By Lorri Houston
“Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivating the insight of interbeing and compassion and learning ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to support any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, or in my way of life. Seeing that harmful actions arise from anger,
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By Lorri Houston
“Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivating the insight of interbeing and compassion and learning ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to support any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, or in my way of life. Seeing that harmful actions arise from anger, fear, greed, and intolerance, which in turn come from dualistic and discriminative thinking, I will cultivate openness, non-discrimination, and non-attachment to views in order to transform violence, fanaticism, and dogmatism in myself and in the world.”
– Thich Nhat Hanh, The First Mindfulness Training
The joy of mindful eating is boundless—especially when we sample delicious vegan food offerings!
In September 2015, the city of Madison, Wisconsin enjoyed its first Mindful Eating Retreat thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation.
The retreat was organized by members of the Madison Chapter of Dharma Voices for Animals (DVA), which was formed by Snowflower Sangha and other Sanghas. DVA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for animals in Buddhist communities worldwide.
The retreat was designed to support our practice of reverence for life. The full-day gathering included sitting and walking meditation, Dharma talks and sharing, cooking demonstrations and tips, and information and resources to help people on the path to healthy, humane, sustainable (and delicious!) food choices. Various vegan food samples were distributed to introduce people to plant-based foods, from vegan macaroni and cheese to dips and sauces that complimented Buddha Bowls filled with grains, beans, and veggies.
Special guest Dharma teacher Bhante Sathi, a fully ordained bhikkhu in the Theravada tradition, joined us from Minnesota to lead the retreat and provided inspirational Buddhist teachings on compassion for all sentient beings. We also facilitated presentations on plant-based nutrition, animal welfare, and easy ways to replace meat, dairy, and eggs in recipes.
The Mindful Eating Retreat connected us with the joy of being engaged Buddhists. We know that every time we sit down for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, we can make a choice to bring more happiness and less suffering into the world. May we keep our compassion alive by eating in such a way that we reduce the suffering of living beings, stop contributing to climate change, and heal and preserve our precious planet.
Lorri Houston, True Tao Garden, opened the country’s first shelter for farm animals in 1986 as co-founder of Farm Sanctuary and has directly saved thousands of animals used for food production. Lorri is a member of the Order of Interbeing, and from 2012 to 2014, she helped develop the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation at Deer Park Monastery.
GUIDED MEDITATION
We have the ability through our own thoughts and actions to save lives. But it starts with our own minds, so I’d like to offer this guided meditation.
Sit comfortably, with both feet on the ground. Close your eyes and breathe deeply.
Follow your breath.
Breathing in, I know I am breathing in. Breathing out, I know I am breathing out. Breathing in, breathing out. In, out.
Now as you follow your breaths, try sending yourself loving kindness.
May I be well. May I be happy. May I be safe. May I be free.
Repeat.
Let’s breathe in and out for a few more breaths as you say these or similar words to yourself.
Now as you follow your breath, try sending the same thoughts of loving kindness to a beloved cat, dog, or other animal in your life—perhaps a neighborhood squirrel.
Repeat.
Now, as you follow your breath, please bring to mind a farmed animal who is in pain. It may be a chicken in a small cage, or a downed cow at a stockyard, or a pig in a slaughterhouse line. Imagine you can give comfort to that frightened, suffering animal.
May you be well. May you be happy. May you be safe. May you be free.
Repeat.
Breathing in, we dedicate the merit of our practice to all farmed animals everywhere. May all beings everywhere be peaceful, happy, and free.
Lorri Houston offered this guided meditation at the Mindful Eating Retreat.
