Ethical Living

 

 Buddha B Yoga's favorite Vegan & Vegetarian DC, VA & MD restaurants: 

 

Dear Buddha B Yogis, we asked you to give us a list of your favorite Vegan or Vegetarian restaurants in the Washington DC area and here are the top picks. Thank you so much. 

Also to the founders/owners of these restaurants (true spiritual activists)  who dare to care, the animals thank you, the planet thanks you and we thank you.

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

Namaste.

Valerie & Rexx

Cafe Green  (Vegan)

1513 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036
(17th St. btw. P + Q St.)
(202) 234-0505

                                                                Owner, D J Kim

 http://www.javagreen.net/

 

 Sticky Fingers Bakery (Vegan)

1320 Park Rd NW Washington, DC 20010

202-299-9700

                                                              Founder, Doran Petersan

http://www.stickyfingersbakery.com/ 

 

 

Elizabeth's Gone Raw  (Raw Vegan)

1341 L Street NW, Washington DC 20005

202-347-8349

 

                                                                                            Owner, Elizabeth Petty

 http://www.elizabethsgoneraw.com

 

 

 Maoz (Vegetarian)

     1817 M Street NW, Washington DC 20036

202-290-3117

 

 http://www.maozusa.com/

 

 

Great Sage Organic Green Cuisine (Vegan)

  5809 Clarksville Square Drive
Clarksville, MD 21029
443-535-9400

http://www.greatsage.com

 

 

Sunflower Restaurant (Vegetarian)

2 Locations

2531 Chain Bridge Rd Vienna, Virginia 22181

703-319-3888

6304 Lessburg Pike Falls Church, Virginia 22044

703-237-3888

http://www.crystalsunflower.com

 

 

 

 

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Yoga and Vegetarianism

The Diet of Enlightenment,

By Sharon Gannon

 

Why would a yogi want to be a vegetarian or vegan?

Jivamukti co-founder and author of Yoga and Vegetarianism, Sharonji enlightens readers by looking at the great yogi and sage Master Patanjali's Yoga Sutra and in particular the five practices (yamas) he offers to dissolve the "others" in our lives. She explains that Patanjali is speaking to those of us who are not yet enlightened. As long as we see "others" and not the One, then we should not harm (ahimsa), not lie (satya), not steal (asteya), not sexually abuse (brahmacharya), or greedily and selfishly take (aparigraha) from them. Furthermore, Sharonji goes on to explain how Patanjali tells us what good can come if we refrain from hurting others and practice the five yamas and in particular how these practices relate to a vegetarian (vegan) diet.

 

The following is a quick summary of yogini, spiritual activist, jivanmukta and guruji Sharon Gannon's incredible book.

 

 

 “M” is for Mantra:  Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu  

 

"May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all."

 

 

This sacred mantra reminds us that how we treat others is directly linked to our own happiness and liberation. The decisions we make in our everyday lives are subject to the law of karma (action). This universal law teaches us that for every action there will inevitably be a reaction. The daily practice of yoga guides us towards right action.

Yoga and Vegetarianism

The word yogameans ‘to yoke'. When most people think of yoga they think of the physical postures (asana) taught in their local gyms and yoga studios. However it is only one of the many yogic practices leading to enlightenment. Other yogic practices such as yamas (restraints), niyamas (observances), pranayama (breath regulation), and meditation  The practice of yoga is to yoke the small individual self with the cosmic and eternal higher Self. With this union, enlightenment and liberation are possible (jivanmukti).

As yogis we work to perfect our actions. However to perfect our actions we must first strive to perfect our thoughts. These are thoughts free of jealousy, anger, greed and hate. A way of practicing compassion 3 times a day is by choosing to be a plant-based only vegetarian or vegan diet.  By following the yamas as described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, we realize that our own actions (karma) bring about either suffering or enlightenment. The cycle of birth, life and death (samsara) is perpetuated by a meat-eating diet. If another living being suffers, the wheel of pain will continue. Nonharming (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), nonstealing (asteya), continence (brahmacharya) and greedlessness (aparigraha) are the five ethical restraints that make up the first limb of yoga. If the perception of “others” exists then purification of actions and liberation are not possible. As Patanjali reminds us, when we work for the freedom of “others”, we ourselves become free.

 

Spiritual Warrior: Living the life of a Jivanmukta

A jivanmukta is a liberated soul and a spiritual activist. The word jiva means “individual soul” and mukta means “liberation”. The jivanmukta seeks a conscious spiritual connection with all living beings in a mutually beneficial way. Today’s greatest problem towards spiritual growth is the way we see and treat animals and the Earth. However change begins with us. The yogi must embody the compassion that he or she is seeking for all beings, no matter how frustrated, outraged or angry. Cultivating the opposite state of mind, a spiritual activist can see the other person’s ability for kindness. Challenging a cultural norm and a lifetime of habits is not easy, but never get angry. Compassion is the greatest tool to convey the message of yoga and vegetarianism. This includes listening to others. Communicating means to share an experience with another. Talking down to someone or lecturing them is not mutually beneficial. We must always remember that whenever people are doing anything, they are doing the best they can at that time. The consumption of meat and dairy is an addiction to violence. Inflicting guilt will not solve or change the behavior. The yogi must first recognize that when people do something to harm another, they are getting something that they feel is positive from the experience which comes from a deep sense of incompleteness within themselves. Awakening to another’s suffering through compassion and positive communication, the yogi must offer a kind, clear and long lasting solution for all. So feeling and seeing what others experience and perceive is essential to true communication.  Realizing how we talk to others and the way we want them to feel about themselves is important. Ensuring that they do not feel judged or condemned is very important. The yogi wants to empower others to make conscious choices that will led to liberation (moksha) for all. If this world is a reflection of ourselves, human beings must dare to care.

Yoga is not for everyone. Yoga is for those seeking liberation. Not all beings want to recognize the possibility of freedom for all. Anyone who practices yoga has come to do so after many past life experiences. By understanding how the laws of karma operate, the yogi realizes that his or her own actions have a significant impact on the world around them. The yogi also realizes that their relationship to animals is their relationship to the Earth. By having the courage to change themselves first without assigning any blame or judgment towards others, the yogi transforms into the jivanmukta.

A good way to get started on a vegan diet is with a 21 Day Cleanse. Most physicians agree that it takes approximately three weeks for our digestive systems to eliminate the residual built up of toxins and biochemical addictions triggered from a meat and dairy eating diet. A yoga asana practice on the mat can help alleviate feelings of disconnectedness from oneself and others. With each posture corresponding to a specific energy center (chakra) and specific relationship, the practice of yoga asana is a hands on method for purifying our physical bodies, our relationships and our minds by revealing our true nature as not separate but interconnected to all beings.

Sri Sharonji