ANIMALS AND THE BUDDHA
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
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This powerful and important film features interviews with world-renowned monastics and lay teachers including Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi, Jetsuma (Ven. Master) Tenzin Palmo, Ven. Bhante Gunaratana (Bhante G), Christopher Titmuss, Ven. Geshe Phelgye, teachers from Spirit Rock Meditation Center and many others.
This video convinced me to become a vegan and practice compassion among all living beings. I'm 25 years old and I've been eating meat since I was a child and I can see how I have supported the process of killing of lives indirectly, without my knowing. Thanks for enlightening me on this matter.
+Samaru Nirman Actually Buddhism does not require vegetarianism.
+alextyy who said anything about buddhism? he said he opened his eyes with regard to non-human animals' suffering
+Samaru Nirman Congratulations and Vegan greetings to you .
+Samaru Nirman I'm so happy for you!
You create very good kamma by going vegan - sadhu sadhu sadhu
Not because i'm a zen buddhist priest, but vegan because it makes sense to do no harm to sentient beings.
+Lee Tao Dana I like to share this video on social media sites such as facebook, twiter and linkedin every now and then so as to provide others with the opertunity to listen to this wonderful teaching. In this way I can continue to experience the joy it brings.
Then stop farming. I have been to Asia and seen the results of your farming.
Even Christianity says thou shall not kill
All animal want to live
They have right to live
And l love them ....from India
I'm vegan, believe in Ahimsa! I will use this video, to educate and bring awareness!
you bet ;D
I am ethical 🌱 vegan. This is my favourite vegan documentary so far. I been suggesting this documentary to so many of my friends ࿂ thank you 🙏 💚🌱✊🙏
I'm a vegetarian for 2 years now and will try my best to be a vegan. Namo Buddhaya🙏
Tse tan even trees and plans has life and emotion says scientist
Plants have life but not emotion because plants have no brains and nerves. So go vegan,
yeah but vegetables are living things
Tse tan, don't say that you "will try" to be vegan. "Will try" usually never come to fruition. Do it today. Life is too short to leave it till tomorrow. All things are impermanent and ever changing, so we don't know if we've got another 50 years or just one week to procrastinate on what we decided to do. No one can predict when their last breathe in this life will be. Go vegan today or after you've consumed the remaining eggs and dairy products in your refrigerator.
Tse tan cuz i also want to be but still its only in my mind only not in action.i dont want to reason to be killed for innocent living beings....
vegetarian for most of my adult life turned Vegan not long after taking refuge in the 3 jewels..
All life deserves to be free from pain and suffering.
Wow, what a moving video. I have been vegan for several years and often question to myself why more Buddhists are not vegan. It is so nice to see a video promoting vegan buddhism.
Have been vegan for 5 years now, and have been practicing the Dharma for about 2. Thank you for creating this. It pains me how many lay Buddhists I know who don't even think about this at all.
🙏🙏🙏
Great job. Men should not seek happiness from sufferings of others.
Compassion for ALL beings, a very simple, yet profoundly loving mind to hold, you don't need to be a Buddhist to understand this!
Well worth watching....
Became a vegan before becoming interested in Buddhism, and before that I was always kind to all animals, even bugs. I saw no point in harming them. Buddhism on this issue feels so natural to me
All is sacred. ALL LIFE.
made me cry. I am 40. last 2 years I have been vegan but sometimes I eat meat like sushi. but no more, now. thanks to jd who helped me vegan.
OM MANI PADME HUM This video is very important .
May it inspire and encourage many more
to avoid eating meat, fish and dairy food .
So called "butter lamps " in many Buddhist temples
should be replaced by candles or oil lamps .
Butter comes from cruelty of dairy industry.
Vegan Dharma greetings to all.
In buddhist temples they use coconut oil for lamps....'not butter oil'....may be some people are using for special 'puja's.
+Laitha Lewis In Tibet they still use butter lamps.
