The Serene Way

“Societal choices, more often than not, are the result of expediency, statistical fallacy, sentiment, political or media pressure, or personal prejudice and vested interest.”

David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D.

Power vs. Force

I received a comment after posting a blog titled ‘Acceptance, Compassion & Tolerance Out of Anger & Resentment”, which was the catalyst for this entry.

“I (Also) Noticed On The Front Page Of Your Website That You Are Selling SHEEP SKIN Mats! That Is Not AHIMSA And It Certainly Is Not Peaceful And Serene For The Sweet Innocent Slaughtered SHEEP! :/ ~::~”

Why use meditation mats that are made from sweet innocent loving slaughtered sheep??? That is bloody bad karma and just mean. It is ahimsa for me to point this out to you. Why seek to make money from industries of horrid cruelty?You are a spiritually intelligent being. You seek to embody goodness and loving-kindness towards all beings…I believe. To do so we must wake up from participating in cruelty towards other beings… right? We must have an empathetic loving awakened conscience of loving-kindness towards ALL Life as Divine Spirit.

In order to fully discuss this position, let’s look at a definition of ahimsa. Wikipedia describes ahimsa as follows: “the principle of non-violence can or should be applied to different life forms…”

This resource (Wikipedia) continues, “Jains go out of their way so as not to hurt even small insects and other minuscule animals and make considerable efforts not to injure plants in everyday life as far as possible. In accordance to this policy, eating of some foods, whose cultivation harms small insects and worms, as well as agriculture itself, is to be abstained from.”

Research and information gathered from texts such as ‘The Gospel According to Rama Krishna’, books by Swami Vivekananda, and other volumes of spiritual writings state that ahimsa—a yama of Yoga— is the practice of non-violence or harmlessness in action, word, thought, deed or emotion. All we do creates a karmic affect, no matter its desired intention.

It is evident that this ‘practice’ has different meanings and applications depending on the environmental/cultural experience and religious belief of the individual. There are levels of adherence to this practice. This is true for all ideologies; it is the depth of conviction to the belief, whether individual or group, that plays a fundamental role in their actions and reactions. We need look no further than organized religion to see how extremes in the attachment to dogma have created tension and segregation, leading to struggle, suppression and war.

Traditionally, meditation was performed on natural animal skin such as tiger or deer, as I have seen in pictures of gurus and swamis. This provided a softer cushion for a more comfortable way to maintain a meditative posture; it also created a synergy with the meditative process by providing a deeper, natural connection to earth energies, thereby intensifying the benefits of meditation. I have not read that these pelts materialized out of cosmic energy; the animals’ lives did end in some manner.

Historically speaking and according to evolutionary theory, man was a hunter-gatherer. Being of aboriginal heritage—Native Canadian M’ic M’aq—my family’s heritage and culture dictated that whenever an animal is taken for food, all parts of that animal are used in order to honour a manifestation of gratitude for that which the earth provides. As a child, I remember that after the moose hunt (which my extended family continues) the meat was canned or frozen, the antlers were used for the handles of eating utensils, and the hide for leather garments, snowshoes and various ties and bindings. All was treated as a gift from Mother Earth and what She provided for our sustenance.

The sheep in question are from my brother’s farm. He has a small flock, and his intention is to use the entire animal, in keeping with his cultural heritage, in order to provide for his family. The sheep run free in the pastures on 108 acres, eating grass and natural feed. They are tended with love and kindness. They are protected from coyotes by dogs, donkeys and a llama provided by my brother and his family. His wife is the ‘at home’ veterinarian who provides the occasional antibiotic to ensure the sheep’s health, and is doula or mid-wife during lambing season. In the winter, lambs that are born too small or too many at a time for a single ewe to care for are taken into the house, dried with towels, and bottle-fed—one of the great experiences I have had the pleasure to participate in.

