Question: As they remind me of many precious lives forcibly sacrificed, should I give away my non-vegan items previously bought, such as honey products and silk clothing? (Many bees and silkworms have to die when their honey and silk are being robbed. With less honey, many bees are sick from malnutrition these days too.)
Answer: While we might intuitively think of giving them away, so as to not ‘waste’ them, if we do not wish to encourage others to like these non-vegan items, and even possibly purchase more of them in future, thus increasing demand for more sentient beings’ suffering, they should be discreetly and respectfully disposed.
Giving non-vegan items also creates some negative karmic links between the givers-recipients and the beings who suffered. Thus, even though given with good will and ‘generosity’, the results are not as good as hoped for. Remember too, to practise repentance, do more good, and dedicate meritorious virtues to the animals.