Mindrolling some cultures doesn't follow the buddha's real philosophy....May be it's according to the Tibet culture.
+Laitha Lewis While it's true that the Shakyamuni Buddha did prohibit monks from eating meat wherever possible, 2,600 years ago there wasn't an industrialised dairy industry that treated animals so appallingly. Veganism is a relatively new concept- even Jains still use dairy products as long as they don't contain abattoir by products.
+Mindrolling nowdays its not difficult to be Vegan . We actively promote Veganism among Buddhists and in the world . There are Thursday Veg events on Facebook . Welcome all to attend . NAMO AMITABHA
I'm not perfect....but I can come a little closer when I don't eat meat for a day, a month or rarely. So I will make an effort - until it doesn't seem like an effort. Very good film, I look forward to discussing in my sangha
imagine how many life you havnt ate in 5 year now
I stopped eating meat several years ago and have come to love the choice.
I experience much more calmness and am grateful to the Hindu folks, whom made the suggestion to me. OM TAT SAT
This is the concept behind Sustainability, humanity what we are talking about. The entire world is for all living beings.
One of the most truthful documentaries I have ever seen on UA-cam
I never knew that Gautama Buddha said "Bhikshus who do not wear silk, leather boots, furs, or down from this country or consume milk, cream, or butter can truly transcend this world."
Love you guys for creating such a beautiful documentary.
My all time vegan documentary movie 🙏
As per the Lotus Sutra, cenetral to buddhist practice and understnading, it is very simple and direct yet we tend to make up a whole language of exceptions, simply cherish "all"….."all"…….."all" living entities.
It is my hope that FPMT Centers around the world invite further discussion around this wonderful and inspiring video. It was my realization that other beings also have the right to life that became the foundation of my life nearly 30 years ago and eventually led to my Buddhist path, only to find that this view of non harming animals was not fully understood within the community.
May Peace ...Kindness ..Love Compassion to all the Living beings all the sentient beings ofcourse and protect the innocents beings from harm sufferings ..
We as a Human sitting top of the Foodchain must realise we hv most unique Intelwctual or capabilty and thus hasa great responsibility ..
Lets all go Green lets save the Animals lets save the World ..
Namo Buddha
REMEMBER THAT IF YOU CAN FEEL THE PAIN, SO DO ANIMALS ! YOU ARE SCARED THEN ANIMALS CAN BE SCARED ALSO. JUST PUT YOURSELF IN BEING ANIMALS BEFORE YOU ARE BEING KILLED FOR MEAT OR FOR WHATEVER THE PURPOSES ARE THEN YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S WILL BE LIKED.
when your heart grows bigger than your stomach… there is only one choice…
When I think about all the lives I've indirectly taken over 20 years of eating flesh.. I'm literally disgusted with myself
Also blame and self-reproaches is not right view nor right intention . The Buddha teaches the middle path.
All very true... All those that can hear listen....
This film is great. Unfortunately it doesn't say some words that would prevent confusion: animals are in samsara, like us. Plants are not stuck in samsara (or wheel of live), at least the samsara that Buddha reveled to us. Plants certainly have their own life form, that does not have the same characteristics of our life form (5 aggregates, or khandhas). Animais do have. They're part of samsara, they can rebirth etc. We certainly were animals in other lifes. Does not make any sense to harm an animal and expect to be free of samsara one day.
How do u say plant have their own life form?is there two different life?life is life itself.
I totally enjoyed this !! Beautiful ~♡Became a vegan nearly 4 and a half years ago but wished I had known since childhood.
... i do not eat my friends...‼️‼️‼️‼️...i am a vegetarian since nearly 9 years ... no fisch ,no meat...it is the ethic and moral reason and i do NOT have any health problems...no it is the other way,i have no health problems all year around...
Love and peace for every being ...
