Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu is a Sanskrit mantra meaning, "May all beings everywhere be happy and free."
It is something I believe in strongly. In "being love", I am compassionate toward ALL living things. I know that everything that is alive and has a spirit, is here for a reason. That we are all connected.
This past Sunday I gave my day to Animal Acres. A sanctuary in Acton, CA that houses animals rescued from the factory farming industry. I first volunteered last month during my 31 Days of Giving and fell in love. I vowed to come back once a month. I love everyone there, both human and animal.
It's a lot of work, but absolutely worth it. Every minute I spend there is a happy one. Whether I'm giving a pig a belly rub or shoveling poop. (There's a lot of poop shoveling.) There's an overwhelming feeling of peace and you can't help but feel good all day.
I found out about Animal Acres in my research after reading "Eating Animals" by Jonathan Safran Foer. It is the most important book I have ever read. I gave it as a Christmas present to all my loved ones with an understanding that it is meant to be read and passed on. It shouldn't sit on a bookshelf, it needs to be spread. My original copy has already been passed on at least 3 times.
Even though I was already vegan when I heard about the book, I was a very socially shy/relatively new one. Which I sometimes feel ashamed to admit how new to veganism I am, considering the animal lover I have always been. Though I was a healthy eater before, I did love the taste of meat. In recent years, I only really ate meat socially when with friends or family. Then in early 2009, I happily went from a not-picky-eat-anything omnivore to vegetarian to (mostly raw) vegan almost overnight without looking back.
At first I did it for myself, (that's a whole 'nother blog!) with the environmental effects being second and the cruelty free part being last. I only knew the basics of how animals became meat or should I say, I only wanted to know the basics. Reading "Eating Animals" changed all of that. I couldn't believe I didn't know all this already. How does the majority of the world not know this? And so I had what Oprah calls an, "Aha!" moment.
In reading "Eating Animals", I not only wanted to become more informed on the industry, but I wanted to learn how to change it. I wanted to become an activist. I want to help and I want to inform. My research has lead me to a bunch of amazing organizations that I have become a part of. But mostly it has lead me to the facts. Watching documentaries like Earthlings (please see this movie!), Meet Your Meat, The Cove, Food Inc, & Fowl Play, showed me the standard practices of the industry without holding anything back.
I now understand why vegans/animal activists have always been so outspoken. Because they know. And now I know and I am different because of it. At first, changing what I ate was self serving. I saw lots of positive change within me like, an increase in energy level, my skin is glowing, my body is slim, my attitude is always bright and my overall state of mind is peaceful. Everything has become clearer and I am more aware and present. I feel light. Granted, veganism isn't the only thing that has changed with me, but it is what I attribute to the change in my outlook. Now knowing the effects on the world around me, the choice to eat the way I do is for the well-being of ALL things. Not just for me, but for the animals, the planet and all of humanity.
It has made me kinder, more generous and infinitely compassionate with no effort. Just like giving, it's a feeling I want everyone to partake in.
♥∞,
~B
And in case you're wondering what vegans eat, check out Quarry Girl's blog. Or my favorite restaurants: Au Lac, Native Foods, Cafe Gratitude & Gracias Madre. Of course, my kitchen is always filled with amazing food as well. If you are what you eat, then I am super girl because all I eat are super foods!
"May all that have life be delivered from suffering" -- Buddha
No comments:
Post a Comment