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by Prof Sunanda Mahendra

So much of honest and pious comments have crept into the issue of the proposed construction of a slaughterhouse, which is said to possess an inhuman machine, which could kill about 500 animals instantly. At this juncture, I am reminded of an actual happening connected to this issue in my own life. My two sons living abroad sent us some money out of their hard earnings with a note to say that they are willing to utilize that money in conversion to release a cow that is selected to be slaughtered. They also added that their act should be done with a clear mind and with an act of truth, (Satyakriya) blessing all animals on their way to the slaughterhouse be released and be allowed to live in the most peaceful manner possible.

Though the two sons are living abroad they obtained their primary education from a leading Buddhist school, where the environmental factors moulded their basic susceptibilities to prevent cruelty to all living beings. We tried our best to see that the money in conversion be utilized to the maximum and got the best advice as to how to implement their pledge. We felt that the mere releasing a cow will not do any good, and as such we desired to help a farmer to make the best use of such an animal. In the end, with the help of one of our near relatives living in Matalana, we managed to get a pregnant cow which was about to be killed and a newborn calf, whose mother cow had been slaughtered. The newborn calf was left high and dry nearer to the pregnant cow about to be killed.

My youngest son and my wife enquired for the amount of money necessary to buy the pregnant cow and the new born calf. To our utmost happiness we found that the money sent by the two sons would be enough to buy them. So we made immediate arrangements find a good farmer and hand over the animals once they are released from the bonds of the slaughterhouse. The man in the slaughterhouse who looked sharp said that it will cost them a further sum of money to transport the two animals to my relative's residence.

We agreed and ordered them to transport the two creatures.

Towards evening the trader finalized the deal, brought the two animals to the said place, and accepted the money and began counting the notes eagerly. We got him to sign a document. But at the first instance he was reluctant to do so.

On further enquiry we found that they have not encountered such missions prior to this event. So we explained to them as to why we need a signed document. Then he said that he will sign on a stamp and said that he is so busy that he will not have time to read what we write. Anyway, a signature was placed on a stamp on the acceptance of the agreed sum of money.

Perhaps, one may think that the real story ends here. No. There is one more little point that I would like to jot down. I had a casual chat with the man who had the dealing with us. I asked him one question.

"Why are you so busy and perturbed?" "Right now I have to go to Kekirawa, and spend this whole amount of money to buy some more cattle." He looked at his wristwatch and spared no further time to talk to me. He got into his brand new truck, and drove off so fast raising cloudy dust as exhaust from his vehicle, until I watched the vehicle disappear from the compound of the ancestral house.

Then I heard the sound of the cow beckoning us with her moo.

As a postscript to this actual event I would like to note the following.

Man should not harm other men or animals, for life is short and full of tender and marvellous gifts one could achieve during his span of life as one writer Pam Brown said, "Some of the greatest achievements of humankind have come from people suffering under great burdens - loss and imprisonment, sickness and deprivation. They demonstrate as no others can the dignity and power of the human spirit.

Beethoven wrote his most noble and imaginative works after deafness had overtaken him. Milton wrote from blindness. Bunyan from jail. Stephen Hawking surveys the universal from a wheelchair. The persecuted raise their voices from oppression to speak for their people. The disfigured in war brings hope to the deprived.

Some are only known to a few. Some are never recognized. But they tell us not to be afraid. There is work still to be done. There are things to be achieved. There is beauty to be created. There are puzzles to be solved.

There is happiness to be had.

The world is full of marvels. Accept them and be glad. Do not let anything deprive you of a love for life."

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