Jun14
The Dalai Lama Calls for an End to Animal Experiments
Posted at 03:33 PM | Permalink
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Comments (13)
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Yesterday, the Dalai Lama gave a speech in Australia with a very clear message about the way we as a society treat animals. In addition to criticizing companies that "remain indifferent" to animal rights by experimenting on them (see, for instance, Covance), the Dalai Lama made some powerful statements about the horrors and the inhumanity inherent in killing animals to eat them:
"Hunting. Beef, sheep farms. Piggeries. Millions, billions die. We can be so cruel to animals."
He went on to discuss vegetarianism—noting that he himself gave up meat, dairy, and eggs in 1965, though he has occasionally eaten meat since then. In my few years in the animal rights movement, I've learned from experience that animal issues like these can sometimes be tough for people to take on board. When you're asking a person, or an organization, to make a fundamental change in the way they've always done things, tensions are likely to flare, regardless of how compelling your argument is. Which is why moments like these are so important. If anyone's looking for advice on how to live a compassionate lifestyle, the Dalai Lama's a pretty solid choice for a consultation. We're so used to listening to experts when we make decisions about how to live our lives, and it follows that we should sit up and pay attention when an expert on something as essential as kindness makes a pronouncement. I hope a lot of people pay attention to this one.
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animals dalai lama
Comments
His Holyness the Dalai Lama is one of my favorite religious celebrities. I was shaking hands with him years ago when he spoke at the famous 'Paulus Academy' in Zurich. Also then he talked against cruelty to animals and it's now at least 17 years but I never forget that powerful encounter and in the meanwhile I intensified my studies in Buddhism. This is a mighty and holy message, indeed: the message to be mercyful towards all living beings! And that day I understood: the higher a human's spiritual life-standard is - the higher is his respect towards A L L living beings! So later on I took the Boddhisattva-wows, that means that I shall come back to this earth as long as there shall be a suffering living being! and thanks to His Holyness the Dalai Lama I find the strength until today to fight for the most helpless beings of all - the animals! Thank you Dalai Lama - I never shall abandon!
Posted by: claudia marrapodi | June 14, 2007 04:04 PM
It should be mentioned that during his visit he spent a long time with Terri Irwin and her kids and had wonderful things to say about the late Steve Irwin, how he wishes for more compassion like his.
I know some people did not like the late Irwin, but it's worth putting on the record that His Holiness did think he did good and compassionate work. :)
Posted by: Maya | June 14, 2007 09:52 PM
Even the Dalai Lama can't resist the deliciousness of some good old meat every once in awhile...
Posted by: Haley | June 14, 2007 10:34 PM
A vegetarian who occasionally eats meat would still be omnivorous. There are different levels of veganism, meat consumption isn't in any of them.
The Dalai lama was vegetarian for 18months in the sixties, and resumed meat eating in 1967(every other day) through to 2004. Now he only eats meat "when traveling", which seems to be quite often.
Posted by: rojo | June 15, 2007 10:55 AM
The Dalai Lama is a vegetarian in India and the Western World! When he lived in Tibet his was not because life there is very hard and they have not many other possibilites. I saw a report on this - even if Tibetans are very animal-friendly, they have just one special type of wheat and if the harvest was bad they have to eat meat, but they always try to avoid killing their animals and get the meat from elsewhere. Sometimes in winter the ground there is so hard that they cannot bury their dead - so they let them for the birds! This I saw on TV with my own eyes.
Posted by: Jason Head | June 15, 2007 11:41 AM
I really respect this man. I was very pleased to hear also that the late Pope John Paul also said that animals have souls and should be respected. I read this recently on the Peta website, I never knew this before. If all the great spiritual leaders are now saying to be kind to animals, we should be listening to them.
Posted by: Mary | June 15, 2007 10:15 PM
I love you, talking llama!
Posted by: Michael Conley | June 16, 2007 08:00 PM
how fabulous!!! huge step for animals everywhere!! oh look it is haley again!! find a new hobby like oh i dont know go volunteer at a shelter or a zoo then lets see how you feel or maybe go work in the labs where they torture these animals, you probaly would like it there!! you nasty girl!!
Posted by: sunshine | June 17, 2007 05:32 PM
I'm confused as to why my comments aren't showing up?
Posted by: K | June 17, 2007 08:03 PM
WTF? Why the hell does he occasionally still eat meat?
It's commendable he speaks out against such atrocities, but I do not get how he can be on both sides of the fence..
Posted by: K | June 18, 2007 03:59 PM
The Dalai Lama is a hypocrite. I don't get how you preach to be kind to all then chow down on veal and outright refuse vegetarian meals. wtf.
Posted by: Dalai Lama is human | June 19, 2007 11:58 AM
I have great respect for the Dalai Lama. I would think the times he eats meat are when it is prepared and offered,not his own choice.In many cultures if you refuse their cuisine you are considered rude and offensive.The Dalai Lama respects others cultures whether he agrees with them or not.His purpose is to teach,not overpower.
Posted by: Geri | June 23, 2007 06:56 AM
I love everyone who proclaims veganism, particularly religious leaders, and the fact that the Dalai Lama has consistently spoken out in favor of humans growing more compassionate toward all our fellow animals causes me to whole-heartedly embrace His Holiness as a major vehicle in our efforts to open the hearts of all people and to mobilize them as a huge force of compassionate protection for those who cannot protect themselves.
Let's all support the Dalai Lama in every way we can!
Posted by: Ocean | August 16, 2007 11:43 AM