Sleep in Comfort
It is important to get a good night’s rest. Everyone needs to let their body take a break as the body naturally repairs itself during our sleeping hours.
As we get older, we realize that there’s a bigger need to get good and supportive bedding. It helps us sleep better at night, especially if we always push our bodies to the limit.
Yesterday, I came across this article about down feather pillows and its origin. Down feather pillows and comforters are extremely popular due to the comfort it provides… it’s very soft, and the texture makes it a very good bedding option.
What I didn’t know was that to make down feather bedding, these feathers are plucked from geese while they are alive! Many times this brutal treatment causes much distress and fear to the geese. The ripping out of the feathers causes many of them to become paralyzed from the pain… and many also experience severe wounds. To decrease cost, should the geese not die from the ordeal, workers will sew them back up without any pain killers. How horrible!
The plucking of the feathers begin when the geese are as young as 10 week old. It is then repeated every 6 weeks until it is killed for meat. When we buy down feather bedding, it not only promotes this cruel industry but also encourage the foie grass industry… many of these farms operate in such a way where the feathers of these geese are plucked for extra profit before they are killed prematurely for our consumption.
We have so many other bedding alternatives that can give us equal comfort. It is beyond cruel to continuously torture these animals just for our personal comfort. Please make a pledge to be Down-Free* and also pass the word around on social media.
Making people aware of this form of cruelty is a start to end this horrible industry that causes suffering and death to thousands of animals every year.
Tsem Rinpoche
*https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3559
Alicia Silverstone Helps Uncover the Cruelty of Down
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/Down-Feather-Cruelty-Peta.mp4
A geese being plucked for their feather while still alive… look at the wounds that this goose has to endure from the violent feather plucking…
Both adult and child holding a silent protest to end the down feather industry
Protests happens everywhere… people are determined to end the suffering of these poor animals
These geese went through the cruel plucking process… poor things… look at the horrible condition that they live in… there is no relief from suffering for these animals
[Image source: http://www.peta.org/features/down-investigation.aspx, http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/down-industry.aspx]
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It’s really pain, scary to see and observed these helpless sentient beings being sacrifice ALIVE for the sake of human needs. With so many leather alternatives already available, hope that cruelty-free and eco-friendly alternatives will soon be in higher demand than animal-based leathers.
No matter what we wish to purchase, searching for the right product always requires some research. Thank you for your thoughtful sharing and creating awareness to all us.
Imagine if you are the duck/goose, tied up and your soft layer of feathers closest to the skin in the chest region are plucked repeatedly when you are alive? Would you not be terrified with so much pain and suffering? Animals can feel terror and pain as we human do.
Please stop supporting the down industry. There are many excellent, soft and warm alternatives to choose from besides down. Material such as synthetic down, polyester fill, synthetic insulation, organic cotton are available for our comfort and most important it is cruelty free. We should always opt for options that don’t harm others in order to fulfill own needs.
Oh dear it torturing how could they do it, plucking live geese’s feather for the sake of feather bedding industry. I will never sleep comfortably knowing its from geese feather, how ever soft, the texture makes a good pillow or bedding . I am sure there’s other source of products making comfortable pillows bedding. Cruel indeed , plucking young geese from 10 week old, and repeated every 6 weeks until it is killed for meat. Alicia Silverstone did a good job by helping to uncover the cruelty . Thank you Alicia. Sad to see the horrible and painful state of those poor suffering goose . Hope the authority concerned makes feather bedding industry illegal.
Thank you Rinpoche for this awareness so less people will use these feather bedding.
It’s painful to even look at the pictures. Plucking the feather alive is super brutal. Just how selfish is human that in order for us to have a comfortable sleep, other animals need to go through so much suffering. Hopefully with more celebrity highlighting this cruelty act, people would be aware and stop purchasing down feather bedding.
It is so horrible. It is so cruel to pluck the feather off animals while they are still alive.This is very saddening and disheartening. Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing this article for awareness
There are many consumer products that feature animals’ parts which means bad news for animals and users who have a consicious. For example, the feather pillows look so harmless. And unlikely would consumer be alert that it is made in ways that harm animals.
This article serves as a reminder for us to look beyond the surface of the products we used, so that we can truly be kind to animals by ways of reducing our demand on products that harm the animals or tested on animals. Thank you, Rinpoche for this article.
Do we ever pause to think beyond the comfort of our soft downy beds? Do we ever realise that our comfort is at such a terrible expense ? The feathers for our beds are the product of such unspeakable cruelty! Feathers ripped off the poor geese while alive! Leaving severe wounds that cause much pain and suffering and even paralysis. Furthermore, if the geese do not die from the wounds, these are sewn back without any painkillers!