... from the italian alps to all of you...🧡🍀😊
Magnífico documental!!!! Es una invitación a la reflexión sobre el nivel de compasión que hemos desarrollado! El nivel de ética en el sendero espiritual que vivimos! ... Es un llamado de atención para valorar el respeto a la vida de todos los seres!!! Es un grito de "auxilio" de nuestros hermanos los animales que claman por su vida y lo hacen a través de la voz de Buddha y los seres humanos que han entendido el lenguaje del corazón!!!!! NAMASTE!!! Compartan este vídeo a muchos!!!
I like to share this video on social media sites such as facebook, twiter and linkedin every now and then so as to provide others with the opertunity to listen to this wonderful teaching. In this way I can continue to experience the joy it brings.
I just shared it with the Vegan Buddha group on Facebook…
Peace starts with our plates 💚🙏
There are just some people who unfortunately don't care and will continue eating animals and that is so upsetting because they just won't make the connection!
There are so many wonderful and healthy alternatives!
Amazing, thank you so much for your work in helping animals. I've been a vegan and practicing buddhist for years, but didn't know of Surangama sutra and the advocacy of Buddha to his followers to stop eating animal products in addition to meat. I am delighted to read that.
Thank you so much for sharing the message of compassion
Vegan for justice!
A beautiful movie, shining the light of awareness on all our animal friends, with understanding and Love. I shall share this movie with others . Thank you to all who made this production possible. . With deepest gratitude and in Gassho. Molly🌸🌺🦋
Choose empathy ❤️ loved this video and message
I agree. Animals are my friends. I know it from childhood. But then I forgot and I was eating them.Its quite serious. I have to do something for animals.They are born free. They are not "mine". I have no right to také their life or harm them.
Everyone will wake up one day, maybe in few hours, months, years or next lives and will realize the truth was already within your soul. This moment will be your enlightenment but also your redemption for all your past thoughts and actions...
Vegetarian for 3 years, vegan for 1. will never go back. vegan now regret never.
im ready to die happy and live health
Do you eat egg
The best of all, stop/eating less meat will translate into less destruction to forest, environment & etc. This is very true! Cos, to feed a cattle, hog or lamb. Imagine how much land or deforestation are needed to grow grains, grass & etc for these animals....
You do not know much about the raising of domestic animals. In the Western U.S. , most cattle are raised on range land. No feedlots and no force feeding of corn. They are raised on land not suitable for growing crops. Mostly due to the very short growing season. Also, the number one problem for wildlife is not hunting or the raising of them for food but rather destruction of their habitat for the growing of food. Vast forests of S.E. Asia and the Amazon are being destroyed for farmland.
@@harrymcnicholas9468 troll hard. Going through others comments to try and force your point of view on them is just pathetic.
this is a great video. i do wish that you tag it in ways to attract many viewers. there are many good points for vegans to learn so they can effectively advocate others about veganism even if they don't follow buddhism.
There are Hindu, Christian, Jewish, etc, vegans. The question is not if can one be vegan and Buddhist? But rather how can one be a Buddhist and be a carnist? Doing the least harm is not a carnist value or way of living. To call oneself a Buddhist, a seeker of truth, while eating flesh is the apex of self delusion. I know a few meat gobbling Buddhist that get mad when challenged in the smallest way about their pain causing diet. Something in the video carefully avoided was the clearly stated contention that one will not, CANNOT achieve enlightenment as a carnist. Wake up Buddhist wise ones, it takes strong leadership to change this world. You can not wait until all people are enlightened as in the past. Today humans destroy, on average, a species a day. We are in the midst of the 6th great die off in earth history. There is already irreversible harm. Leaders, cultural icons, take action now with strong unflinching stands against cruelty of non-humans by incorporating the tenets you describe here into your religion. For the sake of those suffering now find the strength to take action!
Why so you think killing plants gets you off the hook? You destroy the habitat of animals so you can feel good about yourself eating plants?
Harry McNicholas Scientists predict that in about thirty years the earth population will be about nine billion souls. Because of water scarcity humans Must become vegetarian.
