Compassion

To a number of Western spiritual seekers, ethical vegetarianism and veganism appear as just another intolerant, self-righteous dogma. “I am holier than thou because I don't eat meat.”

Many chose Buddhism in large part because we are tired of the dogmas of other traditions. Fed up with the cafeteria-style of picking and choosing certain laws to follow and push and certain laws to ignore.

That's exactly why it is vital to take the focus off the vegetarian or vegan and place it where it belongs, where it must be, on the animals. The animals who will suffer and die in the production of our food.

A vegetarian or vegan's lifestyle is not, or should not be, a dogma. It is, or it should be, an essential part of Compassion.

Being a vegetarian or a vegan is not about me and how holy I am, it is about the animals who will no longer have to suffer and die in terror and pain.