Pythagoras – math nerd or philosopher?

When I was at school we learned about Pythagoras in context of mathematics.

We were never told about his ‘weird’ side, nor that he is considered one of the most important philosophers ever.

This blog post is about a key quote (no weird stuff here).

Pythagoras, who lived between 580 and 500 BC said:

As long as man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other.

Let’s look more closely at one aspect…

These days, in our modern (so called civilized) era, increasing numbers of people, many of whom are young, are inflicting acts of terrible cruelty and barbarity on defenseless animals.

You may have read of modern psychologists’ comments that cruelty to animals by young people is an indicator that the individual concerned will later progress to harming people. This view is based on fact – statistics.

Here’s a thought:

Those kids torturing animals today could one day be coming for you!

Pythagoras, waaaayyy back in the 6th century BC, made a very pertinent comment indeed.

Moving on, we can look at it more deeply; even spiritually.

The spirit underlying the actions which Pythagoras speaks of is the big problem. The insensitive, selfish, uncaring and nasty attitudes involved will not simply disappear when dealing with people. In fact, such attitudes and behavior attract more of the same into your psyche. Have you ever noticed how when you get angry and do angry things, the urge to do even angrier things gets stronger? So much so that at times you may have trouble controlling yourself.

There is a lot more I could say about the quote above. Some of it is very deep and would only be understood by spiritual adepts. My aim here is to keep things simple though.

In summary then; we need to think more carefully about how we relate to animals. Some examples for the ‘modern consumer’:

• Do you eat food produced by inhumane animal farming methods? See this post for more. Not knowing is no excuse and might imply that you don’t care.
• Have you ever considered what might be happening to the cheap, mass produced chickens and other animals used by your local fast food chain?
• Are you one of those people who takes their pet to a local pound for frivolous reasons? A pet is for life. Many pets taken to pounds, besides suffering huge stress, get executed. Yes, killed. Some areas are worse than others.
• Do you care deeply for your pets; or are they some kind of accessory, child plaything, or (unhealthy) emotional crutch?
• Do you respect your pets?
• Have you altered your lifestyle so as not to be guilty of animal cruelty by association?

One final note; we are biological omnivores. Our natural state is to eat meat as part of diet.  A vegetarian diet is not the solution. We can choose to eat meat which we know is farmed humanely. Anything organic and some non organic. Have you thought of asking how your meat is produced? Do you even care?

Find more PETA videos at PETATV.com

Related posts:

1. Would you eat an animal which had been tortured before it died?
2. Australian live animal export cruelty
3. Pets & Life Balance
4. Are you poisoning your pet?
5. Guilt free sausages – living better & healthier