Description. As far as the
choices made by people who live in Vegan, The American Vegan Society
(see http://www.vegansociety.com.)
sums it up in its description of veganism:
...a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude — as
far as is possible and practical — all forms of exploitation of,
and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose;
and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free
alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment.
Essence. Although many books
have described the elements I would find within the "city
limits," none have done it as well as Joanne Stepaniak in her
book, The vegan sourcebook (see Resources).
The essence of "veganites" is one which Joanne describes
as "spherical compassion." She describes five different
kinds of compassion in her book, Chapter 13, pp 142 and 143:
1. Linear compassion is what we feel for friends, family,
spouse/partner and children, those with whom we are emotionally close
and who are most like us. The bond is reciprocal, allowing
empathy to flow back and forth. The output of compassion is directly
proportional to the input and is mutually gratifying.
2. Parallel compassion applies to people who are similar to us
but outside of our immediate realm. They may be individuals or groups
we know remotely or have never met but with whom we feel we share a
connective bond. For example, parallel compassion can include
empathy for people of the same religion, ethnicity, or subcultural
group; people who have survived an ordeal together; people who have a
similar lifestyle or occupation (such as mothers, homosexuals,
students); people who have endured comparable tragedies or challenges
(such as illness, a car accident, rape, a disabled child); or
neighbors who live in close proximity. Parallel compassion can
also extend to those we know little about but with whom we connect on
an altruistic plane, such as the children of strangers, homeless
people, oppressed groups, victims of crime, or victims of war or
other crises (such as famine, floods, tornadoes, etc.). This is a
more selfless but removed form of compassion, founded on a detached
sense of justice for those with whom we have something in common--our
collective humanity. Although this form of compassion is unilateral,
it is nevertheless emotionally satisfying to know that others similar
to us may benefit from our concern.
3. Perpendicular compassion extends to nonhuman animals who
are close to us. It requires direct personal interaction.
Through this on-on-one association, we discover and acknowledge that,
in spite of enormous difference (dissimilar bodies, disparate ways of
communicating, etc.), which make it difficult to confirm the other's
experiences and perceptions, we can learn to care for each other
based on mutual affection and a common link of shared experience
found at the point where our lives intersect.
4. Circular compassion is what we feel for nonhuman animals
with whom we have no direct contact and very little in common. It is
similar to parallel compassion in that it contains the element of
altruism and there is no direct reciprocation. It, too, stems
from a remote sense of justice based on concern for other living
beings. However, this type of compassion is
one-dimensional. People who practice circular compassion do not
extend their compassion to all living begins. Their compassion
is directed only toward specific groups or species of animals who are
designated as important, valuable, endangered, or in need of human
assistance or intervention. An example of circular compassion
is a fund-raiser picnic sponsored by a no-kill animal shelter where
hamburgers, hot dogs, or even a pig are barbecued and served to supporters.
5. Spherical compassion is for all living beings, human and
nonhuman, near or far, alike or different. It is the
recognition that all sentient life is interconnected and that all of
our actions, both direct and indirect, impact the welfare and well-being
of similar and dissimilar others. Spherical compassion is the
essence of veganism.
Ethics and Actions. People who
live in Vegan use a code of ethics that determines their actions as
individuals and as a community. The following ethics and actions were
adapted from ideas found in Joannes' book, The vegan sourcebook,
Chapter 16, pp 177 and 178. This section will grow as I do. For now,
I'll begin with a "vital" few.
People of Vegan:
-
are sensitive to issues of suffering. Veganites do not cause harm to
others, human or animals, either directly or indirectly. The choices
they make in food, clothing, and other products are either
plant-based or human-made.
-
value the uniqueness of all life forms. Veganites respect the
environment, both animal and plant life, and help maintain or improve
local or global ecosystems. They reduce what they need, re-use
whenever possible, and recycle always.
-
promote harmony and balance. Veganites seek to deal with physical and
social challenges in way that are thoughtful, gentle, compassionate,
considerate, and just. |
