Friday, January 23, 2009

I saw a sick and hungry pig on my trek, does it matter?

I was walking up this 3km road full of LUSHNESS. Green galore, trees, bushes, flowers, coconut palms, etc.... complete heaven nature...similar to Hawaii island, but 1/10th the cost (internet 30cents/hr, acomodation $3/night, 7km ride in open air jeepnee $10cents, banana/mango/papaya/melon/tropical fruits all about 20cents/lb, etc..)and here in Philippines you see many families living their simple lives, animals, chickens, pigs, cows, goats, birds, And the philippino children and adults staring and saying 'hello Friend', "hello friend", "Where are you going", "whats your name", etc...

I came around a bend in the road and saw a pig laying down on the side of the road by a coconut tree. He was skinny. I havent ever seen a skinny pig around here (they are getting fat as possible ready for their fun slaughter experience). This pig was breathing heavy and panting and not looking to swell. At first I kept walking and said to myself, that is life. I then stopped down the road 50 meters and thought about what I should do in this situation if anything. The pig may be dying of some sickness or starving or something.
Is it my duty to do something in the middle of nature, or let nature run its course? Then I thought of all our slaughter houses in USA and how I am educating people daily about veganism and handing out fliers that explain it...I thought that would be hipocritical to walk by a suffering pig and do nothing, just because it isn't my pig or my country.
I thought, 'I can't save every animal'...(But then Mother Theresa was in my head, her quote, "If you can't feed 100 people, feed just one").

Knowing my personality is not strong with compassion, as I am a 'powerful choleric' type and have other strengths (which always reminds me how the other more compassionate personalities like many of my family and friends will most likely become vegans when they have enough information).
The decision came to me to at least go buy this pig something to eat, so I went to the little corner tiny village store that sells only processed junk food (due to heavy marketing by fat americans most likely)...no fruit available in the middle of fruit heaven, hehehhehehhe, I had to laugh at that moment.)
So, I bought the suffering pig something that looked good.... some bread stuffed with artificially colored and flavored berry jam....
the pig was happy to see me and scarfed down about 8 pieces...I felt wonderful and learned alot about how much more compassion I have room to develop.

BTW, I saved 2 of the bread to do an experiment with other animals, Most the skinny dogs wouldn't eat it and another Pig that was fat was eating veggies and wounldn't eat the artificial bread either..i tasted it in my mouth (didn't swallow, Im still raw, hehehehe), it tasted fake and dry, buy Ok to me, i could see how people get hooked on it, but I would prefer the taste of juicy fruit since I have the choice.


nice 2hour walking today
nice swim sprints in the pool! you ever do those??? ( Instead of long slow swimming, lately i enjoy going as hard as I can in frontcrawl for 20meters, then turn back and swim underwater hard, then rest a few minutes....i believe this is great surf training)

I found Durian here in Camiguin!!! It was an amzing situation stumbling upon durian in a fruit market that never has it, I was on a wacked out adrenalin high all manic and obsessive about it, bought it fast as possible and ignored my rules for slowly eating, wow a true addict!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

hi darrick, first of all, Im glad you liked my comment from the 21st, you deserve every single word and more. I had a similar experience in Philippines too with hungry skinny dogs, and despite my well-known dog phobia, (do you remember when I got biten last june in thailand?)I stopped in order to share my coconuts with them. I got shocked by the ravenous way they attacked that coconut meat. I felt I simply couldnt drink nor eat my coconut while hungry dogs were looking at me with those begging eyes...the weird thing was I wanted to share a cucumber as well but they didnt eat it...
The same happened with kids- every time I was eating or about to eat and I saw the kids I would have to give the food up to them or share it with them. Its not sustainable emotionally to carry on while these sweet eyes are staring at you and they feel like a knife direct into your heart. Its very painful- most of the times. But I am proud of feeling this compassion- as you do- we are lucky that "we get touched by these things", as Jim Rhon says" get the happy things touch you, get the bad things touch you..." Its the beauty of human beings; emotions. Live it up fully, stef

Anonymous said...

look at my new blog if you have time

www.onlyfruitsplease.blogspot.com

stef

Anonymous said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3xOU2tLl7g&eurl=http://technorati.com/videos/youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dz3xOU2tLl7g&feature=player_embedded


raw wishes, stef

steve811 said...

hi Darrick,
My name is Steve and I found your blog through Dr Grahams 80/10/10 forum. Your experiences have provided some fascinating reading. I would like to talk with you through a more private form of communication as I'm interested in taking up the simple life here soon. You can contact me though my email at
phxz06@yahoo.com.
Talk to ya soon I hope. Steve

Anonymous said...

Wow! I just found your blog (caught my attention from 30bananasaday) and I'm so amazed at your journey. You are living one of my dreams! Well, I'm half way there (raw vegan) but I don't travel as much as I want to. I went to Hawaii and Costa Rica last year. I'm organizing my next trip. I can't wait to read more from you.
Peace, and thanks for sharing.