• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

Shouldn't love and compassion be extended to all sentient beings...

ajay0

Well-Known Member
Yesterday, as I was arriving from the market after buying a pair of slippers, I stopped at a scenic place full of greenery and with young buffalo calves tied to trees. As I was enjoying the scene I found that there was a slaughterhouse in a nearby building and the animals were actually meant for slaughter. :eek:

Having seen a few youtube videos recently on the brutality of animal slaughter in slaughterhouses, I sympathized with the young calves and felt sorry for them. One of the calves was bleating a lot repeatedly indicating stress, and I went forward to it hoping to comfort it a bit.

Interestingly, the calf, seeing me coming near, itself came near to me indicating interest in sociability and companionship.

I stroked his face lovingly for some time, at which he visibly relaxed. He poked his face at me for some more strokes which I obliged. The continuous bleating stopped, and he started eating the grass around staying next to me, peacefully.

While stroking, I was surprised to see a clear dark line of tear streams from his eyes to the lower part of his face. I wondered whether this was actually tears of emotion, or tears associated with eye infection or hormonal biochemical changes or something.

(Checking the internet today I found that there had been an instance of a calf visibly crying after its mother was knocked down dead by a truck while crossing a road.There were similar articles in this regard.

Buffalo calf cries after mother gets hit by car and lies dead on Romanian roadside )

Later reflecting on this experience, I remembered a orphaned girl I met a decade back, and whose head I stroked affectionately. She had similarly and very tangibly relaxed after a single friendly stroke on the head.

Imo, based on these experiences, children, whether human or animal, are quite sensitive and insecure when without their family, and suffer from high stress levels.

I think, in terms of animal rights, young calves should be exempt from slaughter at least till they had matured or grown up.

Returning back I was glad that I had turned to vegetarianism and was not contributing to animal slaughter in this regard.
 

nPeace

Veteran Member
Yesterday, as I was arriving from the market after buying a pair of slippers, I stopped at a scenic place full of greenery and with young buffalo calves tied to trees. As I was enjoying the scene I found that there was a slaughterhouse in a nearby building and the animals were actually meant for slaughter. :eek:

Having seen a few youtube videos recently on the brutality of animal slaughter in slaughterhouses, I sympathized with the young calves and felt sorry for them. One of the calves was bleating a lot repeatedly indicating stress, and I went forward to it hoping to comfort it a bit.

Interestingly, the calf, seeing me coming near, itself came near to me indicating interest in sociability and companionship.

I stroked his face lovingly for some time, at which he visibly relaxed. He poked his face at me for some more strokes which I obliged. The continuous bleating stopped, and he started eating the grass around staying next to me, peacefully.

While stroking, I was surprised to see a clear dark line of tear streams from his eyes to the lower part of his face. I wondered whether this was actually tears of emotion, or tears associated with eye infection or hormonal biochemical changes or something.

(Checking the internet today I found that there had been an instance of a calf visibly crying after its mother was knocked down dead by a truck while crossing a road.There were similar articles in this regard.

Buffalo calf cries after mother gets hit by car and lies dead on Romanian roadside )

Later reflecting on this experience, I remembered a orphaned girl I met a decade back, and whose head I stroked affectionately. She had similarly and very tangibly relaxed after a single friendly stroke on the head.

Imo, based on these experiences, children, whether human or animal, are quite sensitive and insecure when without their family, and suffer from high stress levels.

I think, in terms of animal rights, young calves should be exempt from slaughter at least till they had matured or grown up.

Returning back I was glad that I had turned to vegetarianism and was not contributing to animal slaughter in this regard.
Some things are for a time evidently (Ecclesiastes 3), including tears and pain. I am convinced that the time will come when there will be no more tears and pain... only exquisite delight.
 

Trailblazer

Veteran Member
Yesterday, as I was arriving from the market after buying a pair of slippers, I stopped at a scenic place full of greenery and with young buffalo calves tied to trees. As I was enjoying the scene I found that there was a slaughterhouse in a nearby building and the animals were actually meant for slaughter. :eek:

Having seen a few youtube videos recently on the brutality of animal slaughter in slaughterhouses, I sympathized with the young calves and felt sorry for them. One of the calves was bleating a lot repeatedly indicating stress, and I went forward to it hoping to comfort it a bit.

Interestingly, the calf, seeing me coming near, itself came near to me indicating interest in sociability and companionship.

