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"Esoteric Vegetarianism" is not an ordinary plead in favour of vegetarianism, but a collection of essays by authors ancient and modern on its most philosophical and esoteric aspects.
Allow Iamblichus to introduce you to the company of the ancient vegetarian followers of Pythagoras; let yourself become imbued with the dialectical beauty and profound wisdom of Plutarch and Plato; follow Porphyry's extensive mystical disquisitions on the matter; hear the allegedly clairvoyant testimonies by Charles W. Leadbeater and Annie Besant on what the indiscriminate sacrifice of animals for food entails, and become acquainted with the theosophical elucidations of Helena P. Blavatsky on whether animals are endowed with souls. All this benefiting from the insightful annotations of the modern Neo-Platonic philosopher Thomas Taylor and an additional essay, introduction and further annotations by Sonchis Triacorda.
The present volume contains:
"On the Eating of Flesh I & II" by Plutarch.
"Vegetarianism in the Light of Theosophy" by Annie Besant
"Vegetarianism and Occultism" by Charles W. Leadbeater
"The Influence of Alcohol" by Annie Besant
"Have Animals Souls? (I-III)" by Helena P. Blavatsky
An excerpt from "The Republic" of Plato
Excerpts from "Life of Pythagoras" by Iamblichus
"Abstinence from Animal Food (I-IV)" by Porphyry
"Eating Meat made us None the Smarter" by Sonchis Triacorda
About the author
Plutarch (c. AD 46 - c. 120), later named, upon becoming a Roman citizen, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus, was a Greek biographer and essayist, known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia. Plutarch was born to a prominent family in the small town of Chaeronea, about 80 kilometres (50 mi) east of Delphi, in the Greek region of Boeotia. Plutarch studied mathematics and philosophy at the Academy of Athens under Ammonius.
Plutarch lived most of his life at Chaeronea, and was initiated into the mysteries of the Greek god Apollo. For many years Plutarch served as one of the two priests at the temple of Apollo at Delphi, the site of the famous Delphic Oracle, twenty miles from his home. He probably took part in the Eleusinian Mysteries. By his writings and lectures Plutarch became a celebrity in the Roman Empire, yet he continued to reside where he was born, and actively participated in local affairs, even serving as mayor. At his country estate, guests from all over the empire congregated for serious conversation, presided over by Plutarch in his marble chair.
Plutarch was also a magistrate at Chaeronea and he represented his home town on various missions to foreign countries during his early adult years. Plutarch held the office of archon in his native municipality, probably only an annual one which he likely served more than once. He busied himself with all the little matters of the town and undertook the humblest of duties.
