In memory of the Yulin dogs and reflections

May there be compassion in the human heart.

We are all clearly very upset with Yulin.

We spoke up. Many people in the whole world spoke up. But we failed to stop the massacre.

But let’s get down to the bare facts. It was about eating and human’s obsession with festivities (live to eat, live to have fun, live to enjoy, at the expense of other beings’ sufferings).

And unfortunately, eating is an extremely sensitive issue. In fact, in my years of giving public talks, especially on kindness to animals, I get the most flak when I appeal to people to just eat less meat.

“Stop telling me what I can eat and what I cannot eat. I will eat what I want and attain my liberation in my own way.” – This response is not uncommon.

It is not about attaining your liberation, Sir. It is about doing your part to show some compassion to the animals by not contributing to the chain of events that result in them being slaughtered brutally for their meat.

It is about simple acts of kindness. Not about who said what or which great teacher said this or that. One can argue until the cows come home about which great teacher said what or didn’t say what, but nothing is going to change the fact that by wanting to eat meat, one is contributing to the chain of events that starts with the breeding of animals for meat and slaughter.

“What I don’t see, what I don’t do, I don’t care. I didn’t slaughter them, somebody else did it.” – This response is also not uncommon.

Surely we have that wee bit of intelligence to understand that if there were no demand for meat, there would be no supply?  And it goes to say that if there were LESS demand for meat, there would also be LESS supply?

It is an extremely simple argument.

But one that is most challenging to get through to many people.

And so today, animal lovers, particularly dog lovers, mourn for the dogs of Yulin.

And what other horrendous slaughtering event will come next? In the name of festivities, in the name of eating? What is next? Weddings, birthdays, festivals, funerals, etc. And isn’t this happening daily in the thousands of slaughterhouses all over the world?

We would like to share with you here, wisdom through the ages…

Of course we can bring you hundreds of quotes from influential people, but it all boils down to the same fact.

Knowing and agreeing is one thing. Doing is another.

But we believe that doing is better than just knowing and agreeing, isn’t it?

So, let’s do, shall we?

And may we, the wiser species, search deeply within us, and know that the purpose of life is to do as much good as we can and this includes protecting the weaker species, especially those who cannot speak for themselves.