Indeed, I take issue with commercial farming and the poor treatment of livestock for the gathering of wealth for the few. The treatment of animals on commercial farms is in truth a manifested aspect of profit and greed. I also take issue with the reckless harvest of animals of the sea for a singular use, such as longline net capture of sharks for the sole purpose of obtaining their fins, which some claim are an aphrodisiac. This materialistic approach has caused many problems. Commercial farms have created the need to regulate society’s food channels. Yet, with a single bacterial outbreak in an industrial processing plant, an entire food network delivers health hazards. Recently, an outbreak of listeriosis in a packaging plant in Canada played havoc on the food channel, resulting in a recall of processed, packaged meat. This past summer tomatoes had to be removed from the shelves due to problems at a processing plant in the United States. Both of these incidents also affected fast food outlets, including the corporate giant MacDonald’s.

I often think that we have formulated a hierarchy based on what we perceive as sentient beings. It is only our current perception that dictates these ideas; they continue to change and develop based on scientific research, which increases our understanding. There are many ‘seekers’ who have taken leave of society to live in renunciation in the wilderness. There, they develop the ability to listen to the wisdom of the tree and the messages upon the wind. There is even mention of those who can live on air alone; they receive sustenance from the energy inherent in everything that is, so highly developed is their connection to the divine source.

A tree is alive—it has a series of capillaries that carry nutrients throughout its body, similar in function and design to the human lymph and digestive systems. Firstly, in terms of the lymph system, it has circulatory vessels without a central pump which regulate defense mechanisms. Secondly, like the digestive system, fluid is moved by a process of contraction called peristalsis. A tree has life, it exists, it is energy. The same can be said of all plants. They react to external stimuli: lower vibrations limit growth, whereas higher energies accelerate it. If you sing to a plant it will respond positively with growth; if you yell at it, so too will it wilt.

Man, in being a form of compressed energy, is in essence the same as a potato, a carrot, an apple or bacteria, only differing in the form of the expression of that energy. Anything we ingest is an aspect of energy, which is necessary for cellular metabolism and the continuance of a physical form. All life forms must absorb energy in order to sustain their life cycle. The process is consistent and paramount for all life—energy, in some form, is assimilated and then expunged to return into the fold of a universal balance.

Our current perspective deems an animal closer to our own existence. It is our own ego-centricity and the rationalization of projecting human characteristics onto other life forms that creates an imposed judgment. Pulling a carrot out of the ground ends the life cycle of that plant, the same as ending the life cycle of any other organism, whether or not we currently consider it to be sentient. If one is sacred, then all is sacred.

On a Path to Light, only when we accept all forms of energy as equal will we truly realize that all life is sacrosanct, and to be accepted as a blessing.

© T.S. (Tim) White, 2008

All rights reserved

www.TheSereneWay.com

To be continued…

With a further discussion of commercial farming and Ahimsa

“Only human beings can change their evil ways, their ups and downs, pitfalls, shortcomings, anger, pride—all their bad qualities. Then they can experience their own divine nature.”

Paramahamsa Hariharananda

In Tibetan Book of the Living and Dying, Sogyal Rinpoche states, “Hatred and anger, when truly recognized, arise with diamond like clarity, free from grasping; this is the ‘mirror like wisdom.” Here is the wonderful imagery of the mirror, a reflection upon the surface. When we are not in front of the mirror there is only the reflective surface; it is only when we stand in front of it that we see a reflection of our physical self. There are many surfaces upon which there are reflections, whether a mirror, a conversation, or words upon a blank piece of paper. Each of these allows us the opportunity for realization and an unfolding of awareness of the self. To that end, when we fight or argue, we are arguing against and with ourselves; the mirror absent of the divine self.

Anger and resentment can manifest with righteous indignation. A recent posting, titled “The Secret & Law of Attraction as Fabrications of Greed”, elicited the following response:

“I read the article you posted and thoroughly agree with its central precepts. These are concepts that I have felt inwardly to be true for a long time.

However, the downfall of the materialism which you mentioned, that the Gnostics and Cathars considered to ruin the souls of men and lead them away from the path of light, can only be achieved by the demise of world Jewry and the final destruction of ‘man-centred’ Judaeo-Christian thinking everywhere.

