Bhairitu, > First off in terms of body chemistry people living in tropical zones > near the equator might have their blood go too acid eating meat and > drinking liquor which would bring on many health problems. Hence those > who did not indulge in these things did better living there and survived > passing on those genes. OTOH, folks living in northerly climes like > northern Europe actually survived with "portable" food such as meat and > the liquor they drank kept them from getting sick as water could be > contaminated leading to disease and the alcohol kept away the bad > parasites and organisms. The meat help balance the blood Ph as a > vegetarian diet could lead to too alkaline blood leading to other health > problems. Again those who were strong passed on those genes.
You've made an interesting biological point. However, I believe the rule about not eating meat has something to do with respect for other living beings. According to adherents of the vedic culture, eating meat can bring bad karma for the population, such as the preponderence for violence and wars. The rule against liquours I would guess could be based on the knowledge that drugs and alcohol promote the tamas dosha in humans. Thus, one cannot reach the higher levels of consciousness if he or she is addicted to these. > > As for morality, much of those rules were made up by priest/kings who > wanted to control the populace, avoid overpopulation (caused big > problems during famines). Sex is a natural hormonal drive and in most > cases even more powerful than hunger (if you're on a diet when you get > hungry trying thinking about sex and note how it can push the hunger > pangs out of the way). It's the consequences of excessive sex which > increases vata that is a problem and in olden times lead to > overpopulation due to lack of birth control. >From what understand, the kings in those olden days were under the advisory of a guru or a wise man who was knowlegeable of the vedic shastras. I believe that the intent of the control over sex was primarily spiritual by nature. But the secondary element was to raise better people in the population. > > What should be taken from "Vedic Society" is the practice of meditation > (yoga -- the real meaning of the term not those exercises meant to allow > one to sit for long periods in conducive meditation poses) to keep ones > consciousness evolving to higher and clearer states and realize what is > really going on in the world (something many kings did not want their > subjects to have as it would give them the ability to see through their > game). I agree with you wholeheartedly. Regards, John R.
