By Nyima Tsam
Dharamsala, March 23 – Eyes beaming at a huge projector screen, tears rolling down the cheeks, lips moving with prayers and rosary in hands. Around 1,500 people gathered at the TSUG LA KHANG to see the documentary Video “Law of Nature” screened by Tibetan Volunteers for Animals (TVA). People gathered at Dharamsala for the teachings of His Holiness, witnessed the plight of animals, the pain animals go through everyday at the slaughter houses, the price animals pay for just a plate of MOMO. Many among the audience were from Tibet and some of them signed a lifetime commitment not to eat meat, at the end of the show.
Clicking with His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teaching on Bodhicharya-Avatara, TVA launched their massive awareness campaign ‘SEMCHEN’ on 19th of March(although they started their program a week before that). To sustain quality life with a purpose, TVA with full zest arrived Dharamsala on 12th March. To nurture the human innate compassionate elements, TVA created an atmosphere to educate people from all walks of life – creating a vibration in every direction to SAVE ANIMALS and to carry love, mercy and compassion not on our lips but in our hearts. From dawn to dusk the activities included are :
- Photo exhibition of animal’s painful experiences drenched in sweat and fear in the slaughter houses.
- Propagating the significance of Wildlife Conservation.
- Displacement of pamphlets, second Volume of Semchen Magazine, C.D. titled “Lay-Gyu-Drey” i.e. “Law of Nature” which throws a spotlight on animal abuses and convinces how karma ripens in this causal reality.
“Our campaign did well and I must thank all the people gathered at Dharamsala for their love and support. As a result, totally 47 people signed a lifetime commitment not to eat meat which I feel is a step towards world peace” said Ven Sonam Dawa, Campaign Manager.
Tibetan Volunteer for Animals is heading towards Gopalpur T.C.V School to support and participate in the School’s Vegetarian Workshop which aims at propagating healthy and alternative diet for the Vegetarians.
When asked why Vegetarian is important- Rapsel Tsariwa said “It’s wise to change to a vegetarian diet for good. It’s healthy, it’s economical, it’s environment friendly, it’s compassionate, it’s noble and it’s peace. We need everyone’s support in our mission. Together, we can make a difference – to ourselves, to the innocent animals and to this world.”
TVA’s message is simple and straight –
NO MORE KILLINGS
CHANGE YOUR HEART
CHANGE YOUR DIET
LIVE CRUELTY-FREE
TVA is a non-profit Tibetan NGO based in Mysore, South India; and has been fighting for the voiceless animals with sheer genuine voice of compassion since the year 2000. They call themselves “A Voice for the Voiceless”.
For more information, please visit www.semchen.org or www.LoveAnimal.org
Write to semchen@hotmail.com
Nyima Tsam is a teacher at the Upper T.C.V. school, Dharamsala. Email the author at: nim_tsam@yahoo.com
