Our conscious self mediates between the ideals of the spiritual
self
and the physical and emotional instincts of the natural self.
This conscious self is like an island between the
endless sky
and the ocean of unconscious nature.
Our conscious awareness is
limited; but it is most important to us
because this is our actual
conscious experience.
We are consciously aware of what we focus
on that comes to us
through the senses, our feelings, and thoughts.
We are able to direct the conscious self with our will by using
attention, concentration, and intention.
Our attention may focus
our eyes, listening, and other senses
to specific parts of our
environment, evaluate our feelings, and use our mind to remember,
imagine, follow associations, reason with logical steps, and receive
intuitions.
Intention is using our will to choose purposive action.
The self that is reading this book is the conscious self.
We can
only hold so much information at any one time in our conscious
awareness,
but information is retained by the memory in the natural
self.
We are constantly making choices as to where to direct our
attention.
These choices determine the direction of our lives
and experiences.
The conscious self can learn about the divine
principles from the spiritual self
and about our physical needs
and desires from the natural self.
The conscious self is responsible
for choosing among various possibilities.
In learning about ourselves we discover that below the surface
of our conscious awareness
is a child-like self that represents
our body and feelings.
This natural self has also been called
the lower or basic self.
The natural self experiences and informs
us of pain, hunger, thirst, satisfaction and satiety,
fatigue,
the need to urinate or defecate, sexual desire, pleasure,
and
other desires, hopes, wishes, and fears.
The natural self learns
how to do many physical things for us
and by repetition develops
habits, which become automatic in similar circumstances.
Many
of our physical functions and habits are unconsciously guided
by the body’s
natural instincts unless we consciously intervene
with a decision.
Our conscious self is responsible for deliberating
and choosing, and we are consciously
aware in varying degrees
of what our natural self is doing and feeling.
Loving ourselves and gentle living begin with treating our
natural self
with great kindness and sensitivity, because it is
like a child.
We can consciously teach and program the natural
self to cooperate with our objectives.
We need to nurture and
care for our natural self.
If we neglect or ignore the needs of
our natural self, we will usually suffer some reaction.
The process
of self-mastery is learning how to discipline the natural self
so that we can experience harmony between our levels of awareness
and cooperate in achieving our goals.
The natural self will serve,
but it wants to have a kind and gentle master
that cares about
its concerns.
Sigmund Freud pioneered the investigation of the unconscious
and founded the modern study of depth psychology.
He called the
natural self the id, the conscious self the ego, and the spiritual
self the ego ideal.
Freud’s description of the super-ego reflects
his peculiar views of psychology,
and much of its conditioning
in relation to parental figures becomes part of the natural self;
yet in some ways the super-ego is analogous to the spiritual self.
Freud emphasized the sexual drive of the natural self,
and his
concept of the super-ego reflected the limitations of his philosophy.
Carl Jung and Roberto Assagioli explored much farther into the
spiritual self.
The natural self is analogous to a child, the
conscious self to an adult,
and the spiritual self to a wise parent
or guardian angel.
Our personalities are expressed mostly by the
combination of the conscious self and the natural self.
The conscience
operates by the interaction between the conscious self and the
spiritual self.
The natural self develops along with the fetus in the womb
and is influenced by both the genetic pattern and the environment.
The fetus is nourished by the body of the mother and
does not
need to make conscious choices before birth.
The soul in consultation
with the spiritual self and the heavenly counselors has chosen
a body;
but usually it does not enter into the physical form until
birth with the first breath.
The previous experiences and wisdom
of the soul influence the spiritual self,
while the conscious
self begins each life with a fresh start or like a “blank
slate.”
The conscious self represents the intelligence of
the soul and has the ability to perceive
and learn from experiences,
but it takes months and years to learn how to use the body
and
understand its environment.
The child is able to walk after about
one year, and the mind accelerates in language
development after
about two years by beginning to speak.
The large and sophisticated
human brain enables the human soul to use language
and engage
in many other creative activities that reflect advanced thinking
skills.
Humans have a long period of development during which
they are dependent on their parents or care-givers.
Gradually
the conscious self learns how to make choices and decisions
based
on the memories of its experiences and improving perceptions and
conceptions.
The quality of the loving care given by the parents or their
surrogates has a powerful
influence on the conditioning of the
natural self and its relationship with the conscious self.
The
loving received by the child is what enables him or her
to learn
how to love and care for others.
As the anthropologist Ashley
Montagu observed, we learn how to love by being loved.
