by sister initiate Yi Jing-fong, Taipei, Formosa

July is surely my lucky month! Ten years ago, I was initiated on the U. S.’ national holiday Independence Day, July 4, and my soul was reborn. Today, ten years later, I am in excellent health and the vegetarian diet I have kept since that time has even cured my anemia.

As a child, I looked strong but was actually weak, and always felt dizzy when I stood up suddenly. In my health check-up reports, doctors often wrote such terms as “malnutrition” and “anemia.” So in my youth, my offers to donate blood were declined due to a low red blood cell count. However, recently, while out on an errand, I passed by a blood donation van, and thinking of the blood shortage in Formosa, resolutely went up to try and donate blood. To my surprise, I easily passed the red blood cell test! As I lay back on the reclining chair to make my donation, I proudly said to the nurse, “I’m a vegetarian! I used to suffer from anemia when I was on a meat diet, but now I’m free from it after becoming a vegetarian.”

Since I began following a vegetarian diet ten years ago, apart from the elimination of my anemia, I no longer have bronchitis attacks, and the excess pressure in the inner ear that I used to suffer from has also disappeared. After these conditions went away, my only remaining physical complaint was an occasional arthritis attack due to lack of exercise. So I made up my mind to begin an exercise program. Whenever I have time, I take a brisk walk around the park near my home; and if the weather is favorable and time permits, I walk around two parks in one stretch.

After following this regime for two years, I can not only walk quickly, but also have gradually gotten rid of the annoying flabby flesh I used to possess. These changes make me think of a dairy product commercial I saw many years ago, in which a blonde demonstrating her graceful figure said with an artificial air, “I do exercise and drink XX powdered skim milk.” Now I too can imitate her posture and say, “I follow a vegetarian diet and practice the Quan Yin Method!” If you don’t believe me, then join me in a race and see who walks faster. Who ever said that the vegetarian diet is not nutritious enough?


Vegetarianism Comes to Yokota Air Base