I stroked his face lovingly for some time, at which he visibly relaxed. He poked his face at me for some more strokes which I obliged. The continuous bleating stopped, and he started eating the grass around staying next to me, peacefully.

While stroking, I was surprised to see a clear dark line of tear streams from his eyes to the lower part of his face. I wondered whether this was actually tears of emotion, or tears associated with eye infection or hormonal biochemical changes or something.

(Checking the internet today I found that there had been an instance of a calf visibly crying after its mother was knocked down dead by a truck while crossing a road.There were similar articles in this regard.

Buffalo calf cries after mother gets hit by car and lies dead on Romanian roadside )

Later reflecting on this experience, I remembered a orphaned girl I met a decade back, and whose head I stroked affectionately. She had similarly and very tangibly relaxed after a single friendly stroke on the head.

Imo, based on these experiences, children, whether human or animal, are quite sensitive and insecure when without their family, and suffer from high stress levels.

I think, in terms of animal rights, young calves should be exempt from slaughter at least till they had matured or grown up.

Returning back I was glad that I had turned to vegetarianism and was not contributing to animal slaughter in this regard.
With all due respect, I read the first few lines of your post because I was curious, but then I could read no more. :(
NOTHING bothers me more than animal suffering.

Of course animals should be treated with the same kindness as human beings, and we should be even kinder to animals than to humans according to my religion, because they cannot complain to the government.

Animals can do no wrong around my place even when they do wrong, and they get into lots of trouble around my place. A little while ago I heard a huge thud on my deck and I discovered that one of the resident raccoons had climbed up the metal chair onto the glass table trying to get bird food because they ran out of dog food.
 

stvdv

Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
Imo, based on these experiences, children, whether human or animal, are quite sensitive and insecure when without their family, and suffer from high stress levels.
And animals sense things that will happen to them in advance, even better than most people, being dulled by the food they eat etc.etc.

I think, in terms of animal rights, young calves should be exempt from slaughter at least till they had matured or grown up.

Returning back I was glad that I had turned to vegetarianism and was not contributing to animal slaughter in this regard.
Such experiences are great, because then you know why you are vegetarian

As long as people eat meat, they desensitize themselves, hence the vicious vicious circle continues

But there is hope this will stop one day. I saw an article about lab-meat being produced. Will take decades because meat industry is huge
 
Last edited:

ajay0

Well-Known Member
But there is hope this will stop one day. I saw an article about lab-meat being produced. Will take decades because meat industry is huge

That is great. In some ashrams in India, unfertilized eggs ( which does not involve violence or loss of life) are taken as part of diet.

I think advances in this regard can help spare animals and birds of such an ordeal.

It will also help create or strengthen an ethical and moral culture in human society emphasizing sensitivity and dignity for all life.

Scientific research has also shown a correlation between animal cruelty and crime rates...

Animal Cruelty and Domestic Violence - The Link Between Cruelty to Animals and Violence Toward Humans

http://animalstudies.msu.edu/Slaughterhouses_and_Increased_Crime_Rates.pdf


Animal slaughter - Wikipedia
A 2009 study by criminologist Amy Fitzgerald indicates, "slaughterhouse employment increases total arrest rates, arrests for violent crimes, arrests for rape, and arrests for other sex offenses in comparison with other industries."

As authors from the PTSD Journal explain, "These employees are hired to kill animals, such as pigs and cows that are largely gentle creatures. Carrying out this action requires workers to disconnect from what they are doing and from the creature standing before them. This emotional dissonance can lead to consequences such as domestic violence, social withdrawal, anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, and PTSD."
 

Secret Chief

nirvana is samsara
Yesterday, as I was arriving from the market after buying a pair of slippers, I stopped at a scenic place full of greenery and with young buffalo calves tied to trees. As I was enjoying the scene I found that there was a slaughterhouse in a nearby building and the animals were actually meant for slaughter. :eek:

Having seen a few youtube videos recently on the brutality of animal slaughter in slaughterhouses, I sympathized with the young calves and felt sorry for them. One of the calves was bleating a lot repeatedly indicating stress, and I went forward to it hoping to comfort it a bit.

Interestingly, the calf, seeing me coming near, itself came near to me indicating interest in sociability and companionship.

I stroked his face lovingly for some time, at which he visibly relaxed. He poked his face at me for some more strokes which I obliged. The continuous bleating stopped, and he started eating the grass around staying next to me, peacefully.

