and cared for as family. In the western world |
| frequently mentioned in the Bible as loved and cared | | | | dogs and cats are treated the same way. Would you |
| for, ends up a roasted lifeless, bloodless body served | | | | eat your dog? After you answer yourself this question, |
| on a plate, mainly because of the human desire for | | | | exam what the difference is with this animal then allow |
| meat. Many traditional religious celebrations in Africa | | | | your eyes to be open as to how all animals should be |
| and the Middle East will accompany the slaughter of | | | | treated. |
| thousands of innocent animals whose only purpose in | | | | Yoga practice helps you to be more consciously |
| life is to satisfy human taste or appease some god. | | | | aware of your world; it encourages you to examine |
| A lot of yoga poses mimic animals. If we just take the | | | | many areas of habit or routine in your daily life and |
| time to slow down and observe we will notice there is | | | | relationships. By searching your own inner self you |
| much to be learned from animal behavior. Why animals | | | | may find preconceived inherited belief systems that no |
| were created is an important question where the | | | | longer serve you best. We all have choices in life. It is |
| obvious, logical answer is; for the benefit of humankind | | | | healthy to examine the food you eat and be |
| and the survival of other meat eating animals. Many | | | | consciously aware of why "you are what you eat." |
| western religious leaders justify the killing and eating of | | | | Natural Wellness Techniques. |