I have already commented on this post. I’ve decided to add something here. In many cases, we are victims of circumstance and must choose for ourselves when and how to address moral issues. To some extent all of us support evil in the world. Should we all go down as martyrs for acceptance of the evil around us? To what extent are we able to make a difference? I mean one person can have strong views about killing calf’s and another about for instance using plastic that kills fish in the ocean. Another about using gasoline that is destroying the national habitat in various parts of the world. Yet another about about climate change which is actually causing many people to live in starving conditions around the globe…. The list has no end. In the meantime most of us here at the portal are attempting to create the conditions and encouragement to have others take an interest in meditation and spiritual/psychic activities: which by the way can improve all these conditions.
Steve, now, I must confess that this answer struck me as a masterpiece of logical reasoning and spiritual pragmatism.
Yes, as clearly stated by Yogananda, this world is not suited to perfect Aihmsa.
In regard to dairy products, I give high credit to the words of Sri Yukteswar: milk and fresh dairy products are sattvic food. Probably in the times of SY many calves were used later as oxen, maybe not so many. I believe that SY was conscious that dairy farming is not the perfect non-violent business but he, as all the lineage of SRF masters, were eminently pragmatic minds.
I'm aware of the literature against dairy products, the contention mainly is that they contain addictive opioids, that they contain hormones, that they elevate IGF-1 and more.
Many of such opinions are driven by vegan researchers.
Yet, there are articles showing that hormones from milk are degraded in the gastrointestinal tract, that yogurt and fruit decrease the mortality ratio. I personally followed a vegan diet for 1.5 years and did not find dairy products so much addictive. Besides, my IGF-1 was very low.
The fact is that dairy products, if the body tolerates lactose and casein, have a distinctive nutritional advantage, especially so in essential amino acids quality. Soy products approach such nutritional completeness, but they are often expensive and untasty.
My choice has been to eat dairy products, but in controlled amounts and preferably lowfat and nonfat varieties. I may change that but so far I feel good with that.
I drink warm or hot milk in the winter, cold yogurt in the summer. Plus greek yogurt, lowfat Feta cheese, some local lowfat cheese and mozzarella, some seasoned cheese like parmesan. Years ago I used to make my own kefir, now I've not so much time.
