Path of Action

Having been a meat eater for all 33 years of this life, I’ve finally decided to become vegetarian. Immediately after I left retreat at Mahamudra Centre 3 events occurred, and these are my 3 reasons for becoming vegetarian:

1. A friend in a drunken rage, asked the obvious question: how can I call myself Buddhist and be a consumer in the meat industry? Afterall, the market is based upon supply and demand – without the demand for meat there would be no need for any animal to be killed. It got me thinking about how all sentient beings have the potential for perfection, they have Buddha nature. Despite being drunk and angry, my friend was right, I was being a hypocrite.

2. I saw ABC’s ‘Four Corners’ documentary called ‘A Bloody Business’ about Australia’s export of live cows to Indonesia, so that they can be killed in the traditional Muslim manner and sold as Halal meat. The documentary is nothing short of horrific and is often in the back of my mind. In one scene a cow knows that it is about to be killed, it’s eyes are wide and it’s body visibly shakes. It got me thinking about how – whether it’s in the traditional Muslim manner or with kisses and over enthusiastic hugs – either way an animal is being killed. A life is being taken to satisfy the idle hunger of somebody who doesn’t need to witness a death.

3. Speaking to two lovely friends in Melbourne who have researched the meat and dairy industry. One became vegetarian, the other full vegan. Their argument was that as soon as you involve a profit margin in the life and well being of an animal, then things are not going to turn out well for the animal. Whether it’s …

• the vagueries of what qualifies as ‘free range’ and other fluffy terminology
• milk cows bred to have unnatural udders 10 times their normal size
• cows being milked until they bleed
• people playing soccer with chickens
• equipment malfunctioning so that cows are conscious when they are killed

Therefore, I reached my conclusion – I decided to stop eating meat. I just stopped thinking that it’s okay for an animal to be killed to satisfy appetite, when there are plenty of alternatives available.

I’m a healthy 33 year old, but still want to ensure I become vegetarian and stay healthy. I don’t want to turn into a gaunt, hungry ghost. This is how I’m going to do it:

• eat a variety of food stuffs to ensure I’m getting all of the vitamins and minerals I need
• get blood tests to ensure that my diet is going well
• I want to avoid supplements as much as possible, but appreciate that I need to be realistic in my expectations

Forever forward:

• June 7, 2011: Australians shun beef after Indonesia abattoir film
• June 1, 2011: Live exports to shamed abattoirs suspended
• May 30, 2011: Four Corners: A Bloody Business