Numerous human beings and other life forms choose a vegetarian diet for a variety of reasons. Good health, compassion towards all living beings, environmentalism, and spiritual bliss are a few of the lovely side effects of adopting a vegetarian way of life.
    After a few years of living with my wife Joey (a long time vegan) I became very supportive of the ethical reasons for not eating animals. Working in a fine non-vegetarian restaurant, I found myself often times coming to the defense of vegetarian customers when other chefs there would scoff at their lifestyle. One day, while standing up for someone's choice not to eat animals, an amazing cook, Chad asked, "So, Adam, why aren't YOU vegetarian?" I replied, "That's a fine idea. Maybe I will be."
    That was it. I understood the pain I caused by consuming animals, and finally I was ready to become a more caring person, committed to the happiness of all living beings.
    A year later our daughter Idil was born in our home. During Joey's long labor, I was given time to reflect on the way our daughter would live, and how she would see us live. I knew breast-feeding would be an important part of Idil's physical and spiritual development. How then could we have this kind of sacred bond with our child while infringing on other animals' freedom to do the same? With this revelation, I knew in my heart that I would only be a hypocrite to go on consuming dairy products and eggs. So, with no doubts, I turned from the meat and dairy infused diet I grew up with and dove head first into the exciting world of ripe produce, fragrant herbs and spices, hearty grains, beans, nuts, and the ancient wisdom of non-violence, Ahimsa.
    Every year, millions of animals are forced to live miserable, tortured lives in the farming industry and in animal testing of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and chemicals.
    Veganism is a protest to the cruelty and oppression of all life forms. Death is an inevitable part of life. Misery and abuse, on the other hand, are totally unnecessary for the survival of our species and in fact, threaten the delicate dynamic of our balance in nature. In a civilization where cruelty towards animals (including human beings) is so imbedded in every aspect of life, choosing non-violence and veganism is a revolutionary and liberating choice. My teacher, Sri Dharma Mittra often says you can try to meditate, but while you are still participating in violence, you can only go so far... never reaching any true spiritual bliss. Buying meat from a store, you are just getting someone else to do the killing for you.
    The argument is sometimes made that plant life and fungi are being killed also when you choose to eat them. This much we know: Animals feel pain. We ourselves are animals. We can suffer. We can feel sadness. Our nervous system transports the sensation of physical pain to our consciousness. Human beings would not enjoy the conditions that we subject agricultural animals to. On the other hand there is little suggestion that plants and fungi experience suffering and pain. There does not appear to be the biological systems in place (a brain or central nervous system for instance) to facilitate the experience of feeling.
    Of course, it is not to be assumed that plants and fungi do not experience anything. This is why it is important to nourish your body from plant life with respect. Do not take your life for granted. Life and death are intricately intertwined. Life cannot exist without death. No matter how you eat, your life will be created from the death of countless beings everyday. So, be grateful. Make it worth it! Use your life to do beautiful things for other beings. Use your life to be loving. Use your life to pursue enlightenment, for the purpose of being able to serve all living beings simultaneously, without even having to move a muscle.