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I don’t eat pork because I choose not to. It’s that simple. I’m not Islam nor do I have health restrictions and it’s not because of compassion for one of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom. I’ve been eating pork ever since, but one day I decided to stop and that was it.

To elaborate, the choice was made when I was in first year college when a friend, Mon, and I were learning the basics of pranic healing. I was making progress in sensitizing my hands when Mon told me that he read somewhere that eating pork releases enzymes into the body that inhibits a person’s ability to concentrate. It didn’t make sense to me on how pork could be any different from other forms of meat but I decided to stop eating pork anyway.

I was on my way to lunch when a moment of reflection led me to realize that pork also means bacon, sausages, ham, and lechon! Also, the list of pork-containing products is wide and contains some of my favorite meals – pizza, spaghetti, lasagna, burgers, siopao, and the list goes on. (Thankfully there is beef batchoy now.)

How did I encourage myself to prevail in this challenge of avoiding a wide array of delicious pork products? Of course there’s the “concentration” thing that should help me sensitize my hands for pranic healing, but it really was a minor factor. I have previously thought of becoming vegetarian to a certain degree so I thought this might be a good first step. Perhaps I would stop eating beef next? The Bible’s Old Testament also specifically mentions pork as unclean and not fit for eating because even if it has a split hoof, it does not chew the cud.

Leviticus 11:2-4, 7-8

“Say to the Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud.

And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

Deuteronomy 14:8

And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.

I know the New Testament seems to suggest that the Old Testament restrictions in eating pork are no longer in force. However, it doesn’t explicitly say that not eating pork is wrong. So while I’m still pondering on the actual meaning of the verses below, I’d rather be safe than sorry.

Act 10:10-16

And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Mark 7:18-23

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, asciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Over time, I learned how hard it is to avoid pork. People mix pork with anything and there were instances that I unknowingly consumed pork in sandwiches, soup, lumpia, and other forms of food. I also realized that during fiestas in the Philippines, almost all of the food served are pork-based! I’ve had pretty bad fiesta experiences where I could find nothing to eat save for the potatoes and the carrots that were mixed together in a pork dish. It does takes a lot of skill to not eat anything and not offend your host. Not eating pork also complicates ordering food in restaurants and this is almost embarrassing when I’m with other people. Abstaining from pork, it turns out, is a big demerit on my social scorecard.

When I made that decision in first-year college, I didn’t think I would actually be able to stop eating pork very long. However, after not eating pork for several weeks, I developed a strong dislike for it. The weeks turned to months and the months to years. I think I shall be avoiding pork for the rest of my life.

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