佛友学佛感言
My story of becoming a vegetarian.
Riku在芬兰素食分享会现身说法分享
Hello, everyone! I hope you're all doing well. It's a pleasure to be here with you today. We all get to enjoy some delicious vegetarian food and learn about the philosophy of Buddhism. I was asked to share my story of becoming a vegetarian.
It all started about seven years ago when me and my wife attended a seminar in Singapore. It was a seminar about buddhism. That time I didn’t know that this would lead to a big change in my life, filling it with more meaning, compassion, and energy. Listening to all the inspiring speeches about compassion and nonviolence was a transformative experience for me. I decided to try being a vegetarian for just one week, and something quite amazing happened.
During that week, I realized that being a vegetarian was a good thing. With a such small change like changing your diet, could have such a big impact. It made me feel more energized and I realized I didn’t really have to give up anything important in my life. I was still able to enjoy delicious food and do all the things I wanted, like lifting heavy weights at the gym. But this diet felt somehow meaningful to me. I decided to continue being a vegetarian, which meant that I stopped eating any kind of meat, fish or chicken.
But it wasn't just about me. I realized that by not eating meat, I was also not supporting the suffering of animals. When I started looking more into it, I also learned about the significant impact that meat production has on the environment. Before the seminar, I knew that it was bad, but I didn't fully grasp the extent of the problem.
You see, the production of meat, especially on a large scale, contributes to deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and water pollution. The land required for raising livestock and growing animal feed leads to the destruction of forests, which are crucial for biodiversity and the health of our planet. Additionally, the methane emissions from livestock, particularly cattle, contribute to climate change.
Moreover, animal agriculture consumes vast amounts of water and contributes to water pollution through the use of fertilizers and pesticides. The runoff from these operations contaminates rivers, lakes, and oceans, harming sea life and ecosystems.
The more I learned about these environmental impacts, the more I felt compelled to make a change. It wasn't just about personal health or compassion for animals anymore; it became about also protecting our planet and preserving it for future generations.
So, for the past seven years, I have been a vegetarian. The main reason I don't eat meat, chicken, or fish is because I believe in being kind and not hurting other living beings. But it is also because I want to minimize my ecological footprint and contribute to a more sustainable world.
I hope my simple story can inspire someone to try eating more vegetarian food and avoid consuming animals. It's not about forcing anyone to change, but about thinking about a diet that is compassionate and respectful to all living things while also helping to protect our planet.
Thank you!
Riku