John wrote:
> Bhairitu,
>
>
>> First off in terms of body chemistry people living in tropical
>>
> zones
>
>> near the equator might have their blood go too acid eating meat and
>> drinking liquor which would bring on many health problems. Hence
>>
> those
>
>> who did not indulge in these things did better living there and
>>
> survived
>
>> passing on those genes. OTOH, folks living in northerly climes
>>
> like
>
>> northern Europe actually survived with "portable" food such as meat
>>
> and
>
>> the liquor they drank kept them from getting sick as water could be
>> contaminated leading to disease and the alcohol kept away the bad
>> parasites and organisms. The meat help balance the blood Ph as a
>> vegetarian diet could lead to too alkaline blood leading to other
>>
> health
>
>> problems. Again those who were strong passed on those genes.
>>
>
> You've made an interesting biological point. However, I believe the
> rule about not eating meat has something to do with respect for other
> living beings. According to adherents of the vedic culture, eating
> meat can bring bad karma for the population, such as the
> preponderence for violence and wars.
>
Probably nonsense. We really don't have any kind of good record as to
what really happened in a "Vedic Culture." Vegetarians can be violent
too. Fact is you don't need these tapas to be enlightened and that's
what really counts.
> The rule against liquours I would guess could be based on the
> knowledge that drugs and alcohol promote the tamas dosha in humans.
> Thus, one cannot reach the higher levels of consciousness if he or
> she is addicted to these.
>
>
Depends on the individual doesn't it? Liquor might well increase tama
dosha in kapha types but help alleviate a vata imbalance, temporarily
that is but not a long temp solution. Most people drink to calm down
after a stressful day which indicates that vata has become imbalanced.
>> As for morality, much of those rules were made up by priest/kings
>>
> who
>
>> wanted to control the populace, avoid overpopulation (caused big
>> problems during famines). Sex is a natural hormonal drive and in
>>
> most
>
>> cases even more powerful than hunger (if you're on a diet when you
>>
> get
>
>> hungry trying thinking about sex and note how it can push the
>>
> hunger
>
>> pangs out of the way). It's the consequences of excessive sex
>>
> which
>
>> increases vata that is a problem and in olden times lead to
>> overpopulation due to lack of birth control.
>>
>
> >From what understand, the kings in those olden days were under the
> advisory of a guru or a wise man who was knowlegeable of the vedic
> shastras. I believe that the intent of the control over sex was
> primarily spiritual by nature. But the secondary element was to
> raise better people in the population.
>
I have my doubts that leaders in those days were all that altruistic. I
think it was the "same ol' same ol'" or "how do I keep from being
tumbled." This seems to be a bunch of idealist stuff that gurus like to
promote. Go talk to some Indians or travel in India and you'll get a
better feel for it.