If the
child’s needs are met consistently with sensitivity,
that child
will feel secure and will naturally be trusting of other humans;
but if the parents or others abuse or neglect the child,
then
the child is likely to feel insecure and afraid of other people.
Thus gentle living begins with the tender loving care of the parents
for the child.
Other animals also have natural selves with complex instincts
for survival and reproduction,
but most of them lack the conscious
awareness and understanding of spiritual principles.
Life on Earth
is diverse, and the range of animals extends from single-celled
organisms
up to advanced mammals such as dolphins, whales, elephants,
primates, and humans.
Studying other animals can help us to understand
our natural selves,
but the best way to know our own natural self
is by self-examination
and close observation of our behavior and
that of other humans.
The natural self is first concerned with
self-preservation by avoiding danger and by fulfilling
the needs
for air, water, food, rest, and shelter from excessive cold or
heat.
These instincts have the highest priority in consciousness.
If the conscious self neglects such concerns, the natural self
will suffer pain and deprivation until they are met.
The next major motivation that is programmed into organisms
by the natural selection of evolution is the urge to reproduce.
Every living organism is descended from organisms that did reproduce.
Thus Freud’s emphasis on the sexual drive followed logically
after
Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.
A primary motivation used
by nature to promote sexual interest
is the enjoyment of the physical
pleasure.
The needs for air, water, and food are also reinforced
by pleasure,
but much more so by pain when they are lacking.
The
sex drive is an option because it is not required for immediate
personal survival
and because excessive pain does not occur if
it is ignored.
Because humans have a long period of childhood
development,
the nurturing and protective care of parents is also
an important instinct
needed to make sure that the next generation
survives to reproduce.
Thus humans, perhaps more than any other
species,
are programmed to provide loving care.
This gentle caring
is essential to human survival.
Humans have developed advanced technology that has multiplied
destructive potential
to such a great extent that now the human
race faces the danger of destroying itself
if we do not learn
how to live in peace.
This brings us to two other basic instincts
known as fighting and fleeing,
which along with feeding and fornicating
make up the four Fs that impel all animals.
Some believe that
fighting is part of human nature and can never be changed.
However,
not all humans fight, and human fighting can take various forms.
Most species that come into confrontation or competition with
each other
over territory or a mate usually manage to resolve
the conflict by one of them fleeing.
Yet as studies with rats
have shown, as more rats are put into a small space,
the tendency
toward violence increases.
This pattern can also be seen in human
history with the development of agriculture
and civilization that
brought humans together in limited space and resulted
in the series
of wars that began more than five thousand years ago.
Human population
did not reach one billion until 1802 CE, and an additional
billion
people was added by 1928, 1961, 1975, 1988, 1999, 2011 and 2022.
As of
2025 about 8.2 billion people were living on Earth.
Human population is estimated to increase to 9 billion by about 2037
and to 10 billion by about 2060.
Humans now face the crisis of learning how to limit reproduction
in combination
with learning how to get along with each other
without destroying ourselves.
Thus I suggest that the art of gentle
living that cares about everyone
is essential to maintaining human
life on Earth.
The nurturing process is evidence that love is
the true nature of humans,
and with spiritual guidance we can
overcome baser instincts and
redirect the urge to fight in a crisis
to working
for justice and solutions that are nonviolent.
The instinct to fight usually comes out in desperate situations
when one fears that survival is threatened.
Some may use their
power to increase their wealth and pleasures in ways
that cause
others to suffer deprivation or such threats to their lives.
Thus
we need to learn how to care for all humans on Earth
so that none
will feel so threatened.
(These larger social and political issues
are discussed more fully
in my book BEST FOR ALL:
How We Can Save the World.)
Personal conflicts do not threaten
the entire species, but they can disrupt gentle living.
We need
to learn how to resolve these conflicts
with compassionate communication
in order to avoid physical fighting.
Like a child, the natural self may be taught how to behave
properly in various situations.
Toilet training is one of the
first big challenges for children,
and parents need to realize
that the natural process of development cannot be pushed
too soon
without frustrating the child and possibly causing psychological
damage.
As the muscles develop, the baby eventually learns how
to control urination and defecation.
The natural self wants to
be loved, and physical punishment
can harm the sense of security
and well being.
Gently training children to stay out of trouble
and cooperate is a challenge
for parents and teachers, and alternatives
to corporal punishment can be found.
Just as a child does not
want to suffer the pain and rejection of punishment,
the natural
self does not want to be alienated either.
