A friend sent this – ‘Just received a cold call promoting some membership with free hotel stays plus lots of restaurant food vouchers at 50% off. I decline as all are not useful to me. The persistent caller wanted to know why. Being my cheeky self, I queried, “When you want to sell or give something to someone, do you bother to find out whether whatever you are selling or giving is useful to them?” Proudly she said, “Oh, of course! Free hotel stays surely are useful. 50% discounts for so many fine dining meals also surely useful!”
I responded, “Do you know I am a vegetarian and none of your restaurants are vegetarian?” Her response – “Oh you can order vegetables even though not a vegetarian restaurant.” I said, “Of course. But is it necessary for me to go thru all the hassle, to join your membership, get 50% off to eat 2 vegetable dishes at a non-vege restaurant?” Not giving up, she said, “But, you know, vegetarian food is very unhealthy.”
Upon hearing this, I interrupted her and ask her for permission to allow me to share the truth about vegetarianism:
[1] If she is not a vegetarian and is ignorant about vegetarianism, she should not go round and spread untruths that vegetarian food is unhealthy
[2] Spreading untruths creates negative karma and for her good, I would like to help her stop creating it.
[3] Going vegetarian is not only healthy but full of compassion for all sentient beings.
[4] Going vegetarian means eating a plant-based diet and is not restricted to mock meat.
She was quite awed and asked me many more questions about vegetarianism and said she will try to eat more vegetarian food. Not only did we part as friends but she wanted to be a vegetarian buddy…’
My reply – ‘Well done! Thank you on behalf of many sentient beings. It is strange that many meat-eaters think of vege food in terms of only mock meat, instead of the veges directly. Guess it shows their strong attachment to meat, while missing the benefits of vege food!’ (Of course, it is much better to go vegan!)