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What
is a Vegetarian?
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 The
Inner Art of Vegetarianism : Spiritual Practices for Body
by Carol
J. Adams
In her beautifully composed and thoughtful new book,
author and activist Carol Adams explores the inner life of spiritual
growth with the outer life of practical compassion. She shows how the
reasons for becoming a vegetarian (to promote health, care for other
animals, and express concern for the environment) are deeply wedded to
spiritual practice.
Adams reveals how the practice of creating mindfulness
and disciplining the midn meshes with becoming an activist for
nonviolence, and shows how in our busy and stressed-out world it is
essential to sustain and replenish the soul through spiritual
discipline. Adams discusses breath awareness, meditation, yoga,
journaling, and dream work as examples of how to keep true to yourself
and your beliefs, maintain your mental equilibrium, and prepare truly
delicious meals with thoughtfulness and care. This is an essential book
for all those who wish to have their soul nourished and follow the
spiritual path of vegetarianism.
How to encounter vegetarianism as a spiritual
practice.
"I practice yoga, meditate, and am also a social activist. The
Inner Art of Vegetarianism is my exploration of the deep interconnection
between these spiritual practices and my Veganism, which come together
for me as "spiritual vegetarianism." In the Inner Art of
Vegetarianism, I tell my own story and the spiritual lessons I learned
as I tried to introduce new practices into my life. Then I explore how
vegetarianism is meditation in action, as it, like meditation, involves
placing attention and not being distracted. It discusses the way that
many spiritual practices enable one to be a vegetarian, and the way that
vegetarianism enacts spiritual insights about embracing the "nowness"
of life, the interconnectedness of all life, and ahimsa, or nonharming.
The book represents a dialogue between spirituality and vegetarianism.
It is for spiritual practitioners who have wanted to engage with
vegetarianism at a spiritual and practical level, and for vegetarians
and animal activists who want to bring other spiritual practices into
their lives. It has several meditations, yoga poses, and journal-keeping
exercises. The Inner Art of Vegetarianism invites people, wherever they
are in their paths, into a deeply spiritual, deeply rewarding, daily
practice of living a life that honors connections." -- The
author, Carol J. Adams , July 24, 2000
"Carol Adams explores the inner life of spiritual
growth with the outer life of practical compassion. She examines the
reasons why becoming a vegetarian is deeply wedded to spiritual
practice. Adams shows how the practice of creating mindfulness and
disciplining the mind meshes with becoming an activist for nonviolence,
and reveals how in our busy and stressed-out world it is essential to
sustain and replenish the soul through spiritual discipline. This is an
empowering book for all those who wish to have their soul nourished and
follow the spiritual path of vegetarianism." -- The publisher,
Martin Rowe , August 11, 2000
An exploration of the spiritual path of vegetarianism
About the Author
Carol J. Adams is the author of the groundbreaking "The Sexual
Politics of Meat: A Feminist-Vegetarian Critical Theory", now in
its 10th anniversary edition, and "Neither Man nor Beast: Feminism
and the Defense of Animals". She is an activist, yoga practitioner,
and cook, and is finishing a book on living among meat eaters.
 Click
here to learn more about this book
Click
here for more books by Carol J. Adams
Click
here for Books on Vegetarianism
Click
here for Books on Veganism
Click
here for Ecological Philosophy Books
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What is a Vegetarian?
A vegetarian doesn't eat any dead animals or bits taken from
them. That means no meat, poultry (chicken, turkey etc), fish or other water animals
(prawns, crabs etc) or yukky things such as gelatin and animal fat. A vegan doesn't eat
any animal products including eggs or dairy (e.g. milk, cheese, butter).
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What is Gelatin?
Gelatin is used to gel some sweets, jelly, yogurts and other
products. It's made from boiling bones, hooves and horns of pigs, cows and horses. Check
the ingredients lists if you want to avoid it. If you see the words "guar gum"
or "agar agar", you're on safe ground - these are the veggie alternatives to
gelatin.
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What is Animal Fat?
Animal fat is just that - the fat from the bodies of dead
animals. It's boiled off the skin and used in some biscuits, margarine, cake, soups and
other things. Suet is the fat taken from around an animal's kidneys. Fortunately,
animal fat and suet are seen as unhealthy and loads of products now only use vegetable
fats - again just look at the ingredients. |
Replacing Butter
Replacing butter is easy. Practically all supermarkets sell
an own brand vegan margarine. As for ready-made pastry, Jus-Roll is excellent and in the
chiller cabinet of most supermarkets.
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Replacing Milk
Replace cow's milk with soy milk. It is available from almost
all supermarkets and certainly all health food shops. (The makes of Soya milk taste very different from one another, so if you don't
like one, try another. The supermarket own brands and Provamel (the ones sweetened with
apple juice) are good. Use Soya milk on your cereals, in tea, coffee and milk shakes just
as you would cow's milk. Check out this website:
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Replacing Cheese
You can buy vegan hard cheeses as well - ask your health shop
to sell Bute Island Foods 'Scheese' - there are several types such as Cheddar, Cheshire,
Edam, Gouda, Mozzarella and Stilton. For main meals such as pizzas, just put extra tomato
puree on the base and miss out the cheese - it tastes great. Missing cheese is
usually the main concern of people going vegan. Don't worry, you can buy some brill vegan
cheeses, but they're not sold in supermarkets - yet. Ask your health food shop to stock
'Better than cream cheese' - these are tubs of soft cheese (plain, or with added herbs or
garlic) and you won't be able to tell the difference from soft cheeses made from cow's
milk. |
Replacing Ice Cream
There are several makes of vegan ice cream, sold in some
supermarkets, but definitely at the health food stores in your town.
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This eco-friendly superstore has everything you need for green,
healthy living.
For example:
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Find out about the radically ethical stance on vegetarianism.
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Annotated links to hundreds of resource sites on
vegetarianism, veganism, healthy recipes, and more.
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Resources on Animal rights, animal experimentation,
endangered animals and more.
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