24 January 2026 The Search
I have struggled, looking for my people. It is, perhaps, impossible to find the people with whom you agree completely. George Fox, the founder of Quakerism, could not find anyone who could “speak to my condition”. He looked for priests and others of like mind and, ultimately, had to preach his views to gather around himself those of a similar mind. Perhaps this is my issue - I am not preaching.
Commonality
The life of non-violence is central to my entire journey, including my spiritual journey. It always has been. As a child, I watched violence and was confused. Adults tried to convince me that I was “too sensitive”, but I was in touch with my spiritual nature. I cannot have spiritual communion with those who practice violence. This is central to my community.
The Way Forward
We can look at the world and be saddened that it is not what we want it to be. We can wallow in this realisation, or we can help to create the world in which we want to live. I choose the latter.
Quakers
There are things I admire about Quakers. I even have Quaker ancestors and have this added affinity. In some lifetimes, I could be a Quaker, but in this one where I am vegan, I cannot. Quakers like to present themselves as having been at the forefront of the anti-slavery campaign in the Americas, but this is not exactly the case. Yes, they eventually came into this movement, but only after some Quakers stood out against the group, calling them out for owning slaves (google “Benjamin Lay” for more on this). Current Quakers are asleep - they are willing to be part of the problem of violence, rather than the solution. Yes, there are a few vegan Quakers speaking out - bless you all! - but the Society is not ready for this new world, yet. So, my journey, it seems, will go on without The Religious Society of Friends. Maybe someday we could have communion, but not now.
Finding You
If what I discuss on this site speaks to your spirit, I welcome you into our community of peace!
17 January 2026 Reflection
Every day, we learn something along the path. This morning I was reflecting on two events this week - one was mentioned in my last post (asking Quakers about animal “food” after meetings) and another was an interaction with someone who was attempting to change the agreed terms of our interactions. In the second case, suffice it to say that there was an attempt to coerce me to do something after we had agreed on a course of action. I stood up for myself (repeatedly) and the other person finally backed down. I replayed the events in my mind for awhile afterwards. These events had me reflecting this morning on the place of consistency and integrity in our spiritual journey.
True to Yourself
Do you find yourself agreeing to things that you don’t think are appropriate? Do you find yourself silent to things you think are important? The spiritual journey is not just about meditation, contemplation and similar - it is also about living an authentic life. Some would have you believe that speaking out is somehow aggressive or inappropriate, but that is the theology of cowardice. Remaining consistent with your values and speaking out for yourself and others is central to spiritual development.
Spiritual Company
If I had agreed to go to that Quaker Meeting house mentioned in my last post and afterwards sat silently while others consumed the flesh of innocents or the milk of their dead babies, this would not have been a spiritually positive experience. I would have been untrue and walking backwards on the path. Don’t let others hinder you on the path. As the Buddha said:
If for company you cannot find a wise and prudent friend who leads a good life, then, like a king who leaves behind a conquered kingdom, or like a lone elephant in the elephant forest, you should go your way alone.
Better it is to live alone; there is no fellowship with a fool. Live alone and do no evil; be carefree like an elephant in the elephant forest.
Dhammapada, Verses 329 - 330
Following the Light
You know what is right. The truth is within you. When you stray from this knowledge because of the influence of those not consistent, you will struggle and suffer. Quakers talk about the inner light and Buddhists refer to your Buddha nature. Whichever you prefer - follow that truth that is your birthright.
15 January 2026 An Interaction
Yesterday, I sent an email to a Quaker group in Aotearoa New Zealand. I thought it would be nice if my wife and I could have local fellowship at the new city to which we are moving. I sent an email that included the following:
Kia ora,
My wife and I are moving to Wellington and we are looking for a local Quaker meeting without animal consumption following the meeting. We have been limited to online meetings so far, as we cannot combine our spiritual practice with violence.
Can you advise if your meeting consumes animals or their excretions at the end of the meeting? If so, any local meetings which don’t and you can provide details regarding would be much appreciated.
Arohanui,
Gerald
I won’t include the full response, but it mentioned animals and their bodily fluids being available after Meetings and then included the additional comment, “We have several vegans and vegetarians that attend our meetings and do not eat that to which they are opposed.”
I thought about this some hours. I had one thought of being sad about this and just saying nothing - a typical Kiwi response. I also had another thought of how this was something that needed to be discussed.
My ancestors include brave Quakers who stood up for their beliefs, to the point that they had to leave England to practice Quakerism.
