born in a Brahmin family in South India, I have been a vegetarian all through.
many years ago met an American who was also a vegetarian but he did not even take milk because that is meant strictly for the calf and also an animal product. This was new to me. He was also a strong animal rights activist. Dwelling deeper on this, I wonder how far this logic can be extended.
I remember my science teacher telling me plants have life too, and so do bugs like the bacteria and so on. So are we not actually "eating" life when we take plant foods, or even curdled milk or Dosa or idli ( food made from fermented rice batter!) . jains ( a north indian community ) avoids eating any plant food growing below the ground)
Lets accept, life on this planet cannot be sustained without consuming some other life forms. It is true when the life form you consume bleeds and wriths in pain on being consumed, it makes a pitiable sight and evokes sympathy ; Does that mean plants which cannot cry out or bugs whom we cannot see are lifeless ?
First we had human rights and now animal rights and what will happen if we have bugs rights? Plants rights etc. We all have to starve to death! of simler life forms like wild animals, who are not bothered by these perspectives will feast on us happily.
many years ago met an American who was also a vegetarian but he did not even take milk because that is meant strictly for the calf and also an animal product. This was new to me. He was also a strong animal rights activist. Dwelling deeper on this, I wonder how far this logic can be extended.
I remember my science teacher telling me plants have life too, and so do bugs like the bacteria and so on. So are we not actually "eating" life when we take plant foods, or even curdled milk or Dosa or idli ( food made from fermented rice batter!) . jains ( a north indian community ) avoids eating any plant food growing below the ground)
Lets accept, life on this planet cannot be sustained without consuming some other life forms. It is true when the life form you consume bleeds and wriths in pain on being consumed, it makes a pitiable sight and evokes sympathy ; Does that mean plants which cannot cry out or bugs whom we cannot see are lifeless ?
First we had human rights and now animal rights and what will happen if we have bugs rights? Plants rights etc. We all have to starve to death! of simler life forms like wild animals, who are not bothered by these perspectives will feast on us happily.