Children do need training
and discipline, and these can be done
gently with patience and
understanding.
We also need to discipline our own natural selves
without being too hard on ourselves.
Self-discipline and self-mastery
managed by the conscious self enable us to develop freely,
while
discipline and mastery imposed by others tends to be resented
and in the extreme case is slavery.
If one does not adequately
discipline oneself not to inflict harm on others, then one will
find
the discipline coming back when others hold one to account
for one’s harmful actions.
The natural self has innate knowledge based on its instincts
that are genetically
programmed and can teach the conscious self
much about physical processes.
The natural self also collects
memories from experience,
learning much by trial and error.
Thus
a wise conscious self will learn from the natural self just as
a good teacher
learns from students how to teach them.
The natural
self is continually concerned about physical and emotional well
being
and will seek to be secure and comfortable.
Like a child,
the natural self is playful and enjoys physical expression
that
is fun, satisfying, and safe.
Under direction from the conscious
self, the natural self will work, exercise, and perform,
especially
if some physical or emotional rewards are involved.
The natural
self tends to like rituals or routines that allow it to flow into
its habit patterns.
As habits of the natural self unconsciously
take over in routine situations,
the conscious self is able to
focus on other things.
The natural self usually obeys and may
imitate what is perceived.
However, if the natural self is mistreated
or betrayed by the conscious self or others,
it may rebel in self-defense.
Changing established habit patterns requires redirection and training
by the conscious self to prevent reverting to the old pattern.
The natural self will often remind the conscious self of its habits
as well as its needs.
As a soul our experience includes not only the spiritual self
and the conscious self
but the natural self as well.
We are responsible
for all of these forms of conscious and subconscious awareness.
Human beings are multi-dimensional,
and many mysteries of our
existence have yet to be explored.
By the age of seven the conscious self has usually become dominant
over the natural self.
The conscious self is constantly learning
by making choices and seeing the consequences.
The conscious self
also communicates directly with the conscious selves of other
people
by language and observation while the natural selves interact
in more subconscious ways.
As we direct our experience through
our conscious self,
that is where we can best exercise our will
by focusing our attention and intention.
Knowing oneself means
the conscious self is becoming more aware
of one’s human characteristics
and personal idiosyncrasies.
Every person is unique, and so the
challenge is slightly different for each person.
Although others
such as psychologists and counselors may assist one,
no one can
undertake this work but yourself.
The conscious self has the ability
and responsibility
to make decisions that determine one’s life.
Although the spiritual self may offer higher guidance, it will
not make decisions
nor interfere with the development of the conscious
self.
By exercising our freedom we learn from our experiences
how to master ourselves.
If we do not control ourselves properly
and interfere with others,
then in reaction they will probably
try to alter our behavior in self-defense.
Also if we try to control
others without respecting their freedom of choice,
they will often
rebel and resist our attempts at manipulation.
The art of gentle
living means mastering oneself in order to be loving
while respecting
the freedom and autonomy of others.
The conscious self can direct the learning process
by inquiring
and analyzing experience and facts.
In one’s daily life the results
of one’s actions and words can be reviewed
in order to see what
works well and what brings adverse consequences.
The conscious
mind has great intellectual abilities
and can use logic and intuition
as well as memory, imagination,
and emotions to understand various
situations.
The conscious self gains knowledge about oneself by
paying attention to what one is doing.
Intentions and actions
can be analyzed by looking at the motivation,
the goals, the methods
of attaining them, and the various effects.
The conscious self
has the responsibility of organizing the various aspects of one’s
life.
The conscious self has the ability to change one’s attitude
quickly.
If you observe yourself upset or frustrated, you can
evaluate why, take a breath,
and start again, even if you are
still pursuing the same challenged objective.
Sometimes perseverance
enables one to overcome the problem by determined effort;
other
times one may take time to meditate on the issue
and go back to
it later with a fresh perspective.
Accepting what is happening is an essential principle of consciousness.
Denying or avoiding reality merely postpones the problem and can
make it worse.
When we accept what is, that does not mean that
we necessarily agree with what others have done;
by accepting
the facts we begin to understand and can then cooperate.
The conscious
self may take responsibility by bringing actions to their best
completion.
This enables the natural self to have direction and
feel a sense of accomplishment.
By increasing self-knowledge the
conscious self knows better how one may act
most effectively because
of one’s personal abilities and situation.
