Vegan Viewing

ChooseVeg.com has chosen the top Vegan-related films available on Netflix. They may help you switch, if you have not. Good food for thought, in any case.

Check 'em out, and happy vegan viewing!

http://www.chooseveg.com/here-are-8-of-the-most-vegan-movies-on-netflix

May all beings be free.

Helping Stray Dogs: A Thank You Letter from Rinpoche

In 2016, Lama Zopa Rinpoche heard about a service that rescues stray dogs in Malaysia, and that had cared for more than a thousand of them. He was deeply touched to hear about this rescue effort. Rinpoche wanted to make an offering of food to help the dogs and also support the woman who ran the rescue service. The local FPMT center, Losang Dragapa Centre, raised money and Rinpoche also contributed. Together, they offered enough money for six months’ worth of food. In addition, Rinpoche asked the center members to put Namgyalma mantras on the ceilings of each of the kennels where the rescued dogs stayed, which they did. Because of this, the dogs now receive purification and blessings from the mantra.

Afterward, Rinpoche sent the center the following letter of thanks.

My most dear, most precious, most kind wish-fulfilling one and everyone,

Thank you very, very much billion, zillion, trillion times, to all the students and all the friends. Please tell everyone my billion, zillion, trillion on and on thanks for the support for the dogs.

Buddha said:
Any sentient being, who during the period of my teachings,
Makes charity well (even if the material is the size of hair)
For 80,000 eons there will be great result of great enjoyment.
No pain, no disease, and enjoyment of happiness.
Like that, one will be enriched with desirable things.
At the end you can actually achieve the result—the peerless cessation and completion (enlightenment) 
After hearing that there is the great result—who wouldn’t want to collect merit?

Please pass on this quote and my thanks to everyone. Also please give it to the lady who has the dogs, telling her it is from me.

With much love and prayers,
Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Transcribed by Ven. Holly Ansett. Lightly edited by Ven. Holly Ansett and Mandala.

Benefiting animals is one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for FPMT:
http://fpmt.org/fpmt/vast-vision/#animals

Watch a short video about the benefits of the Namgyalma mantra:
http://fpmt.org/mandala-today/the-benefits-of-the-namgyalma-mantra-video/

For more about FPMT’s activities to benefit animals see:
https://fpmt.org/tag/animals/

Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.

May all being be well and happy and free of suffering.

Goats of Anarchy

I am so proud that a dear friend and student is now donating money in my name to this great effort.

Watch this moving video about the work of one woman committed to raising awareness about animals' needs (especially goats'):

http://goatsofanarchy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/GOA-Main-Edit-v0.2-SD960.mp4?_=1


Thank you!

May all beings be well and happy.

Learning How to Care for Animals

Neil deGrasse Tyson just tweeted:

"Odd that our measures of animal intelligence are often tests for what we do best, rather than tests for what they do best."

Ah, we have so much yet to learn!

In other news: 

The co-founder of Farm Sanctuary, Gene Baur, recently told Greg Peterson about his life as a vegan and triathlete as well as what prompted him to create a safe facility for rescued farm animals. 

He has many helpful tips for those who are wanting to try the meatless lifestyle and diet, and he shares some insight on how to work with those you disagree with.

Listen to hear: Making choices to help defend animals in industrial agriculture.

May all being be happy and free!

"Use" Is Abuse

On a neighborhood forum, someone posted many "ads" for the Avon products they hope to sell. One neighbor pointed out that she does not buy products tested on animals, and the Avon rep replied with rather ranty and uninformed objections that included multiple exclamation points and questions marks, and - even after some evidence was offered - resorted to "You can't believe everything you read on the internet!" and, finally: "PROVE IT!!"

The conversation continued. I wrote:

This may be helpful: Avon's website.

Avon has a nice page where they talk about their company's ethics. The fact that they - a cosmetic company - do not mention being "cruelty free" - while most cosmetic companies know that this is an issue that matters to many consumers - leaves me with the impression that they or some of their suppliers do in fact test on animals.

Looking more closely, according to Avon's own website under "Corporate Responsibility", we find:

"Unfortunately, a few countries require additional safety testing, which may include animal tests. Avon, in partnership with other organizations, works to help advance government acceptance of alternative non-animal testing methods. But if a compromise cannot be reached, we must comply with the testing required by local law."

http://www.avoncompany.com/documents/corporateresponsibility/resourcecenter/pdfs/policies_positions/Avon_Commitment_to_Animal_Welfare_QA.pdf

So, we can conclude correctly at this time that Avon cannot guarantee animal cruelty-free products.

I appreciate the information from our neighbors who want to help other neighbors learn more about products and services advertised on Nextdoor.com. Thanks!

Only hours later, when this article came to my attention, I added it to the conversation:

Here's an interesting report from the Humane Society: Most people (especially women) oppose the use of animal testing in cosmetics:

http://www.hslf.org/news/press-releases/majority-opposes-animal-testing.html?credit=web_id420978266#.WJkCFlMrKCh

I hope Avon will more actively pursue working with only cruelty-free sources.

Another neighbor joined in and asked this excellent question:

Ok how many of you who are jumping all over [the Avon rep] about the cruelty of animal testing are vegetarians? Animal testing is not pleasant, nor is it necessary, but compared to the horrors of the meat industry, it pales in comparison.

And, I replied:

I am not only vegetarian, I am vegan, because the dairy industry is nearly as bad as the meat industry.

Animal AG is also damaging the environment (via waste); consuming natural lands and ecosystems; requiring disproportionately vast amounts of water; and adding more greenhouse gases than all other major contributors to climate change.

In my view, any "use" of animals that involves their suffering to satisfy our desires (rather than needs) is actually abuse and reveals how far we yet have to go to become truly humane humans.

May all beings be happy and free of suffering.

Demand USDA Restore Animal Welfare Records

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) late last week removed from its website all inspection reports on thousands of commercial dog breeding operators, Tennessee Walking horse show participants, roadside zoos, aquariums, circuses, research labs, and other facilities regulated under the federal Animal Welfare Act and Horse Protection Act. The USDA is hiding the work product of its own inspectors from the public!

Tell the USDA to stop protecting animal abusers and restore access to animal welfare records: 

http://bit.ly/2liq6ht

https://www.change.org/p/tell-the-usda-to-stop-hiding-animal-cruelty-from-american-taxpayers

https://secure.aspca.org/take-action/usda-puppy-mill-reports-petition

May all beings be happy and free.