KILLING

Birds are innocent - they do not know that it is wrong to kill, so those that do so are natural yet ignorant. They simply need to eat, and some of their species eat meat.

Humans should behave better, as we are aware that killing is wrong and have the choice of whether we eat meat or become vegetation. Some animals eat plants and some do not. It is the same with us humans - we are acting more akin to our animal friends than to the divine that does not eat killed food.

Whilst animals and birds kill in ignorant need, humans kill either in ignorance or for pleasure. Surely, we should learn that we have the choice, and so should take the right option? Most of us agree that killing is wrong - some of us even try to refrain from killing - but as a whole, are we any better than those ignorant animals that kill to feast without thought, at the current time?

My own path to vegetarianism took a long time to commence, and around a year to complete. For over forty years, I ate meat. It was what humans ate and considered a regular part of the diet. I originally thought vegetarians were silly to cut out a food supply that offered variety.

Then I watched a dove walk gently across the lawn. I saw his light toes bend the grass below so softly. And I could never again buy and eat an egg. This led me to stop eating meat, then little fishes, then all that was killed to provide food for humans. As Buddhism and nature taught me to break free of ignorance and center my attitude on compassion, I learned not to kill inwardly. If I had just outwardly not wanted to, it would not have lasted.