why to be vegetarian ? - alt.animals.ethics.vegetarian

Message from discussion why to be vegetarian ?

pearl

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More options Jul 1 2003, 3:06 pm

Newsgroups: alt.animals.ethics.vegetarian

From: "pearl" <t...@signguestbook.ie>

Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 20:10:13 +0100

Local: Tues, Jul 1 2003 3:10 pm

Subject: Re: why to be vegetarian ?

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"dustbird" <dustb...@cross.wind> wrote in message news:bdmrkj$40m@library2.airnews.net...

<..>

> I once read about some man who ate only one herb, and nothing else, and
> lived for many years.
> There are also said to be some Tibetan yogis who do not eat at all, but
> live by deep breathing and the absorption of sunlight.
> If these cases are true reports, then the body must have the ability to
> maintain itself indefinitely without food, although one would think it would
> have to have all the nutrients it needs to begin with. The metabolic cycle
> would then seem to be a closed system, needing only occasional nutrients,
> and based on energy rather than matter.
> So not only does one not have to be a meat-eater, one does not have to be
> a vegetarian. People to not have to raise animals for meat, nor to grow
> crops. Perhaps all a person would need would be an occasional vitamin, or
> perhaps a daily dose of manna. On the other hand, this might not work in an
> enviornment where the air is polluted, or the sunlight is weak.
> However, it might take some time to give up food. But maybe the best way
> is to go "cold turkey." Perhaps eating is an addiction.
> I don't think I will skip lunch today, though.

Relevant news story;

NASA To Study Man Who
Lives On Liquids And Light
Sydney Morning Herald
6-30-3

An Indian man, who claims to have survived only on liquids and
sunlight for eight years, has been invited by NASA to show them
how he does it.

Hira Ratan Manek - also known as Hirachand - a 64-year-old
mechanical engineer who lives in the southern state of Kerala,
apparently started disliking food in 1992, the Hindustan Times
newspaper reported.

In 1995, he went on a pilgrimage to the Himalayas and stopped
eating completely on his return.

His wife, Vimla, said: "Every evening he looks at the sun for one
hour without batting an eyelid. It is his main food. Occasionally he
takes coffee, tea or some other liquid."

Last June, scientists from the US space agency verified that Manek
spent 130 days surviving only on water, the report said.
They even named this subsistence on water and solar energy after
him: The HRM (Hira Ratan Manek) Phenomenon.

Mr Manek is now in the US to show NASA's scientists how he
survives without food.

The US space agency hopes to use the technique to solve food
storage and preservation problems on its expeditions, the report said.

Mr Manek said he "eats through his eyes" in the evening, when the
sun's ultraviolet rays are least harmful. He and his wife claim the
technique is totally scientific. However, doctors warn that staring at
the sun can make you blind.

His wife said: "He has a special taste for sun energy. He believes
only 5 per cent of human brain cells are used by most people. The
other 95 per cent can be activated through solar energy."

DPA

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/29/1056825280652.html

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