Earthlings
I'm not really into the idea of using disgusting images to "encourage" someone to not eat meat, but I do think we should make educated choices. As a result, I am providing a link to a documentary called "Earthlings". The film is about humans using animals as pets, food, clothing, etc. Maybe this will make it easier to reduce meat and dairy this week.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1282796533661048967
P.S. Did I mention my addiction to technology? I think I checked the blog site around 10 times yesterday in anticipation of a new post. Also, if someone could post the secret to enlightenment on the blog during this cleanse, that would be great. Thanks. :)
posted by Kooch @ 6:32 AM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Thanks for posting this video. I believe that once our eyes are opened to the massive suffering that our lifestyles require -- not out of necessity, but for convenience-sake -- it is very hard to continue with our old habit patterns.
It is tempting, though, when we see what other beings suffer, to feel like we have to change everything in one fell swoop -- empty the cabinets and refrigerator of all animal foods, toss the leather, etc. And, that works well for some. For others of us, though, a slower transition is needed, and it is important to give ourselves the time to make that change. Of course, the cleanse helps us with several days of animal-product free eating, so we will all know after this that it IS indeed possible!
There are some great resources on speciesism out there -- Animal Liberation is Peter Singer's classic. I also just read a great book called Farm Sanctuary by the founder of Farm Sanctuary, Gene Baur. If you buy the book, part of the proceeds go to Farm Sanctuary where farm animals and other animals that have been used and abused by humans get to live out their lives free of fear and violence. Hooray for pigs wallowing in mud!
The path of yoga awakens our compassion not only for ourselves, but for all beings.
"May all beings with whom we are inseparably interconnected be fulfilled, awakened and free. May there be peace in this world and throughout the universe. And may ALL of us complete this spiritual journey..."
"Those who see themselves in ALL creatures go day by day into the world of Brahman hidden in the heart." Chandogya Upanishad
I remeber seeing this film a year ago, the last time I cleaned up my habit of occassionally going on emotionally-related meat binges. It's a pretty heavy download, much more effective than just hearing about this stuff, but actually seeing it. I do have one important opinion to voice though:
Don't toss the leather! It's disrespectful to the animals who sacrificed so that you could have their skin for shelter. Kind of like adding insult to injury. If you get to the point where it bothers you to even possess or wear animal products at all, there are plenty of homeless individuals who would be deeply grateful for the physical and spiritual protection that leather offers. My experiences learning from Hopi, Huichol, and Dine traditions gave me a different perspective on this issue than most vegetarian/vegan-inclined folks. And, as for fur, there are numerous recycled fur resources on the web. IT IS IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE OLD LEATHER AND FUR AND KEEP IT IN CIRCULATION, BECAUSE IT HELPS REDUCE THE DEMAND FOR NEW LEATHER AND FUR. I realize that not everyone will agree with me on this, but it's something I feel strongly about. Paz.
Unbelievably powerful and worth every minute I spent watching it! Thank you for posting this. As Oliver said, it's quite different when you witness the pain and suffering instead of reading/hearing about it.
I did feel this uprise of passion stir. I thought, well, where do I begin to shift? Toss out the shoes, belts etc...and then I paused, and speculated at the suffering that was already endured for my long-forgotten pleasure. Then I read Oliver's encouragement to pass it on to a homeless shelter and keep the old stuff in circulation to prevent the need for new stuff. Good point.
As I watched the film, my beloved husband Paul noticed and could only a endure a minute of two. We almost started to argue about why I was choosing to watch. After calming my passion for what I was seeing, I realized his fear was that I will never eat meat again and try to drag him with me. I reassured him that this is my path. This is what I'm choosing for myself.
I strongly believe it is imperative to watch this film and feed awareness of what happens outside our front door to such innocent and precious creatures. I don't want to ignore it. I've been doing that too long. There is no other man on earth that I respect and love more than Paul. This is why I don't judge or criticize his smoking habit. I don't like it, but I accept it as his choice. I think when we can keep this in mind, we honor one another's differences. And how powerful is our living example!
