Energy

1342: 

On the face of it, dynamic non-violence calls for right-thinking, which in turn depends upon our ability to discriminate right from wrong.  But this leads us into the quagmire of value judgment.  Vegans, for instance, who are securely inhabiting the ‘right-thinking’ camp, often compare themselves to those who are “not right”.  It makes us look unattractive and even dangerous.

We’d be on safer ground if we spent less time on good and bad conduct and concentrated on the efficiency of our energy-use.  By becoming, in a very practical way, as non-violent as we can possibly be, we tap into high efficiency, where there’s minimal energy-drain.  Violence, whether direct or indirect, whether done by a proxy or done ourselves, is such a huge waste of energy.

Nobody actually advocates violence for its own sake. It’s more like a fall back position that we resort to in times of stress or opportunity.  It either scoops us up when we get lost or urges us forward when there’s a chance to gain benefit.  “Shall I kill a pig/ eat bacon for breakfast?”  Making use of animals for our own pleasure reveals our weak willed side.  Violence is just one of those temptations that seem like we’re getting something for nothing – what harm will come to us if we kill the pig and eat bacon from it?

Whether we follow the road of violence to get out of a present problem or to gain some advantage, we don’t do it because we like being wicked but because it fools us into thinking we can get a quick result.  A free lunch.  We don’t see how it sucks energy out of us.

         

The worst energy loss comes when we try to get away with it, without getting caught.   Meat eaters think they can ‘get away’ with their meat diet without too much damage.  But of course the damage hides behind a rock and leaps out when least expected.  It shows up later, down the track, when it’s likely too late for rescue.

         

“Dammit”, we say.  “If only we’d been less obstinate, listened to our instincts and taken the advice to become vegan when we were younger”.  If only we had not taken such risks with our lives and the lives of others.