Excerpt from “The Rod”:
Everybody fears being struck by a rod.
Everybody fears death.
Therefore, knowing this, feeling for others as for yourself,
Do not kill others or cause others to kill.
Everybody fears being struck by a rod,
Life being dear to all.
Therefore, knowing this, feeling for others as for yourself,
Do not kill others or cause others to kill.
If one, pursuing happiness, strikes
Living beings who also strive to live happily
With a rod or other instrument,
He will reap an unwholesome harvest.
If one pursues his own happiness,
While causing no harm to other living beings
Who also strive to live happily,
He will reap a wholesome harvest.
This passage is from The Dhammapada, a Buddhist text.
There is no doubt that animals enjoy life. All you have to do is open your eyes to see it. They also have the right to live, and, although we humans may seem to be the more advanced among all the species, we do not have the right to take their lives away from them.
Ahimsa 
May 2, 2008 at 9:51 am
Beautiful.
Also, for being such an advanced species, doesn’t it sometimes amaze you how little compassion we have? Sometimes I look at other animals and think “no, YOU’RE the more advanced species.”
Sigh.
May 3, 2008 at 1:29 pm
I have a Buddhist friend, who is a vegetarian but not a vegan. I often ask her, sometimes vigorously, why she hasn’t transitioned to Veganism. Her replies are generic stereotypes about “happy meat.” However, even more fundamental, I think, she often tells me about the discussions on vegetarianism that she has with her faith leader. Apparently, it is not a common teaching in the faith to be a vegetarian or vegan. I found that strange.