When You Feel The Suffering of Every Living Thing in Your Heart,That is Consciousness. Bhagavad Gita
- Laurie McGrath
- Nov 6, 2019
- 4 min read
Yesterday I secured the website domain for my future animal sanctuary. It has always been my dream to end this journey on earth with caring for animals and advocacy. I’m not sure when it will actually happen, but I understand on a very deep level that authentic happiness is giving not in accumulating – so, no retirement beach house for me – just lots of dirt and tons of little beating hearts. The real heroes in life own very little – as a Buddhist I understand what you end up accumulating ends up owning you in the end.
It’s no secret I am vegan (ask my sister) and have been for many years. I have always understood the language and souls of animals – it’s also no secret that people don’t change out of shame or feeling like they are being judged for decisions they make. I am a work in progress so please know I count myself in this journey to understanding. The resistance from each side regardless it vegan or nonvegan is usually centered around some data that conveniently helps support either side when the real issue should be
BILLIONS OF ANIMALS (YES, BILLIONS) ARE BEING SLAUGHTERED EVERY YEAR - WITH UNNECCESARY CRUELTY, HORRID CONDITIONS, FILLED WITH DISEASE AND LITTLE REGARD FOR COMPASSION UNDER OUR WATCH!
Animal cruelty is increasingly becoming a felony in many states – I couldn’t be happier. The fact that routine mass animal cruelty takes place hourly with only a few cases exposed due to undercover cameras – I couldn’t be more baffled. I am vegan but still a contributor as I continue to wear leather shoes and other animal products. I write this as someone that is still struggling to get it right. Every purchase we make to either consume meat or purchase animal products – we are co-conspirators in this oddly acceptable cruelty. 70 Billion animals (cows, pigs, chickens, goats) were slaughtered last year. The USDA has not revamped most of their regulations since the 1960s. Whatever the food industry wants us to envision is happening inside the walls of these torture chambers is (for the most part) a lie.
Interestingly, I’m a vegan that is not against hunting or meat eating. It would be a great world in my opinion to be harmoniously living among all creatures – but, I have relatives that I love dearly that head out to hunt for deer, spend time bonding with family, and eat their kill for many months to come. I have friends that swear a perfect piece of meat is the closest thing to heaven. I support small compassionate sustainable farms that are stewards to the animals and treat them with great respect through the entire process of the circle of life. To be completely honest, I have heard compelling arguments on both sides as to the physical benefits of plant-based and meat consumption. I’m not a doctor, I’ve not done my own test and I don’t claim to know the real truth. For me, I have eaten only plant based for years, I don’t kill anything – ever and teach my girls daily about the beauty of animals.
What I do know is my dog feels, senses, loves me and gets anxious when people approach every single time I walk him. I think of what systematic fear must feel like to the billions of fur and feathered friends currently going to slaughter.
In short, I’m not talking about meat. I’m talking about a system-wide mass cruelty, a denial of what is really happening and the deduction of animals to merely a food source.
The truth –
"Global meat production is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than all of the trains, cars and airplanes in the world combined." – United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
“A reduction of meat consumption by only 10 percent would result in about 12 million more tons of grain for human consumption. This additional grain could feed all of the humans across the world who starve to death each year — about 60 million people.” – Marc Bekoff Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
I’ve seen it with my own eyes and if we think it’s not happening in our town, we are dead wrong. My plea is not to stop eating animal products – rather, become aware of the source, get involved with what is happening with the food you have purchased. For example, if you have non-organic milk in your refrigerator right now – you will want to read about what you may be putting in your body. I also know it is not cheap to do organic – so maybe you just begin to incorporate one thing into your diet that is different. Or maybe you try to buy smaller amounts from certified and compassionate farmers. Farmers markets and Trader Joes are good options as well.
I’m far from perfect in this way of life, but every single day I grow deeper in love with animals and realize how incredibly convenient it is to dismiss these amazing creatures as a food source.
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