The sun., 1901-06-10
Cabbages and the Astral Body.

Mr CHAkLES W. LEADbEATER. an Eng
lish theosophst is lecturing in this coun-
try on 'Occultism and Vegetarianism.
There b no necessary intimate connection
between the two systems or PHILOSOPHERS,
1t is possible to pursue the occult on full
stomach; and among the carnivo' Gus peo-
pies many more persons have renounced
meat for their stomach's sake than for the
sake OF any devotion to recondite knowl-
edge Still, the mystical and visionary
temperament is much promoted by fast
Ing or a thin diet. Your beefeater may
be exposed to raids OF Nightmares, but he
is less liable to permanent ascetic hallu
cination. The monstrous mythologies Of
Asia don't speak we'll for the effect Of
vegetarianism upon the mental processes.
Mr.. LEApBEArER must have been in India
either in the spirit or. we we're going to
say, in the flesh. but the word must seem
impolite to vegetarian ears. Among the
Mahatmas he has learned to venerate
not eating them.
Everybody to his taste and to his system
The vegetarian who scratches meat from
his bill Of fare because he finds or thinks
he finds that meat disagrees with him is a
plain practical philosopher, following his
premises and acting for the greatest good
Of number one. II he likes meat but will
not eat il because he believes with Mr.
LEApREATER that every animal has soul
and that each slain animal has left
soul, filed with hatred and a sense OF
injustice. and the astral world is filled
with their souls, the influence OF which
reacts upon humanity. especially upon
children. giving them cruel natures the
man who 80 believes and puts his belief
in practice deserves respect, He has
sacrificed to n principle the qualification
OF desire. But in primitive faith, so far
as primitive faith can be judged from its
suryivals among savage peoples OF to-day.
the whole world was full Of souls Man.
beast. tree. plant rock. cloud. were ali in
one class. each with its indweling soul.
Potatoes and cabbages and carrots are
forms Of tree spirit or spirit Of vegetation.
The presence of life in tree or vegetable
was too evident to be neglected by tho
savage observers and reasoners
How can Mr.. LEApBEATER DO sure that
his lettuce salad is not deplored in the let
tuce division Of the astral world or that
astral peas are not rafting with indigna-
ton in their astral pods at the cruelty OF
man? The trees that bleed and groan In
VIRGIL and DANTE were no wonders to the
earlier world Of animism. world perhaps
no more surprising than that of occultism
Asparagus and celery make no plant au-
dible to the dull ear Of man. but how can
Mr.. LEApBEATER know the feelings and
opinions of celery and asparagus. There
are strange stories OF man-eating plants.
Suppose an oak or an elm could stretch
down lis arms and grasp man, even
a vegetarian. take him up and eat him.
Suppose potato had teeth instead Of eyes.
II IL pleasant enough TO be- n plant eater,
but II cannot be pleasant 10 bc eaten.
Mr. LEADBEATER doesn't carry his theory
OF souls and foods far enough. There are
plenty Of cases In which trees or inani-
mate objects have been tried for in
juring or killing men. and nogged. hanged
or burned after duo trial. conviction and
a jury Of caulinowers or Hubbard sqliashcs,
The truth is that man eats not according
to jistc ice, but by power. He preys upon
the weaker, whether he dimes upon roasl
ribs Of beef or cucImbers with tomatoes
and onions lie fattcns vegetables a.
cannibal- faiten captivcs Mr.. LEAD
BEArER compares meat eating with man
eating. Vegetable eating Is In the same
class Men don't eat from Justice, but
from hunger There are savagcs that will
not eat their totem. bird or plant or ami
NAL. save annually and sparingly az a sor,
OF sacrifice and sacrament or a magical
means of Increasing the supply. In tho
hard and early days when domestic ami
mails were scarce and precious. one would