Dirty Harry totally miss the point... Jajaja
The moment I witnessed what goes on in slaughterhouses I became vegan. I don't see what's so difficult for so many humans who refuse to stop being the reason for such suffering and death....
Vegan for life!
Vegan now Regret never
Very nice ..first time I inspected my idea of non vegetarianism & as a Buddhist I will try to be a vegetarian.
its easier to be vegan than try be vegan
Thank you for this fantastic video!
The truth is we not only can survive and thrive not living by means of anothers death, but it is also true that not eating meat and only eating plants results in much better health.
some say I just love the taste of meat (and realy its the seasoning) yet others insist they cant stop because the love to eat meat I would ask "what if there were only dogs or people arround would you still want to eat whats available?" The bottom line is we say we respect life but if we eat another because of desire there is no respect for life its only selective based on taste and conditioning.
I am sure one who kills for eating will surely himself or herself undergo the same pain and trauma and suffering as the animal go through. This should be and THIS IS the justice of nature.
"ahimsa"-"non-hurting" is a Jain concept. Ganhi got it from an older Jain teacher.
johnebgood108 teaching of ascetic school (samana) . Buddhism and Jainism are two remaining lineages of ancient ascetic school.
Whether or not the Jains advocated it before Buddha’s awakening he embraced it in his teachings.
indeed :D Lowest possible suffering for all sentient beings
Om Muni Muni Maha Muniye Soha!
+Kenny kok Dorje Gyaltsen I like to share this video on social media sites such as facebook, twiter and linkedin every now and then so as to provide others with the opertunity to listen to this wonderful teaching. In this way I can continue to experience the joy it brings.
Great docs
Thank you for the upload ..
Buddha Bless you
“What is the milk freely given? Do you care about suffering? This food causes pain to another being.” Any of those sentences would be enough… But conditioning goes very deep as do habits and traditions.🙏🏼🌱
20:00 - 22:04 says it all really.
i was really luck to watch this video
Love this video
I do not support factory farming in any way, but if a creature is killed and offered as food, it is a far greater tragedy for the body to go to waste than to be respectfully used for energy by another being.
There is direct demand, which fuels the meat industry and leads to more killing. And there is perceived demand, which is the person who killed the animal, ordered the meat feels justified in doing so again because there is someone else eating the meat. So it's good to gradually root out direct demand, be a flexitatrian (which is what I did) and eventually even root out perceived demand, be a full time vegetarian. Now when eating with meat eaters, they would have to order less meat and more vege because I declared myself to be vegetarian. So I don't offer to help to finish up the leftover meat even when all the vege are gone. Next time they eat with me, they gradually learn to reduce the meat demand to reduce waste. It does help!
Well worth watching.
I felt really sad when I seen the monk feeding the chickens because I just had a chicken burrito 30 minutes ago. I’m making a change today
Great video!
thank-you
This video says exactly what Ann & myself have always believed as practising Buddhists, even when we were not! For us, the 'cause to kill' is incredibly important - it basically means you do not walk into a supermarket and buy any meat, or ocean life. We are NOT living in India two and a half thousand years ago, Ann & I dearly wish other Buddhists understood the obviousness of context, we suspect many choose not to, which we are saddened at habitually.
I have an idea for a peaceful protest against the slaughtering and mistreatment of animals. Graffiti slaughterhouses! If you ever see a slaughterhouse, graffiti the most vulgar thing you can think of. Deflate the slaughterers' self esteem so much that they quit their job.
Great Video
sadhu sadhu sadhu
+Yuphin Srikhumbang I like to share this video on social media sites such as facebook, twiter and linkedin every now and then so as to provide others with the opertunity to listen to this wonderful teaching. In this way I can continue to experience the joy it brings.
My issue with this is that I've had a garden and the number of pests I had to deal with is immense. There are a vast number of sentient beings that are killed just to make a single salad. Even organic pesticides leads to the death of tens of thousands of caterpillars, grasshoppers, mites, wasps, spiders, bees, mice. Tilling soil kills millions of microbes per cubic foot of soil. It's hard not to kill sentient beings as a sentient being.
