My views on veganism

Expressing my thoughts on life as a vegan

“How can he practice true compassion, who eats the flesh of an animal to fatten his own flesh?” — Tirukural 251

This excerpt from the revered and ancient Tamil wisdom by Thiruvalluvar clearly expresses my views and extends it to all earthly beings. We, humans are conscious beings. We have an advantage of choice, which most of the other beings do not have. It means that we, as human beings, are the ones with “viveka” or conscience/intelligence. If we are intelligent, shouldn’t it be a choice that comes out of with a sense of justice and compassion? Can we not take only what we need, rather than feeding our greed?

Many would argue that meat gives us nutrition, and is essential for survival. In my view, we are already taking too much from the nature, as we are already well beyond in population that earth can sustain. If someone is true to themselves, they would find that vegan diet is more nutritious than meat and animal products. Animals and animal products, though may provide some nutrition, but the toxins released during digestion are way more of the price we are paying for the sake of nutrition.

Others would argue that plants have life in them too, then why do you eat it? To them I would say that to produce meat, the animal has to eat way more grains, and more agricultural land and pasture is needed, which results in deforestation. So I think, it is better to follow a plant based diet, which could help alleviate some stress on natural resources. Also, if this argument holds, then cannibalism should also be acceptable.

Shouldn’t we strive to give back more than what we have exhausted? We shouldn’t forget that we are borrowing from our future generations. What are we going to leave for our children when we have consumed and doomed the only place habitable for humans? We are born from this earth and are suited to life on earth. No discovery of life on other planet can save us if we destroy life on earth.

Humanity can prosper and move forward only through compassion. Otherwise, we shall soon become mechanical just like our modern instruments, Veganism is an expression of compassion. There are multiple aspects of compassion, and this is just a start.