A Prayer for Compassion, Part 6 of 6

“Over 74 billion farmed animals are bred and slaughtered every year, most of them while they’re still just babies. And in the United States, they eat nearly 70% of the grain we grow, and raising them uses over 80% of our water and almost half of our land. And it’s also the number one cause of water and air pollution, as well as deforestation, species extinction, and ocean dead zones. How long can we continue to try and justify this?

All of the great spiritual traditions agree that along with life’s joys there will also be suffering. But so much of the suffering I see in the world around me is unnecessary and caused by the choices we make every day. Those choices are having a devastating effect on our individual and collective karma and health, and they’re threatening the future of our children.

My prayer is that each of us will challenge ourselves to be more kind and compassionate with our thoughts, words, and actions, to vote wisely with our dollars and to take better care of all of creation, including our body temples, and to take the time each day to go within and ask some version of, “What can I do to make the world better for those yet to come?” And then listen carefully for that still, quiet voice to answer.”

For more information on “A Prayer for Compassion,” please visit: aprayerforcompassion.com