The Jew is the archetype of capitalist man and only stands to gain from a sterile economic worldview. That is why you find them as the the spiritus rectus behind globalisation and the New World Order—the ferment of decomposition of peoples and nations.”

In this response we see a concept that singles out a cultural/religious group in order to place blame. To be true to the facts, this group was given, by another religious group, the fiduciary responsibility that these ‘Christians’ were unwilling to shoulder based on the dogma of their belief system. Even then, there was an occlusion from society for those that were given this usury provision. Historically speaking, there has always been a division based on class, economic background and heritage, whether the kings and queens of ancient Egypt, the caste system of India, or the hierarchy of any other society, old or new. The only concern involves the society that creates this segregation and separation and continues to maintain the illusion of elitism.

A ‘man-centred’ ideology is not limited to Judeo-Christian belief—it is a fact of the world around us, no matter the cultural or religious background. It is this ‘man-centred-ness’ that prohibits forward movement and progress. It matters little what we say ‘against’ current belief systems; it matters little that we ‘point fingers’ or argue and feel resentment towards any group. It is what we can do individually to change our self, our immediate circle of influence in terms of acceptance and tolerance offered with compassion, that is important.

The manifestation of anger can result from something as trivial as squeezing a tube of toothpaste from the top. Again, the egocentric person feels resentment when their preferences are seemingly disregarded. This resentment unleashes anger. The tube of toothpaste has no feeling whether it is squeezed from the top or bottom. It is within the self that these emotions are created with various ego-centred rationalizations. These too are illusions of the mind, the distorted reflections of the mind upon the mirror.

Anger and resentment are currently observed every day as ‘road rage’. There seems to be a sense of entitlement to space and an inability to have patience (i.e., tolerance, consideration and empathy). The space is not ours, as space itself is an illusion and we are merely here to ‘tend’ to this world and each other. We are integrally connected to all that is around us; cause and effect is a ‘two-way street’—that which is given out is returned.

I have seen cars weave in and out of traffic to get to the ‘head of the line’, speeding as if in a race. There is little difference in the minute or two gained, or reaching the next street light before someone else. If we are moving we will get to our destination. In the meantime, if we appreciate all that is around us, we realize acceptance and tolerance.

Many times I have been cut off while riding my bicycle in traffic. Luckily, on a bike you can stop pretty quickly, and being out in ‘space’ you are able to breathe. It is within this breathing that we are able to manifest tolerance and compassion, and experience the wonder of the world around us.

We can only change our self. We can alter how we react to the mirror in front of us. It is with awareness that we can transmute anger and resentment—whether they stem from economic or cultural factors, religious elitism, or simple daily stressors—into a realization of compassion, tolerance and acceptance on a Path to Light.

©T.S. (Tim) White, 2008

All rights reserved.

www.TheSereneWay.com

Tolerance, Acceptance & Understanding

World Talk Radio - Amendments to the Food & Drugs Act

Canadian Natural Health Coalition

Policy Statement on Bill C51

www.cnhc.ca

Expert Panel Discussion - Bill C51

How will Bill C51 impact Canada?

Join the expert panel discussion on Thursday, June 26

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm  

OISE - 252 Bloor St.

Toronto

Bill c51 - Toronto Rally - June 14

Rally against Bill C51 (amendments to the Food & Drugs Act) at Queen’s Park this Saturday, June 14