Beautiful video. .....Metta
I consider whole grain pasta to be healthy, but you should have them split up in to maximum 2 meals a day, and with a good amount of healthy plant seed oils (I prefer olive). Other than that I eat nuts and vegetables. Only drink water, coffee, and tea without milk or sugar. If you're vegan have your vit.B12 and a good source of omega-3 fatty acids (like algae oil), maybe vit.D if you're a nightshift worker or not out in the sun much, and you're good. I'm 40 years old, athletic, everyone thinks I'm much younger. Take good care of your bodies folks 💟
awesome
I’ve been an atheist as long as I can remember, and firmly believe that you don’t need religion to have compassion and morality. That said, I do acknowledge that I grew up in JPN, which is said to be among the least religious nations in the world and also that Japanese values are (however subtle) influenced by Buddhism and Shintoism, both of which preach the importance of living beings (spiritualism in a word).
Though I disdain all religions for being dogmatic, I’m inclined to be least against Buddhism. It’s because I know some sects of Buddhism require their followers to be self-disciplined and go through hard self-training to the level of stoicism.
In this vid, the difference between vegetarianism and veganism is not clearly shown, but the vegetarianism referred to here seems to be more like veganism. Likewise, the difference between living beings and sentient beings is not clearly shown, but the living beings referred to here seems to be sentient beings.
When I heard @(12:12) “I say that meat may be eaten in these three instances.”, I didn’t quite understand it. Then, there was a good explanation. (12:40~14:23)
Yes, while “innocent” ignorance is bad but excusable, “willful” ignorance is pure evil and inexcusable. And, unlike the time of Gautama Buddha, today we have more info not only about how meat is produced but also about essential nutrients obtainable from plants. So, most people today have willful ignorance. But, they don’t think (or refuse to think) they are evil, because their culture accepts (or even supports) what they do.
Most people in the Western and Arab worlds have been contaminated by their cultures and religions. They just stupidly keep praying to their invisible (actually non-existent) gods. So, when some of them realize the importance of animal lives, it is understandable that they need an alternative, which tends to be not atheism but Buddhism, as an antidote for detoxification of meat-munching culture.
The spread of the Western culture accompanied by Christianity has been a bloody curse for the world/planet. We need to unlearn/relearn what we have been taught (i.e. brainwashed) along with the recently much talked about concept of DECOLONIZATION. Yes, it’s high time for DETOXIFICATION.
great video!
Any one could easily stop consume animal meat if you care about animals. Besides vegetables has all the proteins vitamins for the humans...we don't need to consume meat or fish to get all the necessary health benefits from animal products....better to be a vegetarian or vegan for you own health benefits....and at the same time we save animals lives.
It has been scientifically proven that plants also have feelings,are intelligent,want to survive,nuture their young,make war on other species etc.Water forms beautiful crystals when treated and stored with love and care. It forms uneven crystals when
hateful thoughts are directed towards it.This is not intended to diminish the merit of vegans,but just saying......
Plants don't scream or have blood gushing out when they are killed for food. Meat industry kills more plants (more plants need to feed animal to feed humans as energy gets lost) too to fill up humans's stomach. If you care for plants, you should go vegan, or better fruitatarian, eat only fruits.
WHEN YOU SEE THE COWS HANGING ON HOOKS,
JUST IMAGE'N ....
..... INSTEAD SEEING HUMANs HANGING
ON HOOKs....... GROSS THOUGHT AE PEEPs
humans are different though
This vidio made me to be vegen I have guilty conscious that I have eaten neat
I don't have to finish watching
Humans are the worst enemies. I'm not saying all humans are bad but humans are the ones who destroyed many things on earth!
There's no sympathy towards animals at all
Humans can do better. God Creations us all not wanting us to hurt one another
Please Please stop the sufferings!
