From the article: Buddhism and Vegetarianism
The First Precept of Buddhism is do not kill. The Buddha told his followers not to kill, participate in killing or cause to have any living thing killed. To eat meat, some argue, is taking part in killing by proxy. Do you think vegetarianism is essential to Buddhist practice? Why or why not? What Do You Think?
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- Which sect of Buddhism has the most non-asian followers (as in eehtir not of asian blood or not living in asia, both combined). My guess would be the Vajrayana form of Buddhism, the Tibetan variety is rather popular in America.What are the most popular chinese buddhist sects? Chan (or Zen) would probably be the most popular, Zen originated in China.Also, what do other religions think of Buddhists (officially (such as maybe the pope, priests and other religious leaders) and also unofficially (your opinion, state your religion) Not sure. I love the Buddha though, he was genial.
- —Guest UWktmBqSdbYjDH
keep it real
- Let's stop patronising grandma. If she wants to be with you let it be the real you. Surely she'd appreciate your honesty and be interested in your ethics.
- —Guest gofigure
Culture of Speciesism
- If Buddha ate other beings body parts I'm sure it was because he lived in specieist society http://www.animalperson.net/on-speciesism-by-joan-dunayer/ used to not according non humans care and respect based on a species prejudice.We still live in a dominant speciest society, non humans are still exploited, experimented on and killed for human pleasure. If all suffering is my suffering then why would i wish to be complicit in an act of violence, my aspiration is to liberate myself and support others in their liberation, how is this possible if i rely on eating them. Regardless of what the Buddah's diet was, in this day with so much reason,information,experience and scientific data to prove without doubt animals have lives of importance to them. why would we eat them if not because of a deep ingrained condition. A vegan diet is easy these days. Those that eat body parts always try to justify it. how can 52 billion non human murders a yearly justifed
- —Guest Pears
It's down to you
- I wouldn't say being vegetarian is wrong, and I wouldn't say eating meat is wrong either. It's is completely down to personal preference. Personally, I will always eat meat. I belive that if I was to not eat meat then that chicken sat in the supermarket fridge would have died for nothing. I love animals, and would never kill one. I believe there's a difference between eating an animal that was killed by someone who thinks it's fine to do so, and actually killing it yourself. However, as I have many vegetarian friends, I appreciate and accept their views. After all, isnt acceptance and tolerance of all beliefs part of being a Buddhist?
- —Guest Connor stewart
Vegetarian
- mind the snail who crawls on the ground -- could be you next time around!
- —MarianLambros
An Omnivore's Perspective
- I wholeheartedly agree with Cord and his reference to the First People on this issue - Intention is the key. I am a fledgeling Buddhist and an omnivore, and in my circumstance I do not see my position as being hypocritical in the least. My body has a difficult time processing iron from plant sources. This has been confirmed by my doctor. I was a vegetarian for 6 years and in that time I developed severe anemia in spite of taking supplements and eating every combination of high-iron plant possible. It was only when I started eating red meat once a week that the anemia went away. While I have compassion for the animals who unfortunately must die so I may be healthy, I must also have compassion for my family, who are better off with a healthy wife and mother. I buy pasture raised beef from a local farmer. I have also cut grains, with exception of rice, completely from my diet in part because growing them destroys entire ecosystems and erodes top soil. How does that not kill?
- —Guest Kristin
Meat or no Meat
- Predators eyes are always in front(hunters). Prey's eye's are always on the side(to see the hunters)as humans are eyes are in the front,mother nature's way of letting us know its ok to eat meat.
- —Guest Mike
Pls show evidence/source of ur view thx
- The Buddha also listed certain types of meat that were not to be eaten. These included horse, elephant, dog, snake, tiger, leopard and bear.
- —FongFang
Why Plants Don't Suffer
- Pain perception needs a nervous system with pain receptors. Evolution has endowed the "higher" life forms with well developed nervous systems capable of feeling pain, as a warning system to remove itself from its source. Plants have not evolved this ability and do not have the necessary nervous system to feel pain. Neither have clams and mussels. You may eat those with a clear conscience.
- —Guest D.Gahler
Practical or Praiseworthy?
- The difference between what is practical and what might be considered morally praiseworthy is and how important those things are to us as individuals.
- —Guest Steve
Veganism
- The facts are: animals suffer just as we do, they feel pain, fear and agony, and pointing from scientifical views, they do so because they have a nervous system. You see, when you go to a barber shop to have a haircut, you don't feel pain in your hairs, because they don't have nerves, although they are a part of a living being, made of cells. Plants are pretty much like that; We humans are obviously herbivorous, as we have no fangs, no claws, and no strength to kill large animals without guns or machines. We just began to eat meat when our ancestors migrated to places without much vegetation, or perhaps during an Ice Age. But the "tradition" continued... also, meat is responsible for famine and suffering, and massive environmental destruction (trees in a forest are plants too!). I'm a vegan and Buddhism enthusiast, and I say meat is only a greedy addiction and must be avoided whenever it is possible. (Eskimos are ok since there are almost no plants in Greenland, for example).
- —Guest Éder
People knew not to give meat
- There were these types of buddhist monks in Vietnam and they did eat what was given but people knew not to give meat to em. Says my mom who lived in Vietnam most her life.
- —Guest Huy
???
- From what I have read vegitarians and meat earers alike are attacking each other. i have no affiliation with buddhism yet but in my eyes i see no mater what you eat you cause suffering to another being for those who say killing a plant isnt equal to killing an animal...... how do you know? Are you the plant? perhaps your right but then what if you are incorrect. Each living thing on this earth was made to survive in its own way. just because we are able to move and speak doesnt mean that we are higher up then plants. just because they might or might not be able to feel pain doesnt give any excuse for such talk unfortunately we werent gifted abilities like plants who can sit in the sun and collect energy no matter what you eat it causes suffering to someone or something moving or still, conscious or non-conscious.
- —Guest Tyler
WcRUZyUy
- Makes it even more of a TV version of The Matrix tiglory in a way. It shares alot of qualities, not just the Buddhist connections, but also the obsessed fans delving deep into every frame of every episode formulating theories on whats going on, the website tie-ins that shed background information on the mythology of the story, and the melding of spirituality and science. Its all good
- —Guest vecwgNhjvq
vegetarianism
- As I see it, the question of being a vegan/vegetarian is about where you draw the line between what creatures have awareness and can experience suffering. If one adheres to the concept that all life forms have awareness and can experience suffering, then it becomes impossible to desist in the harm of all things. There is evidence to suggest that even the cells in our body have awareness and purpose. Even bacteria could be considered to experience consciousness. Hence to wash daily is to extinguish multitudes of life forms for the sake of hygiene. To consume fruits or vegetables with pesticide residue harms cells in the body and can cause chromosome damage. So where do we draw the line. In the end, the only recourse, I believe, is to determine what we can do right here, right now to [limit unnecessary] suffering of others. It is a good starting point. Being grateful for the gift that these other life forms have given us is a good practice. Be conscious in eating.
- —Guest sbeasley
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