- Provide animal-assisted therapy in nursing homes, hospitals, and hospices
- Offer companionship and assistance to home-bound seniors
- Raise money to help animal rescue organizations
- Educate people about the health, environmental, and animal-related advantages of plant-based eating
Even after I retire, BVAP is something I can continue to develop for the rest of my life. In Possessing the Secret of Joy, Alice Walker wrote, "The secret of joy is resistance to evil." The point of human existence, Walker contends is to move beyond ourselves and fight to make the world a kinder place. Refusing to support cruelty and suffering is crucial, but the next step -- resisting injustice -- is even more important.
In President Barack Obama's inaugural speech, he said, "We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness." I believe the animals who share our planet deserve their full measure of happiness too.
The poet Adrienne Rich wrote, "So much as been destroyed I have cast my lot with those who, age after age, perversely, with no extraordinary power, reconstitute the world." When I retire, I'm not going to settle for a life of indolent leisure. I want to continue doing something good for our world and all sentient beings every day for the rest of my life. If you share my passion for Buddhism, volunteering, and animals, please email me at gguval@yahoo.com. I hope to hear from you!