<\/p>\n
Finding the Earthkeeper Crystal<\/p>\n
This audio story goes back to 1987 when Gurudeva and a mystical lady living on Kauai both had dream\/visions on the same day. It shows how the Satguru guides us from the inside, and gently gives us outer hints on how to fulfill our life. Iraivan’s 700-pound crystal is shown in the upper right corner of the above art.<\/p>\n
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Sanjiv loved school. It was a place to learn, play and most of all to interact with his friends. His sister Deepa, on the other hand, didn\u2019t mind school, but she really preferred vacation time. During the holidays, she got a chance to travel all the way from Los Angeles to India to see her grandparents. Both of them liked the system of education which allowed them to learn and explore subjects without having to endlessly prepare for exams, like she had seen her cousins in India do.<\/p>\n
However, what dampened Sanjiv\u2019s enthusiasm was John\u2019s constant teasing of Sanjiv about his vegetarian diet, \u201cHey, there goes our vegan!\u201d Sanjiv corrected him, explaining that since he drinks milk, he is a vegetarian, not a vegan.<\/p>\n
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One day, in the cafeteria during break time, Deepa opened her lunch box. Inside were three delicious soft rotis with pickles and vegetable curry. Sanjiv had already dived into his box and grabbed a roti. No sooner had he started eating when John came to their table, \u201cWow, that looks weird! What is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Deepa flushed in embarrassment, \u201cThat\u2019s my lunch!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo wonder you look so puny and pale. You should be eating a plate of chicken and fries, you know!\u201d John snorted.<\/p>\n
Deepa shot back, \u201cIf that is what you like, go ahead. I have never eaten chicken, so I can\u2019t possibly develop a taste for it now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sanjiv piped in, \u201cYou know we are Hindus, and Hindus don\u2019t generally eat meat.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d John asked. \u201cWhy on earth wouldn\u2019t you eat chicken or lamb? They are delicious!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur religion believes that it is wrong to slaughter animals for our own enjoyment. It earns us bad karma. But leaving religion aside, I really don\u2019t want to eat nonvegetarian food.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I don\u2019t follow a religion,\u201d John replied, \u201cbut my parents, who are Christians, teach that God meant for us to eat anything we want of what He put on this Earth. So their religion says it\u2019s OK. I believe we should do what is best for all people and for our planet. I don\u2019t think there is anything wrong with killing animals for food, if we are not cruel about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Sanjiv liked being a vegetarian, and he did not understand why John made such a big fuss over it. No doubt John was a bit of a bully, and criticized Sanjiv at every opportunity. In the baseball game, if Sanjiv did not play well, it was because he was a vegetarian and did not get enough protein. During wrestling class, Sanjiv was teased for his slim frame. Sanjiv pointed out that lots of great athletes are vegetarians\u2014runners, gymnasts, even body builders. They get plenty of protein without eating meat! But John refused to listen to any such talk.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A change came for Sanjiv when a new boy arrived in school, Robert. He was not a Hindu, but he was a vegetarian. John started bullying him, too. \u201cEnough is enough,\u201d thought Sanjiv, \u201cI\u2019m going to find a way to stop this.\u201d<\/p>\n
That afternoon when John entered the cafeteria, Sanjiv called out, \u201cHey John, come and taste this samosa.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot for me, friend!\u201d retorted John, \u201cGive me something that moves. You will never convince me your vegetables are better than my meat.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sanjiv saw his opening. \u201cPerhaps not, but I think I can make a pretty good case. Instead of continuing to squabble about this, let\u2019s have a real debate. I will talk on the advantages of a vegetarian diet, and you can speak about the advantages of a nonvegetarian diet. Let\u2019s do it in class, in front of everyone. If I win the debate, you will never again tease me or any other vegetarian in this school. If you win the debate, I won\u2019t object to your teasing anymore, but I\u2019m not about to start eating meat!\u201d Sanjiv said with a smile.<\/p>\n
A date for the debate was fixed, and the class took a lively interest, as did the teacher. The students were aware of the ongoing argument between the boys, and they wondered who would win.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