I decided that this was something to discuss. My response follows.
Hello.
Thanks for your prompt email.
Yes, we realise that some can look the other way where violence and theft are involved, but we cannot. Just as a few of our Quaker ancestors spoke out against slavery and the other wrongs of their time (against the majority of Friends), this is our time to speak out and advocate for those who do not have a voice of their own.
Speaking out against wrongs such as the events in Palestine (for example) while killing other innocents is not consistent with our testimony.
We will continue our search for our Friends.
Ngā mihi,
Gerald
The world is full of silence in the face of oppression. While some speak out against oppression, it is often related to foreign wars and attrocities - things that require little or no change in their own lives. It often feels like a “feel good” thing - armchair activism - where a person can feel righteous and have to make no changes. What about the attrocities for which you are responsible?
Add to this, I find myself thinking about how Quakerism is dying. Check the statistics online for yourself, but there are estimated to be less than 400,000 Quakers worldwide and the numbers continue to decline. A once vibrant community has resigned itself to a split between the majority which has now become evangelical Christians and the non-programmed part, which revolves around social progress actions. The spirit that moved George Fox and early Friends has been replaced by copying others or becoming a social justice organisation. Social justice is admirable, but it is not enough for Children of the Light.
The first generations believed that they were bringing heaven on earth and they were willing to suffer and die to make this happen. If we still wanted heaven on earth, could we ever imagine that it involved killing trillions of innocent beings each year?
We are not of this world, but are redeemed out of it. Its ways, its customs, its worships, its weapons, we cannot follow. For we are come into the peaceable kingdom of Christ, where swords are beaten into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks, and none shall hurt nor destroy. — George Fox, Epistle 203 (1659)
We have lost our way, but it is right there in front of us. It begins with empathy and compassion. It continues with being willing to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. It continues with beginning our activism with ourselves - first purify your own heart and life.
No, I am not content to go to a Meeting followed by tearing apart the corpses of innocent beings - what sort of spiritual experience is that? No, I am not content to remain silent while the milk stolen from dead babies is shared. If I cannot speak up about things as clear as this, my worship is a hoax.
Start with your own heart and lives. Commit to doing no harm and you are already on the path.
23 November 2025 Gods as a Subset of Love
The gods of man are a subset of love, as a blade of grass is a subset of the cosmos. Their creation might (or might not) be originally to express love - just as we create childrens’ stories to convey a teaching. They will never approach the universal expansiveness of love. Just as Walt Whitman was able to look at blades of grass and compose beauty, imperfect fables can be the basis of growth, if grounded in love.
Love Does no Harm
Paul of the New Testament could say that “God is love” and then advocate for slavery. This is not the way of love. The same deity ordered murder in the Old Testament. This is not the way of love. Some could build upon this deity to reach an understanding of love, just as some build upon this deity to destroy.
Love Within us
Love is kind, love is long-suffering, love is expansive. The way of love is within us all. Love is the divine within us - it is a gift, an honour and a responsibility.
Looking for Love
If you are looking for love, the first place you will always find it is within yourself. If you are trying to find love by shaming yourself or others, you are not turned to the light. First, look within yourself. See the goodness - the spark of the divine - within yourself. Once you nurture this flame, you will be a light to others.
You are love.
21 November 2025 Focus of Spiritual Practice
If you are living in scarity, you aren’t following the path. Sure, there will be things that you won’t want, because you have begun the journey - such as the flesh of other sentient beings - but if your focus is on what you cannot have, you are not radiating the light.
The light shines into darkness, into the corners. The light warms with its glow. The light and the path are not a series of locked doors. They radiate hope, opportunity and growth.
Prohibitions
If you think spirituality is that you cannot have a few reasonably spaced drinks with mates, you are missing the point. If you think spirituality is some sort of imposed sexual abstinence, you are missing the point. If you think spirituality is trying to impress people with these actions - you are truly missing the point.
Doing no Harm
We seekers do not abstain from consuming animals because we think this act makes us more spiritual. We refuse to consume others because our compassionate heart has grown to such a stage that we don’t want to hurt others. Our spiritual growth is from our growth in empathy, compassion and kindness - not from following rules for their own sake.
Consider This
Are you trying to follow rules, thinking that they will get you where you want to go on the spiritual path? Are you somehow trying to compete with others, thinking this is how you evolve? These are dead ends. Open your heart to compassion and the light will radiate the way.
