All Creatures Great and Small

Washington, USA - September 13, 2008. Visiting spiritual luminary and founder of Yoga in Daily Life, His Holiness Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda together with Christine Gutleben, Director of Animals and Religions for Humane Society of the USA, addressed a large gathering in Washington about non-violence and confronting cruelty to animals.

Love them, feed them, protect them – don’t eat themMs. Gutleben presented the various nationwide campaigns being conducted by the Humane Society, which includes getting more corporations in America to fight against factory farming in food production, specifically gestation cages used to raise pigs and chickens for human consumption.
Understanding that the compassionate use of animals in human society is also a subject that is discussed in various religious circles, the Humane Society partners with religious leaders to give the message of compassion for animals a stronger voice.

His Holiness Swami Maheshwarananda says, “The tenet ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill’ applies to all life forms, not just protecting human life.  In Hinduism it is said ‘non-violence is the highest duty, the highest precept by which one should live life. There is no compromise on Truth. If you love animals, the highest compassion you can show is not to kill them.”

“Animals are like our children, if we really have compassion for them, we would not harm them. Love them, feed them, protect them – don’t eat them” says His Holiness Swamiji.

Additionally, there is growing scientific evidence that demonstrates the environmental benefits to be gained by not breeding animals for consumption. Research study by a UN body showed that in terms of carbon emissions, eating meat is vastly more harmful to the environment than driving vehicles.

His Holiness Swamiji suggested that the Humane Society of America should advocate the vegetarian diet as the primary choice in non-cruelty to animals.
 

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