The whole process of plucking the feathers to make down for the beds start when the geese are as young as 10 weeks! Then it’s every six weeks until they are killed for foie grass!
For foie grass, these geese are cruelly force-fed and killed for their liver which is used to make the foie grass, a delicacy for weird taste-buds!
Cruelty upon cruelty, endless pain for the geese from birth to their premature deaths. Isn’t that too much?
It is so horrible. It is so cruel to pluck the feather off animals while they are still alive. Many people do not know that the feather pillows and comforters that give us comfort comes from the suffering of animal. Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing
I feel sick. I never knew how much pain was involved. Om Ma Ni Ped Me Hung.
This is truly a torment for the geese, can you imagine how painful is it to have your hair plucked off from your scalp? It’s painful even if it’s just a string of hair, not to talk about having hundreds of them plucked off, just like the geese plus they have no anesthetics before that, if I were one of them, I would have died because the pain is just too much. These geese do not deserve to be treated like that, they did nothing wrong! Even if they did, we still do not have the right to take away their lives.
I think animal abusers are sick people, i mean who plucks the feathers out of an animal when they are still awake and aware of their surroundings? It is so cruel… thank you for sharing Rinpoche
Dear Rinpoche, this behavior is just too cruel. The pain from plucking their skin has already beyond the pain they can take and putting them into hot boiling water is like burning in hell. We will never understand their pain unless we are being treated like that. I freaking hate the people who started treating animals like this.
I wish I knew that the purchasing of pillows, used to comfort me, could have lead to the senseless genocide of many innocent beings. This is very saddening and disheartening. I hope that news will spread of this massacre.
人类时常为了自己的欲望和享受而忽略了其他众生的感受，为了自己的舒服把痛苦建在动物身上。将心比心，或是有人强拔我们身体的体毛，我们都会痛不已生何况是其他众生。
愿佛法可以普渡众生和感化众生，让众生有开示和有慈悲心。 让世界成为佛净土。
OMG OMG ..how can humans be so cruel…the birds felt the pain but they can’t talk…OMG..OM MANI PADME HOM!
This is indeed very cruel to make animal suffer due to our own comfort just like how we make animal suffer for our own pleasures.
Lets create awareness about this, I didn’t realise this happens in this manner.
As we sleep in comfort every night, we did not know what kind of suffering that was involved in producing our comfortable pillow. This article definitely makes me think twice of buying down and feather products. Definitely a NO!
I could imagine going for body hair stripping is already so painful, what about these geese? Please reconsider your choice!
It’s incredible how people can be so cruel towards animals when it comes to profits, comfort and food. It’s great that we have reached an era of the information technology where we are exposed to such information that leads to awareness. The more aware people are of how we are cruel to animals, we can lessen the demand and effectively deal such industrial practices. It would be great that human kind would evolve towards reducing all manner of animal cruelty. That would be a great way to celebrate our thousands of years of existing on earth.
Yes, everyone needs a goodnight rest for the body to take a break to repair itself! The older, the more and bigger the need, especially if we push our body to the limit. But, we do not need to have the very soft texture “feathers” bedding with pillows and cormforters made from such feathers plucked or ripped from geese while still alive, causing pains and sufferings from severed wounds! Nor do we need to create the cause of these thousands of animals to die cruelly and painfully every year for these ‘comforts’. We rather not have such comforts and be the living graves of murdered beasts, tortured and slaughtered for the pleasures of such comforts! It’s develishly unethical – better than to do without them!!!
敬愛的上師
感谢上師上載這個視頻。太有教育性。看完後，感觸很多。原來人類在為了滿足自己的欲望，同時對動物制造了慘無人道的傷害。對動物而言，太不公平。
只有一部份的人了解它們的痛楚，
敬愛的上師
感谢上師上載這個視頻。太有教育性。看完後，感觸很多。原來人類在為了滿足自己的欲望，同時對動物制造了慘無人道的傷害。對動物而言，太不公平.
只有一部份的人了解它們的痛楚，
敬愛的上師
感谢上師上載這個視頻。太有教育性。看完後，感觸很多。原來人類在為了滿足自己的欲望，同時對動物制造了慘無人道的傷害。對動物而言，太不公平。
只有一部份的人了解它們的痛楚，
This is terrible! Not only do these poor geese end up being brutally murdered for the greedy consumption of human taste buds they have to suffer 6 weeks of excruciating pain of being plucked repeatedly. How would you like it if someone were to rip off your flesh wait for it to heal or sew it back up and then ripped off again? I always stuck with cotton pillows and coconut husk beds and they do just as good of a job than down pillow feathers. I was not aware of down pillow case but I am not surprised and I am truly appalled by this. Thank you for sharing this Rinpoche.