While stroking, I was surprised to see a clear dark line of tear streams from his eyes to the lower part of his face. I wondered whether this was actually tears of emotion, or tears associated with eye infection or hormonal biochemical changes or something.

(Checking the internet today I found that there had been an instance of a calf visibly crying after its mother was knocked down dead by a truck while crossing a road.There were similar articles in this regard.

Buffalo calf cries after mother gets hit by car and lies dead on Romanian roadside )

Later reflecting on this experience, I remembered a orphaned girl I met a decade back, and whose head I stroked affectionately. She had similarly and very tangibly relaxed after a single friendly stroke on the head.

Imo, based on these experiences, children, whether human or animal, are quite sensitive and insecure when without their family, and suffer from high stress levels.

I think, in terms of animal rights, young calves should be exempt from slaughter at least till they had matured or grown up.

Returning back I was glad that I had turned to vegetarianism and was not contributing to animal slaughter in this regard.

You're recommending simply delaying the cruelty then?

Returning back I was glad that I had turned to vegetarianism and was not contributing to animal slaughter in this regard.

I say this as someone vegetarian for decades: you are very much contributing to animal slaughter. What happens to male calves in the dairy industry? What happens to male chicks in the egg industry?
 

Samael_Khan

Goosebender
Yesterday, as I was arriving from the market after buying a pair of slippers, I stopped at a scenic place full of greenery and with young buffalo calves tied to trees. As I was enjoying the scene I found that there was a slaughterhouse in a nearby building and the animals were actually meant for slaughter. :eek:

Having seen a few youtube videos recently on the brutality of animal slaughter in slaughterhouses, I sympathized with the young calves and felt sorry for them. One of the calves was bleating a lot repeatedly indicating stress, and I went forward to it hoping to comfort it a bit.

Interestingly, the calf, seeing me coming near, itself came near to me indicating interest in sociability and companionship.

I stroked his face lovingly for some time, at which he visibly relaxed. He poked his face at me for some more strokes which I obliged. The continuous bleating stopped, and he started eating the grass around staying next to me, peacefully.

While stroking, I was surprised to see a clear dark line of tear streams from his eyes to the lower part of his face. I wondered whether this was actually tears of emotion, or tears associated with eye infection or hormonal biochemical changes or something.

(Checking the internet today I found that there had been an instance of a calf visibly crying after its mother was knocked down dead by a truck while crossing a road.There were similar articles in this regard.

Buffalo calf cries after mother gets hit by car and lies dead on Romanian roadside )

Later reflecting on this experience, I remembered a orphaned girl I met a decade back, and whose head I stroked affectionately. She had similarly and very tangibly relaxed after a single friendly stroke on the head.

Imo, based on these experiences, children, whether human or animal, are quite sensitive and insecure when without their family, and suffer from high stress levels.

I think, in terms of animal rights, young calves should be exempt from slaughter at least till they had matured or grown up.

Returning back I was glad that I had turned to vegetarianism and was not contributing to animal slaughter in this regard.

Depends on the culture you are from. We live with animals as pets, which become part of our family. We see how they act and that they are not just guided by instinct and can reciprocate feelings.

I think that in many countries we will eventually become vegan if the majority of people's empathy towards animals causes them to have a moral dilemma when killing animals for food.

In other countries and cultures, where they don't tend to keep animals as pets, and see animals as sources for food, there won't be such a shift.

My empathy is inbetween. I care about the animals I have a relationship with but also recognise that animals as a whole are competing species in the food chain. That being said, I also don't care if people get eaten by animals for food, and I find it weird that we punish animals for eating a human that encroaches on their territory.

When it comes to insects and fish, I definitely do not empathise with them. I empathise mostly with mammals and birds.

I dont like the brutal slaughtering of animals though, as it is a form of torture to me. Although cats dont care about such things. I think that they should have the right to live their life, and should have an opportunity to fight for their survival.
 

stvdv

Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
I say this as someone vegetarian for decades: you are very much contributing to animal slaughter. What happens to male calves in the dairy industry? What happens to male chicks in the egg industry?
Criticizing someone's diet, esp. meat eaters, is like "asking to be killed (by them)"; they really don't like you to touch their food habits/"addictions". And also vegans can have food addictions they don't want to give up. Tell a fruitarian to drop fruit and eat grains and vegetables. He might not kill you but probably unfriend you, or don't give you any frubals for a long time:D

As a good comparison you should try stealing a lion's prey just caught, and about to take his first bite, while he is having his lunch after having been starved for 3 days, or better don't try ... try to imagine should do the trick (and better for your health), otherwise you probably end up as the lion's desert:D.

