Tale of a New Veggie

Tale of a New Veggie

You may wonder about the title and question: What has it got to do with me? You may ask. Are you going to persuade me to become a veggie?

Well, just wait until the end, there is something I would like to share with you.

Three sources motivated me to write this article on vegetarianism. First the questions asked by many people I have met. After they know that I am a vegetarian, people usually inquire about my motive. One of the frequently asked questions has been: Why do you become a vegetarian? It seems to me that being a veggie is something strange to the eyes of the majority. Second the article by a Nepali journalist called S. Pandey inspired me greatly. He told the reader, including me, his odd reason of his becoming a veggie. Third it was from the book Your Heart Your Planet by Harvey Diamond who wrote the excellent book. In a nutshell, he tells us that vegetarianism can save the earth from environmental problems.

People become vegetarians for various reasons. Vegetarians refer to people who eat only vegetables, bread, rice, fruit, eggs etc and they do not eat meat or fish. It could be for health reasons. Their cholesterol level maybe too high, and maybe they think that vegetarian food will cut it down or lower it. Perhaps it is because they believe in certain doctrines, which value all beings, including the animal world, and happen to suggest that eating animal meat is sinful. Or it could be that meat and fish are a risky diet in these days of various diseases e.g. foot and mouth disease, mad cow, etc. and pollution. It may be just that the ever-soaring cost of fresh food is so exorbitant.

But what about you? You may ask. Well, it was for the love --- love of my mother and later I have slowly developed the love of animals.

I have just become a veggie for a year and eight months. It began in the hottest month in Thailand, April, of the good year 2000. A few days prior to my disrobement, my mother came to offer before-midday food to the monks at the village temple. It was a few days before I returned to the layman life. Among other things being discussed, my mother expressed her worry about one of the traditions --- the celebration by drinking alcohol after the return to the layman, which, according to her, is a silly act. In short she would not want me to behave like that, for she also believes that the merits I have made would be lessened.

She asked if I would be kind enough to refrain from drinking alcohol right after I was disrobed. I replied that I could not guarantee because the social pressure was so strong. Out of the blue I remarked: “ Maybe if I became a vegetarian like you, people wouldn’t insist that I drink alcohol.” My mother’s eyes sparked with hope. She bargained that at least I ate no meat until my 31st birthday, which was only 20 days. I agreed and the abbot was the referee. We were actually made the agreement in front of the old chanting house. At that time I only wanted my mother happy. I was unaware that the promise I made on that day would change my life.

I must admit that I used to be a meat eater. I used to eat various kinds of meat e.g. snake, and dog. I was fond of eating raw beef and pork.

So I was a vegetarian after I was disrobed. To keep my promise, I had to struggle finding it hard to resist my temptation of eating meat. However, I managed to survive without the taste of any meat.

The promised day arrived. And it passed without me wanting to eat meat again. It is such a surprise to me because I feel indifferent toward meat. I cannot stand smoke coming from grilled pork or chicken. I find myself unable to change my diet.

My attitude toward animals has changed. I enjoy looking at birds flying. I think they are lovely and their singing in the morning is enchanting. Buffalos, oxen, and cows grazing in the field are to be our friends. Piglets, kitties, and young dogs are so cute.  It is delightful to look at a hen and her small children in the back yard. All animals are living things, so they have the right to live in this earth. You may think I am too emotional, but it is what I perceive. Being a vegetarian has opened my eyes to another dimension of the world.

As I look back, I am amazed how I have become a veggie.

Postscript

All things are connected. Nothing really stands alone. We don’t often see the connection between one phenomenon and another.  But there are significant relationships between animal products & heart attack and global warming & the greenhouse effect.

We may not realise that:

·         The land used to grow all food for human consumption is a mere 5 percent of all land used to grow food. So for every 60 acres of land used to grow food for people to eat, 1200 acres are used to grow food for animals to eat.  (This figure is of the US.)

·          The vast majority of forestland, esp. rainforest in South America that is cleared is used for grazing livestock or for growing livestock feed. For every quarter pound of beef you eat from a steer raised in Central America, 55 square feet of rainforest had to be destroyed.

·         We need the soil to grow our food.

·         People of a small country in the south Pacific are asking the Australian government to evacuate them because of the rising sea level. The greenhouse effect is real.

With love to Mum and Dad and all Creatures

J. Thadphoothon