Looks to me like most of you missed the point in my earlier message. I do not contradict the shastras and agamas nor what most of you have written about vegetarianism. Matter of fact I myself am a vegetarian. I do not eat at McDonald's nor french fries or meat. If only those of you who wrote back, cared to read my first posting on this topic, you would have noticed that I had let be known that Dannon Yogurt contains Gelatin and that I contacted the FDA regarding this. I would not have wasted my time calling Dannon and the FDA if Gelatin was not there in the yogurt. All that I was trying to point out was that it is for one to decide what they want to eat, when to eat, what to eat and where to eat. I never said that one should not follow or learn what's in the scriptures or the vedas and more. When I wrote it is a "matter of personal choice", I meant that it is for the individual to decide whether they want to read, listen and follow what our respective elders, scholars and others have given to us. This is akin to grooming our kids - telling them what to do and not, with a hope that when they grow up they will have a nice life. We strive and try to discipline them. Beyond this we pray to the almighty that our kids take to the right path in life. We make all efforts by caring for them and showing them the right path, just like our Acharyas lead us. But the point here is, even despite parents advices and teachings, if the kids go out and choose their own life style, it is they who made that choice. We did our best but the choice was theirs. Our influences was only to help them make a better choice. But eventually what they chose remained a decision made by them. You and me can only influence them but the final decision is theirs. Likewise, we have the Shastras, the scriptures, our Acharyas, Gurus, elders and more all pointing to how we should lead our lives, what we should eat, what we need to wear for the temple, what we can do to help others, and so on, which you may be knowing much more than I do. Whether one wants to follow these or not is something that the individual decides. And this person shoulders the responsibility for having made such a decision. By this I do not mean to say that no one should be advised or helped or guided. It would be wonderful to learn all great values and practise these. One may even be willing to listen and learn all these but may end up not following them. It's his or her decision. Learned friends, I do find some of you getting offended for no reason at all. Your outbursts! Does it help you?
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