The exhilaration of freedom

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Escaping our own habits-of-convention, our attitudes, behaviours, diet, philosophy, etc, is contingent upon knowing if there IS an alternative way of looking at life, and then seeing that it lies within vegan principle - this is distinct from merely eating more vegan food. I’m stressing here that this is not merely a physical health matter, but something much more.

Being vegan lifts us out of mindlessly following convention, by taking us closer to a more natural, freer state of mind. So, it isn’t only about slimming and health and food but also about appreciating what we didn’t appreciate before, namely the beauty of innocence. And I’d suggest that one of the most beautiful examples of that innocence is to be seen in those animals we most abuse. (Yes, kids are beautiful in their innocence too but not as oppressed or helpless as the ‘food’ animal).

Our compliances with violence-towards-animals are habits of attitude which hold us hostage. Often, when we’re attending to our own selfish needs, we’re doing so at the expense of others’ needs. Lions may chase and eat the gazelle, but humans want so much more than other predators. Our appetites, addictions and insatiabilities bring us to longing for what we shouldn’t want or can’t have.

            We are so enslaved by those who have a vested interest, that we’ve developed a warped sense of right and wrong. And if we see that but don’t want to address it, we say to ourselves, “Why bother to protest, when things are so far out of my control”.

It’s the ‘Goliath’ that is causing us to believe that ‘it’ is too big to do anything about. But all that changes as soon as an alternative way becomes apparent; as soon as you go vegan you start an upward climb. It might be a long climb but the smell of freedom is exhilarating.

Inevitably conditions apply - it’s a matter of facing habits of ‘wanting’ and attempting to drop them, especially the most insidious ones connected with animal foods and all the social conformities they involve us in.

Here at the heart of vegan principle is a diet, which is good for slimming and energy but broadens into a non-violent approach to life, which concludes with a ‘no-touch-animal’ approach. Obviously that doesn’t mean animals are not to be literally touched, but it implies that humans can’t be trusted around animals. A sign held up before a mob of sheep reads “Beware of humans. They eat your babies”.

Once things are seen from the animal’s point of view, we can move towards a truly symbiotic, mutually-respecting relationship with them.