Gosh, I never knew that the feathers are plucked out from the ducks and goose while they are still alive. I used to buy Down feather pillow as they were comfortable. Knowing the truth now how they suffer, I will never use Down feather products anymore.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing this information.
I’ve always thought that at least the feathers are being plugged after they have killed the animal. This is similar to the duck feet or monkey’s brain dish that the Chinese Emperor used to have where the duck is forced to walk back and forth on a hot burning steel and the monkey’s skull opened while they are alive. Whether it is for the comfort of our sleep or taste buds, there is NO WAY all these actions are acceptable, NO WAY! Please refrain from buying feather pillow and halt this horrible practice immediately!
I had no idea that getting feathers was done in a cruel manner!!! Never buying down again.
I’m shocked but glad to find out so that I can stop buying feather and down products. At the same time, I’ll forward the video to all my friends. We’ve got to stop cruelty to animals!
Lucky I’m not the user of down feather pillow. They are so cruel to the geese, more focus on the production and profit only , never think about animals feeling. Nowadays , we need carefully to buy the product, example : I’ll choosing the product which has mentioned ” non animals testing ” .
Please read this blog also Australia’s Secret Shame regarding Merino sheep are specifically bred in order to produce more wool per sheep http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/animals-vegetarianism/australias-secret-shame-a-real-look-into-their-wool-industry.html
Dear Rinpoche,
all this while I never knew that the down feather industry was such a cruel industry,I never thought that such a thing would happen!
I always thought that how they plucked the feathers off was either by shaving it of or by cutting it off.
I just don’t understand why do people have to be so rough to animals even though they are lower than us.
I hope that people will be more aware of this and I also hope that people will know how much the geese have to through just for us to be comfortable.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing about this very disturbing article.
Rest Well.
Love
Jutika
I really didn’t know the making process of this kind pillow is like that..My heart feel very pain once i saw the above pictures..i feel it is very cruelty…Thanks Rinpoche to share this news to us….
How cruel we have been without knowing it. Sleeping on down pillows in great comfort, not knowing that each feather of that pillow had been plucked out amid excruciating pain and horrendous suffering of the live goose or duck.
However, once we know, we must help to put an end to all that pain.
Thank you for sharing this information, Rinpoche.
OMB OMB OMB!!! It is so cruel!! It was so painful to see the workers pin them down and rip their feathers off just like that. Every part of the video was so painful to look at. I never thought it was done in this way. I too thought that they were shaved off instead of being ripped off! Thank Buddha I dont use any of these down products. And we should educate people around us so that they are aware of it and not support the products!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article with us. I never know about the story behind of the feather pillow. I thought that it just -feather-that all, nothing much until I read this article. What a shock….It’s so cruel… and I am sad to look at those animals being torture lively.I hope all of us can share this news with those people we know and advise them not to but feather pillow so that it can reduce he number of victims (geese etc).
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this.
We should have know this truth earlier. I believe that Down feather products are having high demand, if not they won’t have factory in such scale.
As a consumer at the end of the demand circle of these, we really should say no to products that take animals life or make animal suffers.
Beside the pain of the animals, imagine how much bad karma the people involved in the industry create.
The profits that we gain will not make us happy ever after but the motivation not to hurt others and benefit others will.
Poor geese,it is so horrible to see human beings can be so cruel to do such thing for the sake of money and for their own comfort.I will never buy or use down products.Thanks Rinpoche for creating the awareness and will share with friends.
What an eye opener on Down feather.I did slept on a feather pillow before.I thought it was cute to shave the feather off a goose like they did with a sheep to get the wool.I would not expect them to do it in such a cruel manner.
I am glad that in Malaysia,most of us are satisfied with just plain cotton or polyester fiber pillows or quilt’s.
In this modern age ,we could create better synthetic materials with equivalent properties. We need not harm those poor animals!!!
Oh dear! Never knew that those feathers were plucked from live geese. How cruel. Imagine the pain they had to go through. We can’t begin to feel the pain that they had to go through. Is it the same as having our hairs pulled out?
I don’t use products made of down feathers, anyways.
this is so horrible, i am so sad for these poor geese. i hope it all stops one day. it is so painful for them, i hope they all have a good rebirth. thank you Rinpoche for sharing this.
Dear Rinpoche, I know that some pillows, comforters, bolster, mattress and cloths are made of feathers. But I never thought the process of removing feathers is so violent. I never use any feather products., I think it’s best that peoples stop buying feather products so that less geese and ducks will have to die.
Shelly tai on 7 Aug 2013 at 1012am
Wow! Out of ignorant many of us did not know about it. We really have to spread this news to more of our friend hopefully less demand that it will stop this trade. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this information.