Having to stop eating meat one day might be seen as the "sword of Damocles" (biggest disaster when one is addicted) hanging above their head

Hence suggesting baby steps is the wise way to go ... "start not killing young animals", this step will make people aware, also meat eaters, and then finally when they ask "your questions" they show to you that they are ready for the next step. It took me years to give up my meat addiction completely. I stopped at once, but fell back in old habits and addictions. I think most people will go through such a process. You can't force this on people, and it's also not good to make them feel guilty. We all go through processes of giving up addictions.

So, it's a fact that eating meat causes more pain than eating vegetables. But changing habits, giving up addictions are life lessons we all go through
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
You're recommending simply delaying the cruelty then?

I say this as someone vegetarian for decades: you are very much contributing to animal slaughter. What happens to male calves in the dairy industry? What happens to male chicks in the egg industry?

Aside from not consuming dairy or eggs, what are you actively doing to change the practices in these industries?
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
As one example when there is not sufficient means of dietary sustenance without eating meat.

As another example when a terrorist can't be safely isolated and it becomes necessary to kill them.

Cannot one take a life without doing so with love and compassion?

I know of hunters who, out of love for the spirit of the animal, offer a blessing of love and thanks to the animal for their sacrifice.

I suppose it comes down to how one perceives other sentient beings.
 

Secret Chief

nirvana is samsara
Criticizing someone's diet, esp. meat eaters, is like "asking to be killed (by them)"; they really don't like you to touch their food habits/"addictions". And also vegans can have food addictions they don't want to give up. Tell a fruitarian to drop fruit and eat grains and vegetables. He might not kill you but probably unfriend you, or don't give you any frubals for a long time:D

As a good comparison you should try stealing a lion's prey just caught, and about to take his first bite, while he is having his lunch after having been starved for 3 days, or better don't try ... try to imagine should do the trick (and better for your health), otherwise you probably end up as the lion's desert:D.

Having to stop eating meat one day might be seen as the "sword of Damocles" (biggest disaster when one is addicted) hanging above their head

Hence suggesting baby steps is the wise way to go ... "start not killing young animals", this step will make people aware, also meat eaters, and then finally when they ask "your questions" they show to you that they are ready for the next step. It took me years to give up my meat addiction completely. I stopped at once, but fell back in old habits and addictions. I think most people will go through such a process. You can't force this on people, and it's also not good to make them feel guilty. We all go through processes of giving up addictions.

So, it's a fact that eating meat causes more pain than eating vegetables. But changing habits, giving up addictions are life lessons we all go through
I agree with what you say. However, what I said was simply factual; I wish someone had made me aware of what I have pointed out years ago.
 

Secret Chief

nirvana is samsara
Aside from not consuming dairy or eggs, what are you actively doing to change the practices in these industries?
I don't want the practices in these industries to change, I want the industries to die. But that won't happen, I believe.
I consider the biggest thing I can do is to stop being an end user - be the change you want to see and all that; other than online petitions and donations. The only consumption I can change is my own, other than communicating facts with others. I don't actually have any real confidence things will improve globally; at least not through human choices, but that doesn't mean, to me, that I should remain silent. Globally, meat consumption is increasing, animals are simply a resource. Faster and more efficient means of killing is all that is likely to happen.
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
I don't want the practices in these industries to change, I want the industries to die. But that won't happen, I believe.
I consider the biggest thing I can do is to stop being an end user - be the change you want to see and all that; other than online petitions and donations. The only consumption I can change is my own, other than communicating facts with others. I don't actually have any real confidence things will improve globally; at least not through human choices, but that doesn't mean, to me, that I should remain silent. Globally, meat consumption is increasing, animals are simply a resource. Faster and more efficient means of killing is all that is likely to happen.

I was referring to barking at a vegetarian for their contribution to animal slaughter. Vegetarians are not end users for meat consumption.

There is no reason the industry cannot change from its current state to being a humane industry of dairy and egg producers. I don't see what's productive in telling a vegetarian they're contributing to animal slaughter by way of consuming by-products of animals and not the animals themselves.

Perhaps such energy would be better directed writing letters to the industries' regulators and actively protesting what happens to male bovine and chicks than it would chastising people who don't even consume meat. :shrug:
 
Top