With that said, please watch the film. You won't regret it.
Peace to all,
Anita
Anita:
I'm so glad you watched the film. Reading about animal suffering is hard -- watching it is unbearable. And the sentience of animals is undeniable when they are in front of you (or sitting on your lap purring as my cat loves to do).
When I went vegan (after years as a vegetarian), I didn't throw out all my leather. I chose to wear it out -- and some of it is still not worn out. There may be some vegans who will criticize such a choice, but most are aware of the multiple ways that we come to express our compassion and honor that.
The American Vegan Society, founded in 1960, uses AHIMSA (the yama of non-harming) as an acronym for the six pillars of a vegan life. They are as follows.
Abstinence from animal products
Harmlessness with reverence for
life
Integrity of thought, word, and
deed
Mastery over oneself
Service to humanity, nature, and
compassion
Advancement of understanding and
truth
So, you can see that the focus is not just on avoiding animal products in our foods, but rather on cultivating a whole lifestyle that acknowledges and honors all beings. It is not a choice to be taken lightly, and I believe is not something that can/should be expected to occur overnight. As we begin to sense our oneness with all others, it becomes a natural desire to protect them.
Thank you Ashley, for your loving wisdom. Wathing the suffering was unbearable. I found myself in a sea of unexpected tears as I spoke of it later that day. I just let them flow and realized that a new and powerful connection was arising.
I'm going to copy and post the six pillars so I can reflect and journal about them.
You are loved,
Anita
I finally sat down to watch this documentary. I didn't make it all the way through because it's just too much. I know all of these cruelties are occurring, but the images just rip my heart out. I know that's part of the point, and honestly a bit of me wishes this were required viewing for the whole world, but alas.
I am more passionate about animals than I am about most other things in my life. I struggle with the way they are treated and my inability to make a drastic enough change. The fact that I'm a vegetarian helps, but it isn't enough. I still eat dairy and often selfishly think that I'll continue to. I get mad when I think about the barbaric business we've turned farming into. It doesn't have to be that way. It isn't SUPPOSED to be that way. But money talks, I guess, and people gotta have their BigMacs.
That's not really fair, though - it's not that simple. I hope I don't sound snotty or holier-than-thou . . . that is not the case at all. As I mentioned, I still consume animal products and include myself in any criticism. I have no problem with those that eat meat. Most everyone I love does. I don't even think eating meat is necessarily wrong - I just don't believe in the way we obtain it or the rate at which we consume it. The hardest part is the complete disconnect between the meat on the table and the animal that it came from. These animals should be honored and thanked, yet they are rarely even thought of.
I struggle with my role in this. How can I spread the message? I can lead by example, I guess, but I want to do more. On a day-to-day level, I at least want a snappy answer at the ready when someone asks me why I don't eat meat (often accompanied by a good-natured-but-annoying hippie reference). I avoid conflict to a fault (another issue for another day), and I don't ever want to make anyone else feel angry or uncomfortable. But this IS an uncomfortable issue that I can help combat by spreading the word, albeit in a kind, non-judgemental way. Easy to say . . .harder to do.
As if this isn't long enough . . . let's talk about animals as pets. I grew up with animals in the house and can't imagine it any other way. My dogs and cats bring me so much joy, and I hope I give the same to them. It's just another level of consciousness, if that isn't too dramatic, interacting with animals as family members. All of my pets are rescues, and there is often a foster or two around as well. Hey, that's great, we've saved a few! But I get dozens of emails every day from amazing rescuers trying to save more lives. It will literally never stop, at least not in my lifetime. There are just too many animals and too many uneducated people that continue to let them breed. How can we be so cruel as to abandon all of these creatures? 4 million animals euthanized per year? That's almost 11,000 EACH AND EVERY DAY. (And this is just one estimate.) How in the world can we stop this? But how can we let it continue?
Wow, what a rant. Not sure I accomplished anything but a good vent. I just get so frustrated with these issues. I'm quite sure that future generations will look back in horror and disbelief at our treatment of animals.
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