Are ham and bacon worth the cruelty imposed on these innocent creatures! I am not judging as I was also among the consumers of animal meat for many years. In my personal journey, I went vegan primarily for health reasons. My goal was to disrupt the destructive path I was on toward chronic disease, illness, and medication. Little did I know that by going vegan, I would become educated about other just as critical reasons for doing so.

I had no idea about the animal cruelty being imposed across factory farms globally. Economic profit and efficiency are prioritized over animal welfare in these factories. Animals are housed in extremely cramped cages or areas with very little to no physical freedom. Animal parents and their calves are segregated leading to psychological turmoil. They are poked and prodded literally. They are fed steroids leading to quick and unnatural growth. They live in their own feces and filth and are devoid of dignity. The animals are debeaked, castrated, and tail-docked without pain management to prevent injuries in crowded conditions.

Sure, there may be exceptions in such practices, but what kind of life do these animals endure? If one looks at these animals as just meat, is there a place for empathy for their dignity, emotions, and pain? Ever wonder why such cruelty is not common knowledge? It doesn’t make the daily local breaking news segments. Why is that? Perhaps as a species, we are ashamed of our shortcomings in values especially when these shortcomings are directed toward a species other than ours. Perhaps we are just ignorant. We justify that human beings are the superior species on earth. If animals are being raised and bred to serve as our food, why should we give them a second thought? Can we be so narrow-minded or selfish?

This is a core concern for many vegans. They object to the way animals are raised and slaughtered for food and choose a vegan diet to avoid contributing to this practice. Given that the world is run on economics we can use the key principle of supply and demand. By going vegan, we directly impact the demand for meat and therefore the need for animal farming.

When I realized the full impact of my decision to go vegan and that it had other surprising benefits, I became elated. It felt good to not be part of a human practice that harms animals. This resonated with me at a deep spiritual level. Why would these other creatures be placed on Earth? It cannot be to be mistreated by humans. Those who do not see the cruelty are either naive, unaware, or choose to suppress it out of guilt. I too was unaware and even when I became aware I initially struggled to give up my diet. It is out of sight and therefore out of mind for many of us. It wasn’t until I became vegan, that I realized the flaw in my thinking. Becoming vegan has raised my spirituality and has allowed me to grow my wisdom of all life.

Growing up as a Hindu, I remember being taught about ‘ahimsa’ or non-violence. It was the basis on which India obtained its independence from British imperialism at the time. It is common knowledge that Mahatma Gandhi believed in non-violence and he took that approach for his advocacy and protest against the imperial rule. I was also taught that all creatures are to be respected and we are all living things that are connected. The Hindu principle of rebirth or reincarnation doesn’t exclude taking an animal form other than a human. Depending upon our ‘Karma’, we could remain stuck in the cycle of birth and death and can be reborn as a cow, a pig, or a chicken. Hinduism emphasizes and extends respect and compassion towards all living things. It discourages unnecessary harm and promotes peaceful coexistence.

By going vegan, and reflecting on my decision, I was reminded of my childhood religious teachings and was able to look at my lifestyle through a spiritual lens. Knowing that my journey was aligned with my faith, and wisdom of a religion that was centuries old was also a big assurance for me.

Anyone who has had a pet knows, that these animals love, give, express joy, and feel pain. The animals we farm are no different. The calf and the mother cow experience an immense sense of pain when they are separated from each other. These animals can sense their imminent death and they express extreme anxiety. We let our taste for their meat keep us from seeing the truth about animal cruelty. Something to reflect upon.

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