I can tell you that it was really hard to make that connection for me. 5 long years since I was first introduced to vegetarianism, a shroom trip, watching Dominion and Earthlings multiple times, the book “Tender is the flesh”, and a course on generating compassion. I really made an effort to make the connection happen because I was convinced that it was the right thing but still I loved meat and couldn’t say no to it, and the memories of the slaughtered animals were there too.
When my brain finally clicked I couldn’t see meat as food anymore and went vegan, but meanwhile I couldn’t stop wanting it, and not thinking too much about the issue while eating was easy.
I feel there’s more to it for the whole issue. A strong attachment to the taste of meat is one. I have a friend that stopped being vegan and I’m sure the reason is this attachment too. And it is really hard to see it because there are a lot of mechanisms trying to convince you that it is not attachment. And I feel that this attachment kills the compassion/empathy.
I’m not 100% sure about it but I think my brain finally clicked when I was doing this compassion course. So maybe it was having a low empathy for animals the problem after all. But that was something hidden for myself, if you asked me back then about animals, I would tell you the typical bullshit about me loving animals and so forth. It was a lie that I believed myself. And that’s something to be aware of because I think most of the people are on the same page.
I can tell you that it was really hard to make that connection for me. 5 long years since I was first introduced to vegetarianism, a shroom trip, watching Dominion and Earthlings multiple times, the book “Tender is the flesh”, and a course on generating compassion. I really made an effort to make the connection happen because I was convinced that it was the right thing but still I loved meat and couldn’t say no to it, and the memories of the slaughtered animals were there too.
When my brain finally clicked I couldn’t see meat as food anymore and went vegan, but meanwhile I couldn’t stop wanting it, and not thinking too much about the issue while eating was easy.
I feel there’s more to it for the whole issue. A strong attachment to the taste of meat is one. I have a friend that stopped being vegan and I’m sure the reason is this attachment too. And it is really hard to see it because there are a lot of mechanisms trying to convince you that it is not attachment. And I feel that this attachment kills the compassion/empathy.
I’m not 100% sure about it but I think my brain finally clicked when I was doing this compassion course. So maybe it was having a low empathy for animals the problem after all. But that was something hidden for myself, if you asked me back then about animals, I would tell you the typical bullshit about me loving animals and so forth. It was a lie that I believed myself. And that’s something to be aware of because I think most of the people are on the same page.
have you heard of the book Animal Liberation by Peter Singer?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Liberation_(book)
Yes! I haven’t read it yet but it is on my list. Is the book relevant about what we were discussing here?
it, of course, is