The conscious self
is responsible for setting goals and making decisions
about how
to work toward those objectives.
Doing each thing as well and
perfectly as one can establishes a pattern of mastery.
Everyone
wants to do their best, and we each must decide how much time
and energy
we want to devote to each endeavor.
By setting standards
oneself one can adjust them if necessary.
Obviously setting goals
that are too difficult to accomplish can be frustrating.
Although
we may aim high, we can be gentle with our natural self
by accepting
the results at each stage.
A conscious self that is too strict
of a disciplinarian on the natural self
may find it rebels and
refuses to cooperate.
The conscious self that is too lazy to discipline
may allow
the natural self to indulge too much in habits that
may not be beneficial.
In addition to self-knowledge, the conscious mind also gains
knowledge
by studying others and various subjects.
This learning
may take place through schools, other associations, or on one’s
own.
The wise conscious self keeps an open mind to new ideas and
understandings
and carefully compares them to what already is
known.
Research helps us to draw on the collective wisdom of humanity
so that we can avoid mistakes others have already made and find
ways that work.
Adapting to what works is the pragmatic skill
of the conscious self.
By evaluating the results of one’s own
actions one may occasionally find that
even what was working before
may be improved with new methods,
or new goals may require new
approaches.
The art of gentle living applies the conscious endeavor
of continual learning to
considering one’s effects on other people
so that everyone may have a better life.
By expanding our conscious
awareness beyond ourselves we extend our love and spirit.
We can consciously improve the quality of our lives by
helping
the natural self to develop healthy habits.
Parents and teachers
in early childhood have a powerful influence on children
and the
habits they form; yet once the conscious self is in control,
it
has the primary responsibility to monitor and discipline the natural
self.
If the conscious self is an enlightened master, then the
natural self will be a good disciple.
Loving and caring attention
helps these interactions work well.
Tendencies toward bad habits
need to be monitored and gently redirected.
Habits often are transformed
into other patterns of behavior.
For example, babies that have
been weaned have a tendency to suck their thumbs,
and parents
may use a pacifier.
Eventually this habit will be abandoned, but
in a nervous child
it could change into a tendency to bite one’s
fingernails.
A teenager then might take up smoking cigarettes, a very unhealthy
and addictive habit.
Smokers are suckers in more ways than one.
Smoking not only damages one’s own lungs and affects the brain
with habit-forming patterns
it also pollutes the air that others
are breathing.
Good education is important in preventing young
people from taking up this deadly habit.
For the person who has
already become addicted to nicotine,
the challenge is to refrain
from smoking.
Obviously it is easier not to start than it is to
break an addictive habit.
Yet the conscious self is in command,
and no one smokes
without the consent of the conscious self.
Learning
how to break such a habit builds character and strength of purpose,
while failing to do so exposes one not only to the continuing
dangers of smoke
but also to a loss of self-esteem by the personal
embarrassment before others.
Although nicotine may stimulate the
brain temporarily, in the long run the effects are harmful.
The
stronger the pathways in the brain are made by the drug the more
difficult
it becomes to break the habit.
Yet many heavy smokers
have completely abandoned the smoking habit.
Those selling services to help people break such habits may
suggest that
will power alone cannot conquer such habits; but
no matter what methods are used
ultimately the conscious self
will decide whether to smoke or not.
Because the natural self
is conditioned by habits and has a tendency to repeat them,
the
conscious self can help retrain and reprogram the natural self
by giving it
clear instructions and new imagery for better habits.
The stronger the habit is, the more often and urgently will the
natural self
tend to remind and nag at the conscious self to go
back into the habit.
Thus the conscious self needs to monitor
the natural self and remain constantly vigilant.
Self-mastery
means that the conscious self stays in command.
Good communication
between the conscious self and the natural self
is important in
changing these habits.
Habits are combinations of memory from
prior behaviors, and so associated memories
may need to be replaced
with new patterns of behavior that support the new habits.
Although it is not as addictive nor as harmful as nicotine,
caffeine is the drug to which the most people are addicted.
Found
in coffee, tea, colas, and cocoa (chocolate), caffeine is another
temporary stimulant
that establishes an addictive habit.
Often
people who are addicted wake up each morning craving caffeine
and feeling they need it to get their day started,
when normally
the rest of sleep by itself gives a person a refreshed attitude
toward life.
Surveys of modern society have found that
more than
80% of the people use caffeine regularly.
Alcohol is another drug that can become habit-forming.
The
physiological effects leave the body unless one is a heavy drinker.
