Buddhism & Vegetarianism?

[Guest guest]

I was a non-vegetarian Buddhist. No, there's no conflict with the

No-harm precept. Buddhism doesn't require vegetarianism but certain

sects do eat meat while others do not. In Buddhism, one cannot

participate in the killing of an animal, or have one killed for you.

While others would say, well you are some would say, well no, I'm not

slaughtering the animal. My problem arose when my daughter and I

participated in this local event here in Tennessee, when they filled a

pool up with fish and everyone went fishing. You could catch up to 2

fish. Then you could go back in line etc. Well, we caught two fish and

thought wow this is fun and when we were standing in the line, I said,

" Oh, my goodness...wer're not to have anything killed for us. " Well, I

did it anyway, but I had a hard time explaining to my daughter about why

the guy cut up the fish...why we had it done when we were Buddhist. So,

I told her we would not do that again. We still ate meat up until this

December, when I felt that I was participating and that I didn't want to

do that any more.

But, even the Buddha ate meat which killed him because it was tainted.

That is why some eat meat and other's do not. I am Theravadin and most

do eat meat, but when you attend a sangha or temple, meat is not served.

But, there are alot of Buddhist who choose to eat meat but they do not

eat it in access and feel that they are not participating by way of

being a third party. But, many others choose to go vegetarian so they

are completely free from bad karma. This is a very hot topic in the

Buddhist community!

[Guest guest]

I learned from a friend of mine that even Buddha

himself ate meat when he was invited into people's

homes (if that is what they were serving). That was a

total surprise to me. I believe part of Buddhism is

deciding for yourself what is right for you. Don't

quote me on that though.

 

 

--- Carmen Crenshaw-Hovey <crenhov4 wrote:

> I have a question for those of you who are

> Buddhists. Yesterday I met a

> woman who is Buddhist. Her husband and children are

> as well. They are not

> however vegetarian. In discussing this with her, I

> still did not understand

> her explanantion as to their non-violent lifestyle

> including eating factory

> farmed animals. Perhaps you can explain in to me? Is

> there any sort of conflict

> between those Buddhists who are and aren't

> vegetarians?

>

> Thanks for helping with my curiosity!

>

> Carmen in Zurich

>

> I would like for my daughter to learn about

> Vegetables, but in Buddhism

> we don't discuss God. In Buddhism, you can choose

> to believe in a higher

> being or not, that is not the focus of Buddhism. We

> do not believe in

> God, and my 5 yr old can spot Christian-emphasis

> moral lessons faster

> than probably most Christian kids could, because we

> are in the

> minority-religiously and culturally. She knows that

> those lessons are

> meant for Christian kids and not her, so no it's

> not universal because

> it is not secular but religious. I would choose a

> video for her if it

> was talking about vegetables and I happen to like

> talking ones too cause

> it holds my interest, so I know it holds hers. But,

> I would not choose

> a

> video with subtle or blatant religious overtures

> because it conflicts

> what she is taught at home, unless it was of my

> religiious beliefs. But,

> because it isn't, we aren't buying it.

>

>

>

> ______

> E-Mail for everyone! http://www.bluemail.ch/ powered

> by Bluewin!

>

>

>

>

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

doesn't buddhism promote putting an end to the suffering of all sentient

beings?? if so, how can anyone choosing to end suffering on any level

continue to support the slaughtering of farm animals and eat them!? this

excuse: " we're not the ones killing the animals " makes me so angry. am i

out on a limb here?

 

i guess in the end it does boil down to what are you willing and able to

live with and what sacrifices you'll make. i attended an earhtsave meeting

last night in nyc and rynn berry was the speaker--he said that the dalai

lama eats meat to this day and also appologizes for it often! (but continues

to do so) i was shocked by that to say the least! oh well! whatever that's

worth. it just seems so hypocritical to me. but that's my non-buddhist

judgemental side coming out!

 

as for me, the more i learn about the way animals are treated the more

committed i am to never having one animal killed and tortured for some

material good of food item that i may have a liking for! thanks for

listening.

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Like I said earlier, vegetarianism is not required by all buddhist. Even

the Buddha ate meat when offered it. There are alot of vegetarian

Buddhist who feel that they do not want to add to the slaughtering of

animals. But, others feel that it was not participating because they are

not saying, " Please kill this for me. " It is an issue within Buddhism,

and many are turnin toward vegetarianism, just as in Christianity and

Judaism. Bu, it is not a requirement, though some sects due believe in

vegetariansim. It depends. I was going to attend a Buddhist University

and one was completely vegetarian, and meat was not allowed anywhere on

the premises -(Dharma Realm Buddhist University), while the other (Hsai

Ling University) did not and offered both meat and vegetarian meals.

But, almost every sangha or temple or retreats offer vegetarian-only

meals.

 

You should not get upset about that, that is the way it is...we need

tolerance of meat-eaters as much as we want tolerance of ourselves.