The teacher called John to come first and talk on his topic. John walked to the front of the classroom. His blonde hair was combed back neatly and his clothes were neatly pressed. He was a handsome boy, and an example of perfect fitness, one of the healthiest boys in the school.<\/p>\n
John smiled at the class and said, \u201cAnyone who has eaten fried chicken will agree with me that chicken tastes really yummy. So do pork and beef. Keeping our taste buds aside, which I know is very difficult\u201d\u2014John paused and grinned at the students\u2014\u201dnonvegetarian foods are rich in protein. I don\u2019t know if you are aware of this, but nonvegetarian foods have a natural content of Vitamin B12, which is not found in plant foods. Fish are a rich source of calcium, and for growing children calcium is extremely important for healthy bones. A protein-rich diet gives us strength, and it is with this strength that man has continued to exist and evolve over so many thousands of years. Haven\u2019t we all heard the age-old saying, \u2018Survival of the fittest?\u2019 To survive in this world, there is no room for weakness. Nonvegetarian food gives us that strength. We all know that lions attack deer. Has anyone heard of a deer attacking a lion?\u201d Laughing, he said, \u201cNonvegetarian food is for the lions here. The others can eat grass.\u201d John sat down.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
As though in testimony to John\u2019s words, Sanjiv became even more aware of his slim frame as he walked to the podium. However, he knew that slimness is not an indication of weakness. His great grandmother was ninety-eight years old, and she was in fine health. She had never eaten nonvegetarian food. But, their neighbor, a plump meat-eater, had dropped dead at 52 of a massive heart attack.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sanjiv began, \u201cIt is true that the Stone Age man ate all kinds of meat to survive in his very harsh environment, and this has continued to this day. However, Stone Age man was not worried about global warming. Today, we are not only physically evolved, we are also spiritually and intellectually more evolved. My religion, Hinduism, says that it\u2019s wrong to kill another living creature except in self defense, as this earns us bad karma. Having said that, I understand that not all of us here are Hindus. Therefore, I would like to add two more points favor of a vegetarian diet. One, nonvegetarian food is not healthy; and two, raising animals for meat is a major contributor to global warming.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
John, who until then was feeling he had the upper hand in the debate, was suddenly not so sure. He understood that nonvegetarian food can lead to obesity and high cholesterol\u2014both bad for us. But global warming? In spite of himself he blurted out, \u201cThat can\u2019t be right. How can meat eating contribute to global warming?\u201d As he voiced the question, John, for the first time that morning, became serious. He was an eager environmentalist. In fact, his entire family tried to live in a way to protect and preserve our planet. His father drove a hybrid car, and at home the children made a practice of conserving electricity.<\/p>\n
Sanjiv nodded, \u201cIn the year 2007, a Hindu, Rajendra Pachauri, won the Nobel Prize for Peace, along with Al Gore, as head of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization. When Dr. Pachauri discovered that growing meat for food contributes 18% of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, he became a vegetarian.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sanjiv paused and then continued, \u201cDo you know how much that 18% really means?\u201d<\/p>\n
When there was no response, he said, \u201cIt\u2019s more than all the pollution caused by cars and trucks in the world!\u201d<\/p>\n
The students were shocked. There was silence for a moment, then loud applause.<\/p>\n
The class concluded that Sanjiv\u2019s argument was better. After the teacher summarized the arguments, John came up to the front of the class to congratulate Sanjiv.<\/p>\n
John felt ashamed of his bold and critical remarks about vegetarians. In a bid to make amends he offered, \u201cSanjiv, you have given me a lot to think about! I never heard this stuff about global warming! How about I come over to your place one of these days for a nice vegetarian meal? I\u2019m sure your mom is a great cook.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sanjiv grinned, \u201cFor a second there I thought you had forgotten the conditions of the debate and were going to make another smart-aleck remark. I\u2019m glad we have put this behind us. Yes, please come over to my house. You will be amazed by my mom\u2019s vegetarian cooking. It\u2019s much more than carrots and celery.\u201d<\/p>\n
The two boys laughed and walked out together. Sanjiv was confident he was the last vegetarian John would insult.<\/p>\n