Early last year, I had a precious chance to follow a fellow initiate to the Laii Ashram for meditation. Although I was not initiated then, and not on a pure vegetarian diet either, I agreed with the concept of vegetarianism as I was an environmental protection worker. I can still remember that we set off at midnight that day, and arrived at early dawn. After a brief rest, I was issued a VIP card by the registration desk at the entrance, and then went into the ashram. All around the ashram, all parking spaces were filled with cars of all types. As the sky became brighter, the details of the scene in the valley clearly emerged. Fellow practitioners from all over had beautifully adorned the valley. Everyone of them were emitting a peaceful aura, without abusing in any way the serenity pervading in the valley. My observation on that day created a great shock within myself, and also changed my whole life.

Restoring Dignity
To The Animals

Besides enjoying delicious vegetarian food in the ashram, I also noticed the dignity of the animals--the chicken fellow initiate, the goat fellow initiate (these are names that I later learned), wearing ID cards on their necks, running around cheerfully, as if they were our friends or relatives. That was a harmonious and welcoming scene. I suddenly realized that the new natural diet promoted by the environmental protection groups and the vegetarian precept of the spiritual groups is actually two different faces of the same thing, adaptable to each other. This is really marvelous!

The Concept Of A New
Natural Diet Emphasizes Vegetarianism

The concept of the new natural diet is based on the following theories:

First is the detrimental effects of livestock husbandry. Because of advanced technology and economic wealth, the demand for meat supply has far exceeded the need for human survival. Most citizens of the developed countries consume an excessive amount of meat. Overweight children are also common in our country. Ice cream, hamburgers, steaks and barbecues, etc., are Western recipes. The Chinese dishes are even more alluring, combining colors, aroma and taste. Most people can hardly resist them. However, the production of this meat is affecting our environment tremendously. Take cattle and sheep for instance. A vast pasture grassland is necessary for grazing. Since agricultural land is already limited, they have to either destroy the jungles for the pastureland, or convert the existing farmland into large fields. These actions are common in third world countries. The gigantic livestock husbandry groups have bought up large areas of farmland in Mexico for their pastures. The native farmers have to move into the hills and cultivate on the rocky slopes. Naturally, the produce harvests are much lower. Destruction of the forests has reduced the production of oxygen and the function of keeping water in the soil. Furthermore, raising livestock consumes an enormous amount of water - in order to maintain the grasslands, provide drinking water for the livestock, cleaning the barns, and removing the excretion. An unofficial statistic - from birth to death, the water consumed by a cow is sufficient to float a destroyer. It might be an exaggeration, but it is really wasteful in places where water resources are not in abundance.

Mass Raising Of Animals
Is Inhumane

Next, let us talk about humanity. Livestock husbandry emphasizes mass production.

The modern management methods and technology used are for the most part not natural for the animals. For instance, when a calf is born it relies on the milk it get from its mother, but they are separated and kept in different sheds never to see each other again. To have tender meat and fast growth, they are fed all types of vitamins, antibiotics, hormones, in order to meet the profit requirement. In raising chickens, the light is switched on only when feeding them. The purpose is to prevent them from wasting their energy, thus demanding more food. They are living in total darkness the rest of the day. To avoid damages done by the pecking, the beaks are cut off as soon as they are born, resulting in distorted beaks. To increase the production of eggs, people take advantage of the chicken's sensitivity to light. Continuous stimulation of light and darkness induces the chicken to renew its feathers, thus laying more eggs. A chicken barn is in fact a "crazy chicken barn". Furthermore, fearing that the chickens might climb over one another causing loss, people push more chickens into an already full cage, so that they cannot move at all. The result is their claws get entangled with the cage wire. Consequently, it is necessary to chop off their feet before they can be removed. Their life is so full of pain and agony just because human beings desire to eat their flesh.

A Vegetarian Diet - The Basis Of Good Health

The third point is based on the aspect of health. Medical studies have proven that the human physiology, from the teeth to the digestive system, coincides with that of a herbivore (plant eating animal). Carnivorous animals like tigers and panthers have long, sharp, protruding teeth to facilitate tearing and chewing. As meat is liable to decay, most carnivores have short and straight colons for easy absorption and excretion. The intestines of humans are five times the length of the tigers or panthers, and is suitable for the absorption of vegetarian food like vegetables, fruits and cereals. Excessive intake of animal fat brings cardiovascular diseases and thus is detrimental to human health. In the Taipei Tai An Hospital (formerly the Provincial Sanatorium), only vegetarian food is provided. This is welcomed by all the doctors, nurses, working staff and even the patients. The practice has been continued for years, and it is the best illustration for the benefits of a vegetarian diet to human health.

To the spiritual practitioners, a vegetarian diet is absolutely necessary. Already heavily loaded with the karma from previous lives, it is necessary to cleanse them with the greatest effort. Should we harm more sentient beings through direct or indirect evil deeds, we are heading in the opposite direction of enlightenment and diligence.

At present, most religious bodies in the country recognize the concept of environmental protection. They even lead the general public in recycling, cleaning the environment, and protecting wild animals and plants. These are actions benefiting sentient beings. Both the spiritual practice and environmental protection groups are calling for: the treasuring of lives, merits, soul purification, environmental protection and the leaving of blessings to our descendants. It is exactly God's will that the new natural diet coincide with a vegetarian diet!