Bill C51 – Response to government agenda  The Big Pharmaceutical lobby continues to strong arm the government into pushing through legislation to change the Food & Drug Act to include ‘Therapeutic Products’. What affect will this have on our ability to choose traditional options for preventative care? At what expense to the current health care model will this push a beleaguered system over the brink?   Our government is telling us, “This Bill is part of our strategy to ensure that food and products that are available on the Canadian Market are safe for consumers.” How can they ensure this when laws governing prescription drugs or even day to day products lack this ability? Recently, it was reported by Canadian Press that ‘The federal government is considering declaring a substance used to make chewing gum as toxic after tests on the colourless liquid with a sweet, fruity smell linked to cancer…” Apparently, there is a law in place to protect the consumer from this ‘toxic’ substance.  “All of Canada’s major international trading partners have the authority to recall a drug, cosmetic or medical device if a serious incident were to occur. While most companies willingly remove dangerous product from the market, without this Bill, Canada would not have the authority to intervene if a company chooses to ignore requests for withdrawal.” Teflon pans that are now prohibited from sale in Canada, again, there is a law in place that can remove products and ensure consumer safety. This new legislation certainly didn’t have an impact upon this product and yet the government managed to deal with the issue.  A recent response to an email regarding Bill C-51 elicited the following response, “Under this Bill, natural health products will continue to fall under their own unique set of regulations and the provisions for safety and quality will continue to be appropriate to the relatively low risk profile of this class of products.” Clearly a law already exists for consumer protection. Safety and quality?  Where are these terms in relation to prescription drugs, I was on the subway the other day and one of the advertisements stated, “In Canada, 300,000 hospitalized for misuse of prescription drugs.” That’s one percent of the entire population hospitalized for taking what is prescribed. Can the same be said for supplements? A recent article in MacLean’s Magazine (Apr. 21^st, 2008) titled ‘Vitamins can be hazardous to your health.’ quoted a British 2003 study that indicated, “…34 vitamins and mineral studied, one could cause cancer, six could induce ‘irreversible, harmful effects’ and three could have ‘short-term harmful effects’. Here’s the kicker, at levels over 10 times the recommended dosage. Yet little was said in the article regarding even one ray of hope in regard to the positive effects of supplementation. A Canadian University study in the 1950’s of vitamin IV therapies on paranoid schizophrenics found that within a three month period participants received a clean bill of health. There are countless other examples that we don’t get to see and aren’t covered in the media.  What constitutes low risk?  Definitely not the prescription drug advertisements that inundate our televisions, where we see untold numbers of ads for ‘prescription’ drugs that have a list of side effects as long as your arm. Take a bottle of aspirin and you could end up dead. Give a child a tube of toothpaste and they too could have ‘irreversible, harmful effects’.  As for low risk, I ask, is death a relatively ‘low risk profile’. We have seen numerous drugs flood the market only to be taken off when further ‘testing’ reveals levels of risk higher than previously claimed. We don’t have to look that far back to remember Vioxx. Are current laws protecting the consumer in this case?  Who’s most at risk? Another quote from a message regarding the government’s stance on Bill C-51; “We need fines in the Bill to deter criminals from abusing their privilege to market safe products … the Bill also says that the fines must be tailored to the risk of the product.” Would these laws be applicable to the Big Pharmaceuticals or better said are they being applied to them now? I think not and I don’t think so! If any supplements to come under this legislation, it is the Big Pharmaceutical companies have the most to gain. They are unable to patent plant matter, yet when they discover a chemical compound that affects the body, they can patent that process and the synthesis of the ‘drug’. Who pays for it? We do.  Research since the discovery of ‘sulpha’ drugs in 1850’s has changed from the more holistic approach to a prescription approach, in no way affecting the underlying issues regarding disease. Will mediation become part of this ‘therapeutic product’ as recent discoveries have proven its effect on all systems of the body? What criteria would be used to define a ‘therapeutic product’? The advertising claim on most of the food we eat certainly is becoming more oriented to the therapeutic affect of ingredients. Is our food destined to become by prescription only? Are the current laws protecting the consumer or the large corporations? In the instances here, Big Pharmaceutical companies are the beneficiaries of current regulations and they are sure to continue to be unless we act.  Please write to your governmental representatives today, to stop this process.
Canada - www.StopC51.com
US - http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/   Please sign the petition and forward this information, we are all affected by these changes. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/StopC51 Peace, love & lightT.S. (Tim) White

Oprah, we all need your help!!!