It brings me tears as watching those poor souls on earth who cannot voice for themselves
Actually on earth humans has Sins so much
There will be always pains in HELL that's what I will think
Hearing what we hear people talking about inhumane ways of humans done, it's really heartbreakings and uncomfortable already😭
Gracias por compartir este documental.
This was wonderful. Thank you.
"don't kill, Don't Steal, Don't committed suicide" then you are real Buddha."
It is debatable if simply consuming meat accrues any bad karmic effect but it leads to dependence and craving for meat. While consciously refraining from eating meat certainly raises one's consciousness to a higher.
The moment I realized how non humans suffer and die, I became vegan that day and wish I had seen it sooner.
What to do when one has no trouble showing compassion to animals, but it's humans I have a hard time with.
Start with what is easy, and go from there.
buddha says let us charish like a mother of her only child....so deep
I'm trying...
the trick is doing it not trying. its easier. "dont lift dead being to your mouth" but id understand if someone tie yuou up and forcefeed you.
not eating dead animal is easier than actualy doing the act of eating them.. it require less effort.
try not trying and do it.
for me it was instant.
"how not rape?" dont do it. done
Lovely video and message and very well put together. It is sad that people need to be taught--and reminded of this. It is common sense and for me at least, innate. With that said, what about the mosquitos and ticks etc that are well known to carry and spread life long chronic and terminal diseases---can these insects be killed ?!
yet, the buddha died from eating rotten pork, which accepted in his begging bowl. some people think it was a suicidal act. who knows?
his last words: "all things must pass away."
Historically the Buddha wasn't a vegetarian. But it matters not now, cause now there is global warming and the meat industry, both are urgent and very good reasons to go vegan. Too many Buddhist use the Buddha as an excuse to shrink away from the challenge of going vegan.
There is one branch of Mahayana which insisted that the buddha eat meat which was conjured out of thin air and not from animals. Some claim that it is not meat at all.
yes - eating animals is akusala (unless you are a monk who accepts and eats whatever is given)
you are wrong, stop misleading and climing buddha ate meat, he didn't, it was clear he was vegetarian
I’ve eaten no animal products for many years... but I buy and cook meat for adult members of my family who do not wish to be vegetarian. Any edicts on this?
Josh - this is a common question. and presents a great opportunity.
There is no denying that for some of us who grew up on the all-American diet, the transition to vegetarianism and then veganism can be challenging.
If your family is unwilling to stop eating meat, chicken, and fish all at once, try encouraging them to:
1) Eat a vegetarian diet, or better yet a vegan diet, for one, two, or three days a week.
2) Eat a meat-free breakfast or lunch every day.
3) When friends and family visit for dinner, prepare a vegan/vegetarian meal.
It is better if you can encourage them to take some animal products out of their diet rather than none at all.
As the Buddha said in his discourse to the people of Bamboo Gate (SN 5.55),
“He himself abstains from the destruction of life, exhorts others to abstain from the destruction of life, and speaks in praise of abstinence from the destruction of life.”
lirs.ru/lib/sutra/Connected_Discourses_of_the_Buddha(Samyutta_Nikaya).Vol.II.pdf
cows are let to rest two years after they have a young one - she talks shit at 25:29
Awesome video 😲
Thank you for this, actually it's very important for me to see practitioners from the different traditions appealing at the compassion for the animals; it's really important to see that support in the sangha. I was in a Japanese Sangha and they only have reasons to eat meat and even kill animals with their own hands appealing to the emptiness, I still don't know why they say they are Mahayana Buddhists at all XD... I was thinking about left the Buddhist teachings because of that until I saw this video. (But actually I'm not going anymore there because of their lack of mercy)
I can't understand why a Buddhist practitioner and even a human being is not able to understand the value of all sentient beings, the human beings can make the choice but animals can't even ask for help or mercy.
