The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the authoritative views of the Baha'i Faith.
…man’s food is intended to be grain and not meat. When mankind is more fully developed, the eating of meat will gradually cease. – Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 170
In several different places throughout the Baha’i teachings, Abdu’l-Baha speaks about the bodily differences between carnivores and humans. He points out that human teeth are shaped to grind grain or to bite into fruit, not to tear meat apart. Unlike a lion or an eagle, humans do not have to eat animals to survive. Our digestive tracts are also very different from carnivores, and aid us to break down and absorb food thoroughly.
So how does this diet Abdu’l-Baha suggests – simpler, less meat, more grains and fruits and vegetables – connect to the spiritual principles of the Baha’i Faith? In my view, the major Baha’i principles relate directly to this style of eating that Abdu’l-Baha encourages. Let’s take a look.
One of the fundamental principles of the Baha’i Faith is the independent investigation of truth. As intelligent, responsible human beings, we have a duty to investigate and search for truth our whole lives, so we can integrate what we learn in the material world into what we know from spiritual laws and principles.
We, especially those of us in the Western world, live in a meat-heavy society. But the Baha’i writings encourage us to move forward, away from current societal standards. Are we willing to investigate the truth as it relates to ourselves, our individual lives, and not simply reflect the values of society around us?
Another Baha’i principle–unity and the oneness of humanity—asserts that all of us belong to one family. What does that have to do with what we eat? It means that our food choices have a profound effect on other people, often with negative results.
If we really accept all people as one people, and we believe in the unity of the human race, then we would not want our actions to harm our brothers and sisters around the world. In fact, we would do everything we can to protect and assist them, wherever they live. In all our actions, including what we eat, we must consider how our actions can promote the oneness of humankind.
The Baha’i writings also ask us, as citizens of one world, to show kindness to all creatures, especially including animals. Consider what happens to animals “produced” in our farm factories. Raised in overcrowded and inhumane conditions from birth, they end their lives in horrific slaughterhouses. We even buy our meat in “pieces” so we don’t have to think that some living creature died, often under terrible conditions, for us. Remember that, then listen to these words of Abdu’l-Baha:
Regarding the eating of animal flesh and abstinence therefrom, …he [man] is not in need of meat, nor is he obliged to eat it. Even without eating meat he would live with the utmost vigour and energy. …Truly, the killing of animals and the eating of their meat is somewhat contrary to pity and compassion, and if one can content oneself with cereals, fruit, oil and nuts… it would undoubtedly be better and more pleasing. – Abdu’l-Baha, from a letter written to an individual Baha’i, Lights of Guidance, p. 295.
Does this mean Baha’is always refrain from eating meat as a hard and fast rule? No, it doesn’t:
…eating meat is not forbidden or unlawful, nay, the point is this, that it is possible for man to live without eating meat and still be strong. Meat is nourishing and containeth the elements of herbs, seeds and fruits; therefore sometimes it is essential for the sick and for the rehabilitation of health. There is no objection in the Law of God to the eating of meat if it is required. So if thy constitution is rather weak and thou findest meat useful, thou mayest eat it. – ibid, Lights of Guidance, p. 295.
Do science and religion agree in respect to these new dietary recommendations? Science has definitely caught up with what Abdu’l-Baha first taught in the early 1900’s. But sadly, since that time, our diet has worsened regarding the consumption of meat. After World War II until the present time, our meat intake has skyrocketed–and a number of health problems now plague us as a result. Science has proven that a diet which contains less meat and has more grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables, results in less obesity and a decrease in heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancer, among other illnesses.
What does your body look like on the inside? How are you nourishing it? This is more important than your physical appearance. Taking good care of our health enables us to serve humanity more fully, as Abdu’l-Baha tells us.
Margaret Tash, a registered dietitian, has had a lifelong interest in studying the impact food choices have on our health and in studying solutions to end the devastating effects of hunger in the world.
READ MOREYou May Also Like
Comments
In the future we will also have; a world government, universal education, the elimination of racial and religious wars, the elimination of extreme poverty, the equality of women and men, and the elimination of disease, to list just a few.
Baha'is are NOT WAITING for the future to express belief in these 'future' benefits to mankind. So why wait for the future of a ...plant-based diet for mankind? Are we not hiding behind a loophole, so to speak, for the sake of our tastebuds, by saying meat-eating is not forbidden? You could also believe poverty is OK and get away with it…it's not 'forbidden' to believe that.
"In regard to the question as to whether people ought to kill animals for food of not, there is no explicit statement in the Bahá'í Sacred Scriptures (as far as I know) in favor or against it. It is certain, however, that if man can live on a purely vegetarian diet and thus avoid killing animals, it would be much preferable. This is, however, a very controversial question and the Bahá'ís are free to express their views on it."
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, July ...9, 1931)
"I have read thy letter, wherein thou didst express astonishment at some of the laws of God, such as that concerning the hunting of innocent animals, creatures who are guilty of no wrong.
"Be thou not surprised at this. Reflect upon the inner realities of the universe, the secret wisdoms involved, the enigmas, the inter-relationships, the rules that govern all. For every part of the universe is connected with every other part by ties that are very powerful and admit of no imbalance, nor any slackening ...whatever. In the physical realm of creation, all things are eaters and eaten: the plant drinketh in the mineral, the animal doth crop and swallow down the plant, man doth feed upon the animal, and the mineral devoureth the body of man. Physical bodies are transferred past one barrier after another, from one life to another, and all things are subject to transformation and change, save only the essence of existence itself -- since it is constant and immutable, and upon it is founded the life of every species and kind, of every contingent reality throughout the whole of creation.
"Whensoever thou dost examine, through a microscope, the water man drinketh, the air he doth breathe, thou wilt see that with every breath of air, man taketh in an abundance of animal life, and with every draught of water, he also swalloweth down a great variety of animals. How could it ever be possible to put a stop to this process? For all creatures are eaters and eaten, and the very fabric of life is reared upon this fact. Were it not so, the ties that interlace all created things within the universe would be unravelled.
"And further, whensoever a thing is destroyed, and decayeth, and is cut off from life, it is promoted into a world that is greater than the world it knew before. It leaveth, for example, the life of the mineral and goeth forward into the life of the plant; then it departeth out of the vegetable life and ascendeth into that of the animal, following which it forsaketh the life of the animal and riseth into the realm of human life, and this is out of the grace of thy Lord, the Merciful, the Compassionate.
"I beg of God that He will assist thee to comprehend the mysteries that lie at the heart of creation, and will draw away the veil from before thine eyes and thy sister's, that the well-guarded secret may be disclosed unto thee, and the hidden mystery be revealed as clear as the sun at noonday; that He will aid thy sister and thy husband to enter the Kingdom of God, and will heal thee of every ill, whether physical or spiritual, that assaileth one in this life."
(Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 156)
Finally I EAT ALOT OF chicken sandwiches at McDonalds, because I am lonely, and I want to relax and be around people. A lot means I eat one chicken sandwich of the cheapest kind on average between 2 and 3 days a week every week.
So there you have it. This is my currwnt condition. I can write all this because it is on my mind continuously.. Yes, things look "good". now but as one gets older, there are these patterns of eating which we don't notice untl there are signs suddenly expose a physical/mental breakdown.
More finally, I am slowly makiing plans to leave Japan, to move to a develping/semi-developed country..