Some people ask why it is that I advocate so frequently and insistently on universal, radical compassion, especially toward non-human animals. They are of the opinion that a Buddhist monk should concentrate his efforts on sharing a “broader and higher” view of the Dharma, instead of pointing repeatedly to the cruelty that humans inflict on animals by enslaving, torturing, experimenting, exhibiting, killing, and consuming their flesh, skin, feathers, products, and secretions.

Although these persons consider that there are more important topics to discuss in Buddhism, and that I should focus on proclaiming a “more inclusive” Dharma, the Eightfold Noble Path is not a cafeteria discipline, where each person selects that which is to his liking and discards the rest.

In fact, the Buddha Shakyamuni instructs us:

“Knowing the fruit of causal effects of any action, the wise gains complete understanding of dependent origination and sees all action as it really…