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NEW PLAN: Funding Animal Liberation Instead of Lobster Liberation on Sunday
Seeking Donations for Animal Liberation Projects
With a strong motivation to make this offering of practice to Geshe-la for his quick recovery, we wanted to find an abridged way to do a lobster liberation right away. However, after much research and discussion with experts, we have reluctantly decided to postpone the lobster liberation (see below for important details regarding animal and lobster liberations).
Because it is important to manifest the benefits of the practice right away for Geshe-la's recovery, we explored alternatives and have decided to make a donation (50 / 50 split) to two projects:
The FPMT Animal Liberation Fund - This project of the FPMT supports weekly animal liberations and extensive dedications offered by Sangha at the residences of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
The Animal Liberation Sanctuary - Most of the animals at the Sanctuary at Kopan Monastery have been rescued by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Any donations that we receive until end of day Sunday, June 27, will be included in our donation to these two projects. (If you made a donation to the lobster liberation and wish to have it refunded or used differently, please let us know.)
Please Donate
Why Animal Liberations are Challenging
We use this opportunity to share some details about animal liberations and lobster liberations in particular. It is important that we all have a good understanding of the implications of doing animal liberations, so that we avoid unintended harm and the resulting strong karmic consequences.
Please read the article from FPMT regarding animal liberations by Tania Duratovic and Phil Hunt. As the article highlights, a key benefit from the animal liberations practice is the dharma imprints to the animals. The article also warns of ecological dangers from improperly releasing animals.
How we Conduct Animal Liberations
Over the years we have developed an elaborate lobster liberation process, which is mindful of many risks to the lobsters and to the ecosystem into which they're released. Many of you have raised excellent questions and concerns over the years, which we have explored with experts. Our process is not the result of our personal opinions; it is a process designed in collaboration with experts.
It turns out that the best option is to purchase the lobsters wholesale at the wharf and release them into the waters from which they've been caught! We are aware that this is uncomfortable for some of you, but this is the best option for the lobsters. Many of the lobsters may never be caught again even though it is a lobster trapping area.
Lobsters that have made it to the markets are often too far gone, and their chances of survival are very small. They can also introduce diseases into the ecosystem, and if not released over large areas they will likely cannibalize each other! There is also the concern about water pollution and ecosystems that are not suitable for lobsters that have been brought from other areas.
The bottom line is very simple logic: putting back what we've just taken out has the best chance of giving the lobsters a second chance and has the least likelihood of upsetting the ecosystem.
Alternatives
We also considered worms, crickets and other animals. Similarly, there are many concerns doing this, too. We can cause more harm than good if we are not careful.
Animal liberations are a wonderful and powerful practice, and if you engage in it we urge you to research carefully before you do it. If you are unsure, then we recommend that you support The FPMT Animal Liberation Fund and / or The Animal Liberation Sanctuary at Kopan Monastery instead.
Please Donate
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