Why be vegetarian?

THE TREND of consuming a vegetarian, high-fibre diet is picking up across the world, as scientists are producing more evidence about its health benefits. Many people, including celebrities, are also voluntarily giving up consuming animal products.

In many debates over food, the question comes up: ‘ Are plants also not living things?’

But that is precisely the point. Plants are living ‘things’, but animals are living ‘beings’, which means they have a sentient life force which can see, feel, and suffer like humans.

But however much we may argue, in the end, we do what we want to. Whether the doctor prescribes us a light, high-fibre diet, whether the cigarette packet cautions us that smoking kills, or the papers tell us every day that people turn into criminals when they are drunk, we must make our own choice.

This choice must be made carefully, because it makes us who we are, determines our family values and our destiny.

Many say that being vegetarian makes a person physically weak. This is far from the truth.

Mahatma Gandhi was one of the healthiest men of his time. He remained on a fruit diet for three years, and was not deprived of nutrients.

We should learn from this example, and from the amazing endurance of herbivorous animals like the elephants, cattle and many others.

Even if you stand up alone for your inner voice, you would be freeing yourself from karmic debt, investing in kindness, and setting an example for many others.

For me, three decades ago, it was not easy to give up meat. Whenever I passed by eatery stalls that sold ‘wantan’ mee, I had to pinch my nose for about two weeks.

With determination, anything is possible. Today, I am healthy, happy, and prosperous.