The state of health of all North Americans is in jeopardy.

Here in Canada big pharma is strong arming the government to pass Bill C51 (www.stopc51.com) There is a similar Codex in the US and this government is following its southern counterparts lead. This would restrict access to natural remedies, such as vitamin and herbal supplements to a prescription basis. The government would have the authority to enter one’s home without a warrant and seize one’s property as well as levy fines upwards of $2,000,000 and jail time for drying herbs in your own home.

I’ve signed the petition “Stop Bill C-51″& http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/StopC51

This is the note I attached to my signing of the petition.

12:50 pm PDT, May 7, Tim White, Canada

Thanks in part to natural supplements and herbal remedies; I have been able to control my Irritable Bowel Disorder for the past 2 1/2 years. It is with this continued support that I do not have to avail of the health care system at a great expense. Giving in to Pharmaceutical companies is just another indication of how government is for the corporate sector and not of the people for the people. Stop the process of this act immediately. How much more can the health care system sustain. Extended Health Care premiums would skyrocket and how few can afford them as it is.

We must all fight to ensure that neither government enacts laws that restrict access to our ability to take care of ourselves. We must be free of big brother Pharma trying to squeeze more out of the average citizen by its lobby.

We need your help to get this message out to as many as possible so we can protect our right to avail of natural products and be responsible for our own health and wellbeing.

Many thanks

Tim

I agree that in torture - animals vs. humans - we are no more important than any animal and in turn they are no more important that we are.

The seal hunt has many personal triggers for me, as I have seen the place that I come from, Newfoundland, completely transformed and broken down with the failure of the fisheries. It is the fishermen themselves that have felt the brunt of this, though they had been telling the governments for years of excess international fishing which continues unabated, and the effects of the closure of the seal hunt upon fish stocks. Outside observers and experts had their own views and statistics that did not take into account the observations of a people who had spent their lives working with the ebb and flow of nature.

It has been a tradition for these people that have lost their livelihoods—much has been taken from these people of the sea which has seen an exodus from the province, which had been built on the fishery. They did not use just the pelts for warmth or fashion, the entire animal was and still is utilized – omega 3 oils anyone? The traditional flipper pie still exists; seal meat is still consumed, though one would have to take the current state of the ocean and mercury levels of larger sea animals into account for the safety of this practice.

I question this particular target – the seal hunt - why not all international fisheries for over fishing and all the industries that have created a far greater concern with environmental pollutants. If the goal is to protect, then where are our priorities?

The media and various interest groups continue to proliferate the idea that baby white coats are still targeted; this is sensationalist hype and emotional manipulation. This has not been the case for years. If you’d like to see a different take on the seal I would direct you to the movie “Happy Feet” to see the ferocity of this animal, which eats its weight in fish on a daily basis.

The latest ‘protest group’ effort on the East Coast, not even near the most of the hunt, had Paul McCartney and Heather Mills in the midst of the milieu. There was a posed picture of them with a white coat. Well, that baby seal being touched my human hands, lost its mother (mother seals with pups are not hunted). Once touched, the mother will abandon its offspring, in this case it was not the hunt that destroyed the baby white coat but the opportunity for an emotionally charged photo.

Now, the east coast of Canada, Newfoundland in particular has off shore oil reserves. Yes, a different resource but non renewable and what effect will this have should there be an environmental disaster created by oil spill or even worse a terrorist attack? This area is along the gulf current that runs to Europe with great winds and storms travelling this route. Will the animals of the sea then be protected? What greater potential for loss is there here? What wars are being fought based on oil production and the loss of human lives for this cause? These are just questions I ask myself, where does the balance exist? Is it six in one and half a dozen in the other?

I have no answers, only my heart which belongs to my home. Now it is on a slick and oily slope filling the pockets of international corporations and the feeding frenzy of over consumption. The livelihood lost from the ocean’s natural abundance, where there was a provision of responsible management by these people for centuries without ill effect.

© T.S. (Tim) White