We are a group of Ahimsa-Loving, Permaculturist, Ethical Vegans dedicated to creating a small-scale Vision:
1. But, non-injury is not merely non-killing.
ational demonstrations give the tools necessary to transform the earth into a Garden of Eden paradise of peace. We do this with kind encouragement, lifting burdens for all sentient beings, educational outreach, health and fitness activities, cottage industries for intercommunity trading as well as open-to-the-public businesses, interpersonal relationships, self-improvement and responsibility, upholding, envisioning, and inventing Sustainable technology and innovations that create all net-zero energy buildings, use renewable energies, reduce resource consumption, conserve water, purchase 2nd hand where possible, grow native organic plants, and taking part in all the creative work, science, arts, and recreation that bring us and those around us healing and joy. A world where the peaceful and beautiful Garden of Eden (with clean, non-polluted soil, water, air, plants, and living beings) for all living, sentient beings is a reality. A world where human and non-human animals can live freely, with the opportunity to appreciate their surroundings and raise their chosen, agreed-upon families in peace, without fearing for their lives or freedom being taken by others. We have freely come to the consensus of living an ethical, abolitionist, Ahimsa-loving Vegan lifestyle on our own and want to be surrounded by like-minded friends in person whom we recognize can help accomplish our living needs of food, shelter, clothing, and safe place to raise our Vegan families.
2. A world where everyone has access to adequate, healthy shelter, water, and Vegan food.
3. A world where love (being liberation, compassion, and respect), good will, honest commerce, and friendship is the common denominator.
4. A world that accepts all s*xual orientations and relationships, non-violent forms of revering a higher/larger consciousness/connecting to one’s spirituality, all different skin colors, nationalities, gender, social classes, and species as worthy from discrimination and/or exploitation.
5. A world that both recognizes private property as well as willing volunteers that donate time, energy, and resources to the causes that matter most in their lives.
6. A world where the currency actually represents a real product or service (with service contracts and payment plan agreements being an acceptable form of credit.).
7. A world that relies on renewable energy in all aspects and Sustainable, net-zero energy lifestyles.
8. A world free from pesticides, herbicides, insectides, and GMOs—where Organic is the norm and as such need never be labeled. (The former, however, will always will be labeled.).
9. A world that has laid down the weapons of war and embraced communication, understanding, and kindness.
10. A reforested world of arable land and food forests, where even the plants are sacred to the point of not killing or uprooting the whole plant when harvesting to eat (as is opposed to modern 21st century agriculture.).
11. A world of Sustainable technology, innovation, and creative solutions to all of life’s challenges.
12. A world that embraces the Arts, Sciences, Languages, Math, History, Recreation, freedom to peacefully connect with one's concept of higher power and freedom of speech.
13. A world where education is available for all.
14. A world where modesty/nudity is recognized only as an arbitrary cultural standard and has no place as a barometer of one’s morality.
15. A world where both self-actualization and honest, more deeply connected community relationships is the goal.
16. A world where sharing one’s garden with (rather than withholding from) animals in need is seen as “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and is a respected action of Stewardship. Definitions and Values:
Definition of Vegan: one who voluntarily strives 100% for a lifestyle abstaining from products of exploitation. Definition of Exploitation: any real or perceived benefit to one party at the expense and non-permission of another. Vegans believe human and non-human animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, use for entertainment, or exploit, including killing other animals for a so-called other animals’ sake, unless in the event of absolute self-defense because one’s life is being actively threatened by that animal, defense of one’s family (and not premeditated or invasive war—even then, one must use only enough force to stop the violence), or unless it is contractually agreed-upon Euthanasia for a slow and painful incurable disease after all routes of healing have been exhausted. Vegans are unequivocally opposed to slavery in all its forms. Perceived mockery or bullying is explicitly discouraged but is also not cause for violence by one’s self to one’s self, or to others. Products of Exploitation include but are not limited to: products consisting of body parts or the secretions of human and non-human animals (animal flesh, breast secretions, eggs, honey, fur, skin, bones, organs, semen/vaginal fluids, blood/plasma, etc.), unless these are obtained with explicit mutual written consent in the same language (with the exception of the mother-child breastfeeding relationship). This means theft and rape/forced artificial insemination is outlawed. Products of Exploitation also include products tested without consent on human or non-human animals (all studies would require the aforementioned explicit contractual permission), or any products of pleasure or entertainment derived from a slave relationship (circuses with animals, zoo, rodeo, forced confined pet relationships, aquariums, “Seaworld”; products from humans sold into s*x industries, sweat workshops, slave plantations, etc.). Vegans do not wear or purchase fur, silk, down, leather, or wool. Ahimsa: to do the least amount of harm and replace any thoughts of harm with love. From http://www.dlshq.org/teachings/ahimsa.htm:
"Ahimsa or non-injury, of course, implies non-killing. In its comprehensive meaning, Ahimsa or non-injury means entire abstinence from causing any pain or harm whatsoever to any living creature, either by thought, word, or deed. Non-injury requires a harmless mind, mouth, and hand. Ahimsa is not mere negative non-injury. It is positive, cosmic love. It is the development of a mental attitude in which hatred is replaced by love. Ahimsa is true sacrifice. Ahimsa is forgiveness. Ahimsa is Sakti (power). Ahimsa is true strength. SUBTLE FORMS OF HIMSA
Only the ordinary people think that Ahimsa is not to hurt any living being physically. This is but the gross form of Ahimsa. The vow of Ahimsa is broken even by showing contempt towards another man or woman, by entertaining unreasonable dislike for or prejudice towards anybody, by frowning at another, by hating another, by abusing another, by speaking ill of others, by backbiting or vilifying, by harbouring thoughts of hatred, by uttering lies, or by ruining another man in any way whatsoever. All harsh and rude speech is Himsa (violence or injury). Using harsh words to anyone is Himsa. Wounding the feelings of others by gesture, expression, tone of voice and unkind words is also Himsa. Slighting or showing deliberate discourtesy to a person before others is wanton Himsa. To approve of another's harsh actions is indirect Himsa. To fail to relieve another's pain, or even to neglect to go to the person in distress is a sort of Himsa. It is the sin of omission. Avoid strictly all forms of harshness, direct or indirect, positive or negative, immediate or delayed. Practice Ahimsa in its purest form and become divine. Ahimsa and Divinity are one. AHIMSA, A QUALITY OF THE STRONG
If you practice Ahimsa, you should put up with insults, rebukes, criticisms and assaults also. You should never retaliate nor wish to offend anybody even under extreme provocation. You should not entertain any evil thought against anybody. You should not harbour anger. You should not curse. You should be prepared to lose joyfully even your life in the cause of Truth. The Ultimate Truth can be attained only through Ahimsa. Ahimsa is the acme of bravery. Ahimsa is not possible without fearlessness. Non-violence cannot be practiced by weak persons. Ahimsa cannot be practiced by a man who is terribly afraid of death and has no power of resistance and endurance. It is a shield, not of the effeminate, but of the potent. Ahimsa is a quality of the strong. It is a weapon of the strong. When a man beats you with a stick, you should not entertain any thought of retaliation or any unkind feeling towards the tormentor. Ahimsa is the perfection of forgiveness." The Abolitionist Approach: http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/
