Veganism And Unselfish Love
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To give to benefit another living being without any thought of appreciation is an act of unselfish love. Possibly humans can develop no higher trait that this. Many of us are newcomers to a knowledge of Vegan values and recommended practices and sometimes skim the trees as we try to fly higher. Nevertheless, as we try, we are helping living beings that we will never see and that are in no position to say thank you.
I’ve learned to drink soy milk and cook with it successfully. Additionally I use sliced tofu cheese. This makes one less adult contributing to animal farming where cows are treated cruelly against their will, and both they and their calves slaughtered for their flesh. I’ve learned that 2 tablespoons of corn starch makes a perfect substitute for 1 egg and any recipe. This makes one less adult creating a market demand for eggs. Of course the same analogy applies in many other substitutions. I did not become a Vegan as such until I was 68. Its not easy abandoning that many years of carnivore eating, but with the desire to practice unselfish love uppermost in my heart, it is a meaningful endeavor.
Each evening I put 1 shoebox of dry dog food on my patio for the ‘night visitors’ of raccoons, opposums, and skunks which drop by. They are frightened by my presence and its best to keep it that way. They are unable to connect the dots and realize that I am their benefactor. Usually they come during the night as I am sleeping. Its refreshing to me to put out chicken scratch and sunflower seeds for the birds and squirrels first thing each morning.
There is just something about starting out your day concerned most of all with aiding little beings which cannot speak or any way say…thank you.
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Written by Harry Hebert. You can read more from Harry at Harry’s Tidbits.
I loved this! Really great post!
I find it interesting that the author became vegan at 68, b/c in my experience, the most hostile people towards veganism are older. It’s not uncommon to get a college student to make a change, b/c they are in learning mode and they don’t think they know everything already. But a lot of older people have decided that they are in wisdom mode and it is their job to teach the younger generations. It is a bit understandable that they don’t want to admit to themselves that they’ve been doing something immoral for five, six, or seven decades. That keeps them blocked, I think.
It’s great that Harry has maintained an open mind and continues to learn and grow.
primate:
There’s a book that addresses this issue a bit. It’s called The Philosophical Baby: What Childrens Minds Tell Us About Truth, Love, and the Meaning of Life by Alison Gopnik.
The book is about babies, but the concept is tthat the developing human mind (which goes from age 0 to about age 25) is actually a different kind of mind than the developed human mind (age 25 to death). The author argues that human development happens in two distinct parts that are almost like different animals, like caterpillars’ metamorphosis to butterflies.
This is why vegan education – or any kind of education – is more successful at a younger age. The human mind actually works differently at a young age than at an older age.
All that said, humans have a tremendous capacity for change. People become vegan at any age. Never ever give up on people, no matter their age. Keep trying and trying.
Very nice Harry. I too have raccoons, possums and blue jays at my front door, eating whatever my cats don’t finish. The blue jays are especially cautious, instantly detecting my movement inside the house (they have such good eyesight) and flying off to the nearest tree with pieces of kibble in their beaks. The possums and raccoons are not as scared and I can lay in my doorway while they eat just a foot or two away from face. I wish they knew that I meant them no harm but it’s good that they don’t get too used to humans. My neighbours may not be as animal friendly.
.-= Daniel´s last blog ..Want peace on earth? Go vegan. =-.