Tomorrow the 5th Way team is going on a picnic in a mountain meadow.

Catharsis: "Okay, Waneta wants buffalo burgers and green salad; Zhi would like bean salad and a rice dish; Naruto chooses to have nori rolls; Kailoken is easy, he will eat from what is there; I already know what Addison likes to eat; I will get some potato salad and all of the picnic stuff; that leaves Wendell. Wendell what would you like to eat at this picnic?"

Wendell: "Well, I am a picky eater, being a vegan. So, that means no meat, poultry, fish, or dairy products for me. And can you make sure the food is organic?"

Catharsis: "Are you serious kid? We try to always get organic and natural foods here, Addison would have it no other way. And, we always get food that is healthy for the body and mind."

Wendell: "What about food for the spirit? Doesn’t eating things like buffalo burgers degrade the spirit?"

Chuckles and smiles come from some members of the group.

Catharsis: "What about it Waneta, do you feel degraded from eating those buffalo burgers?"

Waneta: "We Native Americans have been eating buffalo for many centuries. We take what the Great Spirit provides with much respect. During that same time we have produced many fine shamans. Some say I am one of them, and that is your answer."

Zhi: "One should always consider the particulars of any food one eats since each food produces a different effect within the body, which in turn influences the mind. Everything must have balance. Everything transforms into something else. If eating meat produces a negative mental state for you, then do not eat it. It is very simple."

Naruto: "Many people are vegetarians and vegans because taking a life for food is repugnant to them. Many point to the Buddhist and the Hindu traditions for reasons not to eat meat, among other things. Many do not realize that Buddha and some his monks actually ate meat on occasion. According to Buddha meat was not to be accepted as food in three cases: if one has seen, heard or suspects that the animal was specially killed for him. So, in today’s world that would eliminate such a person from buying meat, etc., from the grocery store because it is specially killed for the buyer."

Addison: "The main point of the discussion here seems to be focused on nonviolence. Wendell chooses to be nonviolent in how his food is obtained. It is true that many beings as they develop themselves do not desire to eat meat and become vegetarians. However, I suggest that one cannot go through this life without taking life, it is merely one’s intentions in the process that matter."

Catharsis: "You know what is interesting about nonviolence? Being nonviolent can get you killed. Just being alive means there is violence. If you could see the battle taking place within your own body just to keep it alive and well, would make World War II look like a small affair. And, scientists have confirmed that plants feel pain. They may not have a mouth to scream from the pain, but it is there nonetheless."

Naruto: "The challenge seems to be to know when to use violence and when not to. Obviously, in order for one life form to live another must be consumed whether it be mineral, plant, or other."

Wendell: "I appreciate everyone’s comments and Addison is right about me striving to be nonviolent in regard to my food. Kailoken you did not say anything on it, what is your opinion?"

Kailoken: "I will have to give this matter some thought and I can better answer that for you at the picnic tomorrow."

More chuckles and smiles come from the group.

Wendell: "Why is everyone smiling and laughing about what Kailoken said?"

Catharsis: "It is because we have been around Kailoken long enough to know that when he gets a point across it tends to be quite interesting!"

Addison: "Okay everyone, let’s meet up here at the center at 7AM, load the truck and get going for this wonderful picnic. Love and light to you."

"Peace to you." "Namaste" "L&L brother."…

--- The next morning ---

Catharsis: "Alright, we have the food chests loaded and in the back…going down my list here…check…check…looks like we have it all." (notices Kailoken slipping some items into the back and they wink at each other)

Addison: "Everyone ready? Let’s hit the road and enjoy the day!"

---Arriving at the picnic spot---

Waneta: "That spot over there next to the waterfall looks perfect, shall we?"

Everyone except for Kailoken grabs the picnic items and heads for the spot.

Catharsis: "Wendell does this spot meet with your approval?"

Wendell: "Yes, it seems great, if I can just remove these clumps of weeds here it will be perfect."

Catharsis: "Hold on there son, can you guarantee me that you will not pull up any worms or other beneficial insects with those weeds?"

Wendell: (looking sheepishly) "Well, ah, no I can’t."

Catharsis: "Then we will have to move away from the weed clumps."

Zhi: "That does take us a good distance from the area Waneta picked out."

Catharsis: "I really do not see any other way around it. We can either sit on the rocks there or move over there where we can lay the blankets down flat for comfort. Personally I would rather sit in the grass."

Everyone picks up the picnic gear and moves to the new spot.

Wendell: "Kailoken is still sitting in the truck, is he not feeling well?"

Naruto: "I will go check on him."

Naruto arrives at the truck and notices that Kailoken is blowing up large balloons with helium.

Naruto: "What is going on there Kailoken? Is this a special occasion for someone?"