Thus alcohol tends to be more psychologically habit-forming
because
of its effects on one’s mood.
Moderate drinking as a social lubricant
helps many feel relaxed and at ease with other people,
especially
with those who are drinking.
Everyone needs to make their own
choices about these habits.
Others find certain illegal drugs
are stimulating to the mind and perceptions.
Some of these are
even more addicting physically than nicotine,
while others such
as cannabis are only psychologically addicting.
Legal prohibitions
make the use of these drugs
much more complicated and dangerous
socially.
I have found that the greatest freedom comes from not using
any of these drugs.
Studies have shown that meditation or other
spiritual methods may stimulate
the creative parts of the brain,
and there are no ill effects.
Certainly practicing a spiritual
discipline may become a habit, and it may even seem like
a dependency
to some observers; but it seems to me that such habits that calm
the mind
and refresh the spirit and feelings are healthy habits
that benefit people.
In addition to exercising our spirits, we need also to exercise
our physical bodies
to keep them in a healthy condition.
Some
may find physical work they like to do that helps keep them in
shape,
and those who walk often or ride a bicycle for transportation
are getting exercise in a useful way.
Others need to find recreational
forms of exercise.
Because these need to be done often and regularly,
they usually become habits.
People who have become too lazy will
have to overcome those habit patterns
by consciously exercising
until new habits are developed.
Everyone can choose the forms
of exercise they prefer.
Yoga and other Asian disciplines such
as the various martial arts
may have a spiritual appeal for some.
Those who love music may dance or exercise to music.
People who
love athletics may swim, run, or use weights, and those who like
games
may take up various sports.
Those who like nature may go
hiking and camping.
Even while confined in a room or a bed one
may do isometric exercises.
Physical exercise has also been shown
to have beneficial effects on the brain and one’s mood.
In recent decades the pharmaceutical industry has been increasingly
promoting new drugs as solutions to various diagnoses.
Although
many of these are for physical pain, others are prescribed as
treatments for
psychological problems such as anxiety, depression,
or various “disorders.”
In extreme cases such drugs
may be useful temporarily to help individuals
through a difficult
period, but others may eventually discover that they have become
hooked
on legal drugs to maintain mental stability and a moderate
mood.
Yet it may be that such drugs are preventing people from
learning important spiritual lessons
from their experiences, and
they may also be restricting their ability
to experience life
to its fullest extent.
Studies and experiments need to be done
in these new areas, and I recommend caution
and self-restraint
in regard to taking drugs on a regular basis for an indefinite
period of time.
Some of these drugs may be physically or psychologically
addicting so that people feel
a “need” for them if they
stop taking the medication.
These patterns can be insidious, and
I suggest that those who want to be truly free
avoid both illegal
and legal drugs unless one’s health is clearly in danger.
Every living body must take in nourishment in order to sustain
itself.
Our digestive system knows naturally how to convert the
water, minerals, vitamins,
carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and
other nutrients in food into
the materials and energy our body
needs to operate.
The human body functions best at a rather warm
temperature, and much of the energy thus
is “lost as heat,” as Newton put it in his second law of thermodynamics.
This heat
and other activities can be measured in calories,
and so can the
potential energy of the food we eat.
People gain weight as stored
energy by taking in more calories than they expend,
and they lose
weight by taking in less than they exert.
The human body is rather
adaptable and can survive on very little nourishment,
though it
will get very thin and eventually begin to consume itself if food
is lacking.
Today we live in a world in which many of the poor
suffer from malnutrition and desperately need food.
Even more
die of diseases because they do not have access to clean water.
Yet in the wealthy nations an increasing number of people are
eating much more
than they need for optimum health.
In the United
States, for example, more than 130 million people are considered
overweight,
and of these about sixty million are defined as obese.
This has now become the leading cause of preventable death
in
this culture, overtaking smoking.
The original impetus for writing this book came to me from
a dream in which I was
explaining to the slightly overweight wife
of a friend how gentle eating could help.
Inspiration then soon
led me to plan to write a book on the art of gentle living.
I
learned about “gentle eating” from a Franciscan sister
named Laurel Keyes
when I was living at the Santa Barbara mission
during the summer of 1969.
The method involves training our natural
self to eat in such a way that it can enjoy food
and be satisfied
without eating too much.
First, it is recommended that you serve
yourself small portions of the food you want to eat.
Yet the natural
self is made to understand that it can go back for more if it
wants to do so.
