While looking through an old copy of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s last
novel The Brothers Karamazov, published in 1880, I came across this
passage in which the Russian Monk, Father Zossima, says:
“Love all God’s creation, the whole and every grain of sand in it.
Love every leaf, every ray of God’s light. Love the animals, love the
plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the
divine mystery of things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to
comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the
whole world with all-embracing love. Love the animals: God has given
them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled. Do not trouble them,
don’t harass them, don’t deprive them of their happiness, don’t work
against God’s intent. Man, do not pride yourself on superiority to the
animals; they are without sin, and you, with your greatness, defile the
earth by your appearance on it, and leave the traces of your foulness
after you – alas, it is true of almost every one of us!”
The world needs more people who are honest enough and courageous
enough to speak the truth and to act on it. Talk is cheap. What
good does it do to talk about the cruelty of the meat and dairy
industries while continuing to keep them in business by purchasing their
products? Those who really love animals prove it by going vegan!
