Compassion Without Borders: Reflecting on Bhutan’s Slaughterhouse Debate

Today our country (Bhutan) finds itself engaged in a deeply emotional conversation whether Bhutan should allow a slaughterhouse within its own land. For many of us, even the thought is painful. We are a Buddhist nation, raised on the values of compassion and reverence for life. From a young age, we are taught to protect living beings, not to harm them. This discomfort is not a weakness; it is a reflection of the beauty of Bhutanese hearts and the moral foundation of our society.

I want to state my position clearly and honestly. I am a vegetarian and I oppose killing. Personally, if given a choice, I would wish to see killing stop, not only in Bhutan, but everywhere. At the same time, I do not believe in dictating another person’s way of life. Society is made up of many realities, beliefs, and choices, and compassion also means respecting this diversity without judgment.

That said, compassion also requires us to look honestly at where we stand today. The truth is that animals are already being killed every single day, just beyond our borders. We continue to consume that meat, while millions of Ngultrum flow out of the country. We have no control over how those animals live, how they are transported, or how they meet their end (Since I come from the bordering town, I have seen the hell that animal experiences, sometimes in a suffocating trucks and in heat walking miles in across the Indian border) . In trying to keep our land morally untouched, we have pushed the act elsewhere while remaining silent participants in the outcome. Yet karma does not change simply because the act happens across a river.

This is precisely why the Buddha taught the Middle Path  not to deny reality or cling to appearances, but to respond with balance, wisdom, and responsibility. The Middle Path invites us to ask not only where killing happens, but how much suffering we are truly willing to reduce through our choices.

If Bhutanese society genuinely chooses to stop killing within Bhutan, then let us also make an effort to reduce killing beyond our borders. One meaningful way to do this is by reducing meat consumption itself. Less demand means less killing not through force, but through conscious choice. This approach allows us to align our values with our actions, both at home and elsewhere.

In this spirit, I humbly suggest that our elected representatives, our National Assembly and National Council members do a little homework. Let them go back to their constituencies and ask the people directly: Do you recommend having a slaughterhouse in Bhutan? If the answer is no, then let us respect that collective voice. Let us not have a slaughterhouse  and at the same time, let us be sincere enough to place limits on meat and fish imports as well. In doing so, we would not only prevent killing inside Bhutan, but also contribute to reducing killing elsewhere.

Ultimately, this is not about choosing between compassion and practicality. It is about choosing both. It is about walking the Middle Path with honesty acknowledging reality, respecting individual choices, and gradually reducing harm through awareness, mindfulness, and responsible policy decisions. Making such balanced and thoughtful choices, guided by wisdom and kindness, is what truly reflects the Bhutanese way.