Cattāri Brahmavihārā

Lately I have been suffering over a few choices I feel compelled to make despite knowing that to do otherwise would be to cause suffering to others and myself in the long term. Although the issue to which I’m alluding is, to me, much larger and more direct than my diet choices the fact of my return to a more wholly vegan diet provides a pretty good example of what I’m talking about.

So, this afternoon my partner and I decided to order out, something which is never easy to do when you’re attempting to avoid dairy and eggs. I was tempted to just say forget about it and order a burrito with cheese but then I reflected on the reason I went largely vegan; to try to reduce suffering in whatever small ways are possible. I brought to mind the images of battery cages and calfs being confined to cashes for the entirety of their short lives and I was able to resist.

May I reflect on the greater suffering which would befall myself and others were I to make the wrong choice in the situation at hand and see clearly with wisdom.