Me, too, aims to reduce my consumption of meat. But I find that
highly difficult especially when we are living in a society where
the majority is non-vegetarian.
Take me for example. I'm currently serving NS. Because my camp
is so small, we do not have a cookhouse of our own. Instead, one
person goes to the opposite camp every meal time to pack rations.
If I am to insist on taking vegetarian meals, imagine the huge
amount of inconvenience I can cause?
Or when we are going out-fields for mission...are they going to
make an extra effort to prepare for my meal?
Or when our commanders treat us to lunch or dinner...
Or even when just going out in a group with friends...do I make
all of them eat in a vegetarian restaurant (which in itself is very
rare in Singapore) just to accomodate my diet?
Or is my mother going to cook a vegetarian meal just for me? Or
cook vegetarian meal for the entire family everytime I
booked-out?
As such, my refusal to become a full vegetarian is not due to my
desire for meat, but rather, not to be selfish to the people around
me.
It is out of compassion that Buddhists avoid taking the
meat of another sentien beings; but of cos, compassion should also
always include wisdom. In this sense, your concern for the troubles
or inconveniences which you may caused to your friends and family
due to your diet preference, is I think, also an act of
compassion.
It is true that we should not insist on our diet preference when
the situation does not permit so, as in the various examples
annoy-you-must had given above.
When I go out with friends or relatives for dinner, I just don't
order meat if possible ( can choose eg mushroom soup, mushroom
risotto, veggie sphagetti, baked fries, veggie pizza.
etc...) or if in chinese restaurant where the host has already
ordered the course, then I just eat more veggie but a little meat,
and somtimes they didn't even realise if I didn't touch the meat
dishes at all; eveyone was so happy that noboby care to
notice. Some of them don't even know that I have given up meat
for so quite some time, I just blanded in .
It is true that we should not damage the happy
atmosphere while in a group outings or organization,or turn down
the kindness of others, or increase the the vexation of others so
as to make ourselves happy; as we are not ordained monks, we still
need to funtion in a society where most ppl are
meat-eaters. But of cos if I know beforehand that the
dinner is at a seafood restaurant, then I will give excuses not to
attend, or if the inviter is a close friend, I will just voice my
uneasiness of taking such food, no hurt feeelings. I think the main
point is we ourselves should avoid taking meat when we are alone,
or whenever the situation permits. Then there is no excuse, even
for laymen Buddhists.