It’s been almost six months now since I became a plant eater, but the upheaval it has created in my social circle is still afresh. My reception at home has not been a very pleasant one. Every relative or friend I meet, tries to convey me with his own unique theory to switch back to killing animals.
“Beta,abhi to tumhaare khaane ke din hain,50 ke baad chood dena”
“Thoda thoda khaana chahiye,jyaada mat khao”
“Ye jaanvar to bane hi marne ke liye hain”
“Non veg na khaane se insaan,dheela ho jaata hain”
“Lagta hain iska kisi vegetarian tamil Brahmin se chakkar chal raha hain”
When words don’t work, they seduce me with every mouth-watering chicken dish available in this planet. Apologetic looks from others, sometimes gives me nightmares that my hands and legs are chained and others are trying to stuff the chicken leg piece into my mouth. If such a frugal act can create such a fuss, I wonder what will be the situation if I declare celibacy or elope with an outcast girl.
So why did I quit eating non vegetarian food??In real sense, I have not quit anything. you actually never quit anything,you just move to a higher level.Suppose now you own a Maruti 800.In some time if you become financially affluent, you might buy a Honda city, and in later run you might own a BMW.Does it means you have quit Maruti? No, you bought a BMW because you are competent enough to drive maximum happiness out of your life. Similar is the case with me.
My happiness was defined and limited to chicken. Party for me was synonymous with chicken. A Paneer on the table instead of chicken would drop my endorphin and dopa-mine levels. Earlier it was my taste buds that received sensory happiness. Now I drive a better happiness.
There is a greater satisfaction that I am being compassionate towards animals, a sense of gratification that I care for my health and not knowingly imposing myself to deadly diseases, gratitude towards the mother earth and a feeling of service towards poor.
If you understand it, well and good. Otherwise, Kanna please keep calm and at least respect my constitutional “Right to eat” (If it exists)
Go green!
Go green!
References:
learn about becoming a vegetarian
top ten reasons to go vegetarian
50 good-reasons to become a vegetarian
