A little inconvenience

If I, as one person, can somehow decrease, even just a little, the suffering that happens in this world, whether that of a human or an animal, then I am glad to do so.  If I can do that simply by not eating certain foods or purchasing certain materials then what could be easier?  It is such a simple asceticism one that, in the grand scheme of life, hardly can be accurately called asceticism.

I asked, "What?! I can change the life of another fellow creature for the better by not eating dairy and meat and not wearing their skins?  It can't be that easy, can it?"  I sought to answer my own question and discovered to my wonderment and growing excitement that it is that easy.  It has, as of this posting, been over four years and I am still discovering.

I help animals, that much is obvious.  But what about humans?  Yes, humans too.  For those who kill are also effected even if we don't want to admit that.  Killing, killing and more killing.  Millions of suffering animals are harvested for their "resources" by humans each year and they are effected by it.  Sometimes physically but most of the time mentally.  I'll hear objections for hunters or those who own a couple of chickens that the effects certainly can't be all that bad.  They themselves don't notice any and they kill.  But what they fail to see is that a little pin prick on the hand can hardly be noticed, but chop the hand off or fill it with gangrene and the situation becomes more desperate, more noticeable.

Each time I am inconvenienced by having to abstain from a meal or walk past a pair of shoes or a jacket, instead of feeling inconvenienced, I will feel peace and gladness that I could help some worker or creature by this little inconvenience.