If a buddhist practitioner can't feel compassion for animals is like any other person with an average belief, has to change its hobby.
Again, thank you so much for your mission.
7:46 wearing a leather belt😂😂😂 no no no
i have a leather belt from before i went vegan i know other vegans wear leather belts they got before they went vegan also
but its not sure that that belt its real leather
can be fake leather - a "vegan" belt - there are really good "vegan" leather replacements
Good one, I enjoyed this video!
Hi there! I love your videos very much, therefore I would like to download some of those to recreate the Creative Commons Videos. Before doing this job, I must ask a permission or your license from you beforehand. I strongly that you do not mind and open mind and freedom letting the others have the rights to do this. Thanks a lot.
They provide a download link here drive.google.com/file/d/0B3fNIN36rRcUMm9hb0RXMEF1Vm8/view
The Buddhist the true path right action was no kill,no steal, no sexual misconduct,no lies, no toxication, no jealousy, no irresponsible speech,no abuse speech, no gossip, no hatred, no delusions. to the Buddhas monk avoid wealth, fame, sex, food, and sleep. example no kill because of wealth,no steal because of wealth,no lies because of wealth, no sex and no intoxication or creation any chemical weapon because of wealth.
🙏
We cannot force someone to hear a message they are not ready to receive. But we must never underestimate the power of planting a seed.
- Compassion is Limitless🥹❤️
Question - Does Sharon Salzburg support this work as a vegan.? I just wondered as her teachings on Loving-Kindness are inspiring.
I was a vegetarian but then got type 2 diabetes. Eating too many carbohydrates can lead to that and even though I have great respect for the Buddhist faith, I'm back to eating meat again. It's only for my health though. I does bother me that I eat meat.
Stuart McDonald you dont have to eat alot of carbs you can be a vegetarian without just eating carbs. Get a vegeterian cookbook
(The First Precepts)
1.) Abandoning the taking of life, refraining from taking life, without stick or sword, scrupulous, compassionate, trembling for the welfare of all living beings.
Consuming Animal Products - Vegan
Gotama Buddha was supposedly asked about whether it is important for the Ordained Practitioners to be a vegetarian during his lifetime. It is rumored that his reply was in the line of, the intentional killing or action of killing of an animal is done by another being and that person is producing the unwholesome Kamma. Gotama Buddha explained how as an ascetic, they must accept whatever is given to them and not show a preference.
Gotama Buddha did include in his Eight Fold Path the “wrong livelihoods” of “business in meat and business in living beings” so he understood the massive amount of unwholesome Kamma produced through these activities, which we are currently seeing the results of today. He encouraged us not to participate in these livelihoods as a way to sustain our life.
You can also see in his very First Precept his teachings are that we should “Abandoning the taking of life, refraining from taking life, without stick or sword, scrupulous, compassionate, trembling for the welfare of all living beings.”. Gotama Buddha taught that no one should kill a living being as this produces unwholesome Kamma. Any harm caused will be returned to us through the Natural Law of Kamma.
There are no contradictions in Gotama Buddha’s teachings. Based on his central teachings and guidance, we should practice Right Livelihood by not having business in meats or business in living beings. One should practice The First Precept of not killing living beings, living compassionately, and trembling for their welfare. We can understand that the rumor shared in some Buddhist communities that eating meat does not cause any unwholesome Kamma and can be considered just that - a rumor. Gotama Buddha understood the affects of killing living beings and the harm it would cause those living beings and, thus, that harm would be returned to us as we are witnessing today.
Someone that is practicing these teachings and may be interested to practice them very closely, will choose to be a vegetarian or vegan to seek Nibbana. Being vegetarian or vegan will provide the mind more clarity as the body will be free of the harmful drugs, hormones, toxins, and emotions of the animal found in the flesh of an animal. There is unwholesome Kamma associated with eating animal products and that is returned to you through the unwholesome animal products which is loaded with drugs, toxins, and emotions of fear the animal experienced at the time of death.
