I was wondering if people on these boards consider compassion towards Animals in relation to there own Spiritual quest.
Is it important for spiritual enlightenment to abstain from eating animals,or does using them as sustenance allow us to be part of Nature?
If we are to beleive in Reincarnation,is it possible we are eating a deceased relative?
I am personally strictly Vegetarian,but wish to know others feelings on this matter.

I have come across many who ask that question. I believe it is like most things - a personal choice. No one should be made to feel bad because they cannot stick to a vegetarian diet. The act of saying a prayer before a meal is one way to thank the animals for their part in the scheme of things.

I have talked with people who suffer conflict in their religion because they struggle to do, not what is right, but what they think others think they should be doing. We are each on a personal and spiritual journey. We may or may not be heading in the same direction, but no two people will travel this road doing, thinking, wanting or eating the same things.

The important thing is intent. What do you intend to do to make this world a better place. Whatever you decide to do must be done with pure intent. In other words, not grudgingly. It must be done because it is something you and every aspect of your being is happy and comfortable with.

Life feeds on life. One must consume life in order to remain among the living.

I suppose we could be eating relatives, but how do we know that our ancestor isn't a tree. I, personally, would gladly give my life so that my descendants might live another day (but I was raised to think that the family is more important than the individual, & I was always taught not to fear death, so that's probably just me).

Just because a piece of broccoli doesn't scream, or move like we do, doesn't mean it feels any different. We must kill in order to live. We just need to remember to be grateful that something gave it's life (even though it involuntarily gave up the ghost) so that we may continue to live another day, be it a plant, or an animal, or anything else.

It certainly is an individual journey Erinrose.I have never seen fundimentalism convert anyone to any way of beleif. In fact being hard line generally can have the oposite effect. That is why I asked this,not to judge but to see what people feel.
Certainly I agree that intent ,and giving thanks,is important no matter how you go about doing things in life. Especially as a Society,people are being conditioned to lose touch with their true nature.
Its coming to a point though,where humanity will have to decide on which one of the major consumers of the environment we will have to give up,due to global warming. I cant see that it will be the car to go.

Actually I thought a study had been done that proved that plants do scream, but in a different way? Its been proven that plants can communicate, they can warn others of their impending doom and so on,  But animals do so in a way we cannot ignore when face to face with it in reality, instead many hide from this truth by buying prepackaged sterile packets of dead flesh that bear no resemblance to a dead animal.