Another story I really like (and if anyone knows the source I'd like to know it - I think it's from a Hindu saint from this century, but I can never remember his name).A wise man went down to sit by the river and pray, when he saw a scorpion clinging to the reeds at the bank and struggling to avoid being swept away by the river. The man stretched out his hand to rescue the scorpion, and the scorpion stung him. He tried again, and the scorpion stung him again.
Someone who was walking by saw this and said, "Why on earth would you want to save a scorpion? And anyway, it's just going to sting you for your efforts. That's its nature."
The wise man simply said, "It's my nature to save."
Marion
PS To Little Neophyte - glad to have you on board; I'm a vegetarian too. Do you ever go to Vegsource? Its discussion boards (especially Biospirituality) are where I hang out when I'm not here.
Marion