There is probably nothing wrong with eating eggs and dairy if the animals could roam freely in the meadows, but right now this is not like this is a rather cruel industry and animals are tortured and killed and killed almost just as much as for getting meat.
I am contemplating a lot if it is morally right to go in a vegan direction as long as I cannot see that no creature is suffering in the process. Are there any vegans in Ananda?
Thank you!
—Dm., Europe
Dear Dm,
Yogananda did recommend eating a vegetarian diet that included both milk and eggs. However, you are right, that for yogis who are making an effort to be sattvic and to practice ahimsa (non-violence) it seems most appropriate to limit one’s consumption of eggs and dairy products to those coming from animals which have been raised organically and as “free range” as possible. These practices help to ensure the highest vibration in the food. Have you tried to find such sources where you live? If they are not available, it would be a reasonable option to pursue a diet that is more vegan.
Even though such high vibration eggs and dairy products are readily available here in the US, there are some Ananda people who do follow a vegan diet, either because they’ve chosen to not consume any animal products for philosophical reasons, or because they find that they feel better when eating this way.
Thank you for your thoughtful question, and blessings to you in finding the right solution for you. Ask God and Guru to guide you to do the right thing, and feel for their response.
Blessings to you,
Nayaswami Mangala