Second, take small bites and chew the food well,
savoring the flavors and relishing their enjoyment.
Third, relax
and eat slowly, pausing between bites.
Perhaps take a drink of
water to cleanse the palate.
By really enjoying the food and chewing
it well so that it can be digested easily
one has a full and rich
eating experience.
If you go back for more, repeat the process
of taking small portions and eating slowly.
Usually in this way
people are satisfied without eating as much
because the process
of enjoyment is spread over more time.
Of course a certain amount
of self-discipline is required,
and that is inevitable in any
diet or process of eating.
We can also extend the concept of gentle eating to include
other aspects.
I know that when I want to take a little weight
off my stomach, the answer is simply, “Eat less.”
I
find that I prefer to eat only two meals a day—breakfast and dinner.
In fact when I know I am going to a feast, that is my only meal
that day,
other than some juice at another time.
The ancient Greeks
usually ate two meals a day.
Children whose bodies are growing usually need three meals per day,
while adults who are no longer growing may find that two meals a day are adequate.
Some people find that they need to
eat more often, and they can eat smaller meals or snacks.
In our
modern society we have so many convenient technologies
that most
of us do not exert ourselves very much.
Thus we may not need to
eat as much.
Another theme of this book, that we may consider the consequences
of our actions to live more gently, also applies to eating.
With
more than eight billion humans on Earth now,
the sustainable use
of the land is becoming an increasing concern.
John Robbins in
his Diet for a New America
made a very persuasive case
for being vegetarian.
The eating of mammals uses much more agricultural
land and water
to provide those,mammals with nourishment than
is used for grains, vegetables,
and fruits that humans consume
directly.
If humans are going to share this Earth without
fighting
each other over water and land resources,
then we need to eat
less meat.
Also mammals are more evolved and have more consciousness.
Since we are also mammals, we may identify more with their suffering.
The way livestock are treated in the mass production of meat
causes
many conscientious people to forgo eating red meat.
A third reason
to avoid eating meat is because it is not very healthy for humans,
whose digestive tract evolved primarily for a vegetarian diet.
Humans only began eating meat a few million years ago.
Unlike
predators, which have a short digestive tract, humans have a long
one.
Cholesterol is only found in animal products, and those who
consume it from meat
may suffer from its excess in the heart and
circulatory system.
Toxins increase higher up on the food chain.
This is an important reason for avoiding or being careful about
eating not only meat
but also fish and seafood, especially the
larger fish such as tuna, shark, and swordfish.
As the oceans
and fresh water sources are becoming polluted,
this is an increasing
health concern.
A vegetarian diet offers excellent nutrients and scrumptious
flavors.
Nuts, seeds, and fruits can be eaten without even killing
any creature,
and vegetables can be grown and eaten without inflicting
much suffering.
The great African-American scientist George Washington
Carver,
who developed hundreds of products from peanuts, sweet
potatoes, and cowpeas,
prophesied that we must turn to the things
that grow, Nature’s true storehouse,
to replace even the ores
and oils that were put on Earth to give humanity a breathing spell.
I believe that people will eventually discover that a nut-burger,
for example,
not only is more healthy than a hamburger, but it
tastes much better too and is easier to digest.
Since the history
of human civilization began to be recorded about five thousand
years ago,
some humans have tried to live by raiding the livestock
and possessions of others.
Such behavior can no longer be tolerated
if the human species is to survive.
We cannot allow the extensive
exploitation of some to threaten and use violence against others.
Many have predicted that future wars may be fought over access
to fresh water.
We can help the process of sharing the Earth’s
resources fairly
by being gentle eaters of plants rather than
ferocious consumers of red meat.
Gentle living means being considerate of others while still
being true to ourselves.
Eating is often a social activity that
we share with others.
I admire vegans (strict vegetarians) who
forgo any animal products at all,
and I have been following that discipline for two years.
Many people are semi-vegetarians
and either eat some animal products such as
fish, fowl, eggs,
and dairy products, or they may eat
animal products and maybe
even meat on some occasions.
We each must make these choices by
our own conscience.
Jesus advised
his disciples to eat what was offered to them,
and he made the
important spiritual point that what comes out of our mouth
is
much more significant spiritually than what goes into it.
Buddhists,
Jains, and Hindus in their respect for all life are often vegetarians.
Seventh Day Adventists are strict vegetarians,
and studies have
shown that they are the healthiest group on Earth.
This chapter has been published in the book The Art of Gentle Living.
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