text: Vegan | The Search For Enlightenment | Page 2
  by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: Balance, Books, Diet, Evidence, HCRV, Integrity, Point Of View, Reading, Trust, Truth, Vegan, Vegetarian
  The China Study is a book that can really get under your skin. Having already rid my diet of meat and fish many years ago, I have turned from Vegetarian to Vegan in the past eight months, hence adding dairy and any animal derived products to my list of 'banned' substances. However, having put effort into researching the pros of such a diet, I needed to investigate the alternate view.
  I found a few interesting counter-arguments on the internet, belittling the research of Dr Graham or citing other research that appears to reverse the findings used in the book. There is however, one difference between Dr Graham and his detractors, they all seem to have some agenda or are trying to sell something.
  In trying to keep an open mind, I continue the diet, despite reading evidence that overturns almost everything I have ever been taught about diet and nutrition. I would like to be able to present you the truth, but it seems that it comes in a number of various hues.
  I guess it's a bit like not walking under a ladder, just in case you end up with some unfortunate outcome. Maybe it's far more complicated than I'm describing, but with all the horror stories surrounding the food industry, I'm sticking to fruit and vegetables for the rest of this lifetime, at least.
  by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: Buddha Nature, Enlightenment, Suffering, Vegan, Veganism, Vegetarian, Vegetarianism
  My friend and fellow vegan Juliet defines the vegan practice thus: Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.
  Enlightenment is a state in which we are aware of the ultimate truth and meaning of everything. As a Buddhist, I strive for enlightenment and also try to avoid, as far as possible, bringing harm or suffering to any other living creature.
  The two overlap in many ways, and although you don't have to be Buddhist to be vegan, or vegan to be Buddhist, they fit together like a hand in a glove.
  Great News, For Now
  by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: Killing, Vegan, Vegetarian, Vegetarianism, Whale Wars, Whaling, Wisdom Courage and Compassion
  The ruling today, from the International Court of Justice, that Japan must cease its whaling in the Antarctic is great news for the whales. The fly in the ointment, isn't there always one, is that the ban is temporary.
  The ban will be seen as a victory for the Sea Shepherd organisation, who have been a constant thorn in the side of the Japanese whaling fleet. Only earlier this month, there was a collision between Sea Shepherd's Bob Barker and the Yushin Maru No. 3. There were no injuries, but both ships sustained damage.
  Though the ruling is cause for celebration, only time will tell whether the Japanese will comply with the decision of the court long term. It is also only a very small step towards the observation of the right of all living things to be allowed to live free and peaceful lives. The wholesale slaughter of cows, pigs, chickens and a multitude of other innocent animals continues unchecked.
  by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: Courage, Cycling, Determination, Diet, HCRV, Vegan, Weight Loss
  Since my birthday last month I have been on my bike every single day, either out and about, or more recently, with the colder shorter days, indoors on my training rollers. Now training rollers are a great way of staying fit, but compared to being out in the countryside, they are B-O-R-I-N-G, pedalling away for hours each week.
  To make the sessions more fun, I searched on YouTube for a training video which would encourage me as well as keeping my focus. I found one, a really well made forty five minute session, using video taken during a group ride, with predetermined intervals of effort and rest, I love it and use it every second day, interspersed with thirty minute low intensity 'days off'.
  In a strange way, riding with the other guys on the video, makes me work harder, give that extra bit of effort when my lungs, heart or legs are screaming ENOUGH!!! It's the perfect way to continue my fitness regime, and with my newly adopted vegan diet, my weight, and more importantly, my body fat levels are continuing to fall.
  People have said, about my exercising, and more particularly about my diet, that because I live alone, I have no interruptions, nobody to take my focus away from my goals, nobody to tempt me with other foods or get in the way of my schedule. That of course is true, but neither do I have anyone to 'watch over me' to keep me on track, nobody except myself that is.
  Temptation comes in many forms. The temptation to add salt to the vegetables, because I was used to the taste, the temptation to crumble under the pressure from others who think being vegan is strange and will lead to deficiencies in my diet, even the temptation, to ease off, slow down, give up, when it's painful to carry on riding. After all, nobody would know, nobody except me.
  Determination is a very satisfying trait, one which I have only fairly recently acquired, but one which pays you back, time and time again, and which stabs you, like a knife through the heart if you decide to give in. Determination is a form of fitness, the more you practice it, the stronger it becomes.
  Today is day 235 of my regime. In that time I have cycled, outdoors and in, over 4000 km, burned 130,891 kcal and spent 180 hours on 152 various different sessions. When I started I weighed 100 kg, today I weigh 77 kg, and I haven't finished yet. But believe me, in all that time, there have been numerous times when I really wanted to stop, give up and call it a day.
  Now it may be that I am lucky to have the time to devote to my quest. It may be that I can please myself about what I eat. It may well be that I get an addiction to things, and certainly in the past that was the case. But I think you will agree that I've given it long enough to disprove the last of those three.
  I'm not special. I've done nothing here that anyone else couldn't do, given the determination. I'm proud of my efforts, though I am disappointed that I let myself get into the situation in the first place, but my determination gets stronger over time. If you are trying to reach a goal, keep going. If you stop, there will only be one person who is to blame, only one who will feel the pain of failure, and that is you.
  This China Study book is really getting under my skin. Having already rid my diet of meat and fish many years ago, I have turned from Vegetarian to Vegan in the past few weeks, hence adding dairy and any animal derived products to my list of 'banned' substances. However, having put effort into researching the pros of such a diet, I need to investigate the alternate view.
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  His Holiness the Dalai Lama thanks those who sent greetings on the occasion of his 85th birthday. dalailama.com/news/2020/than… 8 hours ago