Its painful to watch and the geese being plucked alive. If waxing is painful, this must be hundred hundred times more. Just watching the picture gives me goose bumps. This reminds me that i must check the labels before i buy anything.
I have to admit, when I lived overseas I didn’t give a thought as to the origins of my pillow or blanket. I bought what I felt would be most comfortable, and usually it meant either containing goose or duck feathers.
I thought that they cut the feathers off, like how we cut our hair, or people shave wool – quick and painless.
Reading this blog post I realize that it is anything but that!
It’s horrific and unethical what both ducks and geese have to go through for our comfort.
This is something that do NOT want to be a part of.
There are other alternatives, that may prove to be better for our posture, yet be as comfortable as duck or goose down.
Memory foam pillows, wool-filled duvets, polyester batting duvets, foam rubber pillows etc.
No one has to suffer for our comfort. Especially animals.
I must admit I have no idea the simple comfort in life brings so much pain to another being. A soft fluffy pillow and duvet definitely does not look life threatening. I’m sure many people are not aware of this hence the continuous support for this product.
Micro gel fibrefill is a warm and soft synthetic fill, which offer a good alternative to down. Extremely comfortable while able to keep you warm and cool at different times during the night. On top of that, it’s hypoallergenic. Available in pillows and duvet as well. Do look out for these when buying beddings next time and share with friends so that they know as well.
Everyday we discover how cruel human beings can be. And the sad thing is that we will never run out of these atrocities… from what we eat, to what we sleep on, to what we wear to what shampoo we use, what make up we apply…. all because human beings don’t care for animals and that we have the mistaken belief that we have dominion over animals. Many people say that they don’t even believe that animals feel pain. Well, since the law of karma is infallible, i am sure they will find out in their next life.
I always thought that the feathers came bird that are already dead i never knew that they ripped off their feathers handful by handful. Imagine how much pain u get when u stivk a duct tape on your leg where there is lots of hair and pulling it out violently. Ouch !!!
This is very cruel! These geese were born to be killed, literally. Every single living being has the right to live in this planet, and it’s very very cruel of humans to take away their lives because we do not have the right, just like we do not have the rights to kill ourselves because our lives were given by our beautiful parents. We must spread awareness of animal cruelty, help the ones who can’t say thank you..
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
I only want to say sorry for these poor geese and I can imagine how painful they are. Human as a kind of being that brings greatly suffering in other kind of beings just because of their own comfort. How selfish we are! Start from today I hope I can be a smart shopper and only support all vegetarian products without harming any other living beings. I only wish they all were well and not wanted them to be suffering anymore. After I become a monk with pure precepts and three doors, I want to really save all these animals out of the realm of suffering and place them in a place where they can stay in a safe environment and bless by the three jewels. Venerable Hai Tao was the one who fight for the animal rights and I really wanted to learn from him. Like Rinpoche always care of these poor animals by using many different ways. Thank you Rinpoche for your sharing so we are knowledgeable and fulled of wisdom and open up our own Buddha nature.
The geese is being tortured for our own comfort. It is very horrible. It is even more horrible that we do not even know that this is the practice for making Down pillows. The horrible scene is happening behind our back while we ignorantly buying these pillows to have a good night sleep.
It’s difficult to imagine how cruel the down feather industry is… imagine plucking the feathers while the geese is still ALIVE and not sedated… it must be excruciating pain for these geese… It’s like plucking one’s fingernails without having local anesthesia. On top of that, the feather plucking is not over just once, but is done continuously every few months until these geese are slaughtered for meat. Cruel…
I always thought that the feathers in our pillows are naturally removed and it does not harm people. I did not know about this harsh reality. Thank goodness I have been only using artificial sponge material as pillows as I personally found the feathers very poky and irritating.
Thank you for sharing this information!
Oh gosh!
Sighhhh….. this is bad and terrible!! behind the pillow has such a cruel trade!! Thanks for sharing Rinpoche, will spread the awareness.
This is so sad! The geese had to suffer pure agony for the comfort of humans? Makes you wonder who came up with this idea in the first place. Thank you for sharing this with us Rinpoche. We are now more aware.
OMB… Ignorance is truly not bliss. I never knew this till now. I personally thought it to be an industry whereby it was monitored and that the birds did not suffer. I will never buy down EVER AGAIN! 🙁
Just for our mere “comfort” so many lives have to suffer! It is just not worth it at all! Nor will we encourage hotels to use down too!!!
I never knew that just by buying pillows would affect so many lives. And i couldn’t imagine the pain they had to go through just so that we can get our personal needs. So cruel. I hope this news spreads fast so that all the people that didn’t know about this will be informed and may this madness stop.