Kailoken: "This is a very special occasion for Wendell. In honor of him not wanting to do violence towards living things I will use these balloons to suspend me off the ground so that my feet do not accidentally injure or kill anything there."

Naruto: "That is very thoughtful of you. May I assist you in attaching the balloons to your body and helping to guide you to the picnic spot?"

Kailoken: "That would be very kind of you."

---After getting the balloons attached the two slowly make their way to the picnic spot---

As the group notices the sight of Kailoken and Naruto making their way to the spot they start laughing hard.

Catharsis: "That is quite a feat there you two…do you have an explanation to share with us on what you are doing looking like a Macy’s parade balloon?"

Naruto: "Ah, Kailoken honors Wendell in nonviolence. He does not want his feet to harm living things on the ground!"

Wendell looks quite embarrassed.

Waneta: "Well, you two better be careful because the wind will start picking up here a bit."

Zhi: "Maybe you can hold Kailoken in place by tying him to that shrub there. Then we can all have our hands free to eat."

Addison: "Okay, let’s eat. Please pass that potato salad to me. Wendell how about fixing up a plate of food for Kailoken?"

Wendell: "What would you like to have Kailoken?"

Kailoken: "Just fix me a plate with a little of everything on it please."

Wendell proceeds to fix up the plate.

Catharsis: "Hold on there partner. One of us better handle the meat because we would not want you to be a party to going against your own nonmeat eating principles."

Wendell: "That is very kind of you Catharsis. It would have been a little uncomfortable to me now that I think about it."

Zhi: "The food is very tasty. What a beautiful day as well. Watch out for that ant about to crawl on your leg there Wendell."

Catharsis: "Wait a minute son, let me get that ant for you. I would not want you to be a party to violence against that biting insect."

Waneta: "The wind is arriving now, everyone make sure they have all things wind safe."

Addison: "Looks like you might be in for quite a ride there Kailoken. Are you sure you do not want to come down to earth to sit this wind out?"

Kailoken: "No thank you…I shall proceed in my honoring of Wendell."

Addison: "In that case, Naruto can you keep an eye on Kailoken so he does not drift off somewhere?"

Naruto: "No problem, Addison. I will keep an eye on him."

As Naruto was saying this Kailoken’s rope broke free of the shrub.

"Catch him!" "Oh no!" "Naruto catch that rope!"

Kailoken being caught up in the wind is taken up into a nearby tree where the balloons have popped and he lands on a branch.

Zhi: "Are you alright there Kailoken?"

Addison: "Wendell and Naruto see if you two can get him out of that tree safely."

Catharsis: "Hey Kailoken, while you are up there can you see if there are any Robin or Quail eggs, I have heard they are quite a delicacy."

Kailoken: "If I see any I will let you know but I cannot get them myself out of still honoring Wendell in nonviolence. And how am I going to get back to the truck without touching the ground?"

Naruto: "It looks like Wendell and I will have to carry him back."

Wendell: "Yes, we…. Gulp… can do that… I think I just swallowed an insect."

Catharsis: "Naruto grab Wendell and see if you can knock that insect back out of him. Try that Heimlich maneuver on him. Quick before the insect dies!"

Naruto grabs Wendell and forces the wind out of him.

Zhi: "Are you okay there? It looks like Naruto do very good job in getting wind out."

Addison: "We best take Wendell and Kailoken back to the truck. We may as well finish our picnic in the truck. That way we can avoid more violence."

---Everyone is now back in the truck finishing their food---

Waneta: (looking at Wendell) "I feel that someone has learned a lesson today on nonviolence."

Catharsis: "What did you learn today Wendell?"

Wendell: "I learned many things yesterday and today. First, living without doing some kind of violence even if it is unintentional is not possible. Even when we strive to be nonviolent things happen that are violent. All we can do is attempt to keep violence to a minimum and to use it when it is necessary. The key is to know when to use it."

Addison: "Very good Wendell. I suggest that one strive to keep one’s intentions good towards all living things yet be flexible enough to take measures to meet one’s basic needs and stay healthy as appropriate."

Waneta: "Each life form exists to fill a niche in the earth’s ecosystem. Every life form performs some function that serves others even though we may not see it. For example, the pesky mosquito is quite a nuisance and carries diseases that kills, yet if the mosquito did not exist there would be an overabundance of birds which in turn would severely reduce the insect population which may in turn severely reduce food for humans. And when they are done with the insects they will come after us like in Alfred Hitchcock's move The Birds. They will be waiting to swoop down on anything that moves!"

Zhi: "Yes, everything is connected. It is a matter of finding one’s balance within the great circle while letting other life forms coexist as well."

Addison: "Okay, let’s head back now."