There is enormously more unwholesome Kamma associated with eating animal flesh now than during the lifetime of Gotama Buddha due to the toxic substances found in animal flesh that is ingested by you if you choose to eat animal products. Additionally, to produce animal products like eggs, milk, cheese, leather, etc., it creates an environment where massive numbers of animals suffer to provide humans these products. Animals are being trapped in the animal realm (these beings cannot be reborn to take human form for the opportunity to attain Nibbana as long as humans are attached to producing animals and animal products for their use and consumption).
Animal products are not required to sustain human life. Proteins and other important nutritional value humans obtain from eating animal products can be ingested through plant based products. Viewing food as merely a substance that is needed to sustain the body can help to eliminate the attachment to wanting to enjoy food. Instead view food as just a requirement to sustain life rather than something that you “want" to enjoy although there are plenty of foods you can enjoy that are plant based foods.
Eliminating the attachment to the “sensual pleasure” of the tongue can help you gradually eliminate the attachment to animal products.
By not eating animal products, you can find joy in knowing that your eating habits are not causing harm to another being and you will benefit from the healthy effects of a plant based diet.
The important teaching here is do not intentionally kill another being while having compassion for all living beings. If we are eating animal flesh and/or using animal products how could we have compassion for all living beings?
Gotama Buddha, as an ascetic, could not choose his food. As householders, we can choose our food and choose what we offer to ascetics. Choosing a vegan diet is a choice to do no harm to other beings.
If you have compassion for “all living beings”, as explained in this precept, you would not have a desire to consume or use animal products as your personal choice. As with all these teachings, you can gradually train the mind to move in this direction.
All beings that exist today have experienced countless rebirths in multiple forms including countless animal rebirths. Gotama Buddha explained that it would be difficult to find a being in existence that has not previously been our mother, father, sister, brother, or some other relative in a past existence. Eating animal products that promotes the killing of animals can be considered as killing your relatives and ingesting their flesh. We should have loving-kindness and compassion for all beings.
Today, many people who follow these teachings closely are vegetarian or vegan. You can understand through “Kamma” that the massive production of animal products around the world has created massive amounts of unwholesome Kamma for the world through an unwholesome environment.
Just like accepting a possession that was stolen by another person could cause you harm, accepting animal flesh that has been killed by another person will still cause you harm. The fact that another person has killed the living being does not protect you or the environment from the harmful effects of producing and ingesting the animal products.
Producing animal products has left the environment around us in drastically poor health. Consuming animal products on an individual level is causing cancers and other bodily sicknesses to humans. Through the growing, preparing, packaging, transportation, and selling of animal products, there is a massive amount of harm being done to the planet’s environment.
It is well understood that in order to bring our world’s environment into a more healthy existence, humans will need to transition to a plant-based diet. As a result of not killing or causing the suffering to a tremendous amount of animals, we generate wholesome Kamma. Our planet is more healthy and our individual body and mind is more healthy.
By consuming animal products, it does cause harm to animals, to our environment, and to ourselves individually. That harm will be returned to us through an unhealthy planet and effects on our individual health. It is best to not consume animal products as this will ensure a healthy body, a healthy mind and a healthy planet. You will notice the body and the mind function better when you only consume a plant-based diet.
In addition to eliminating the action of killing another being, this precept also relates to the cultivation of deep compassion for all beings. Your practice of not eating animal products will bring you into more harmony with all beings and a healthy planet, while eliminating the unwholesome Kamma that affects the planet and you individually.
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Trades Not to Be Plied
And what, bhikkhus, is wrong livelihood?
Scheming, talking, hinting, belittling, pursuing gain with gain: this is wrong livelihood.
Translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi (1995).
“Bhikkhus, a [Household Practitioner] should not engage in these five trades. What five?
Trading in weapons, trading in living beings, trading in meat, trading in [substances that cause heedlessness], and trading in poisons.
A [Household Practitioner] should not engage in these five trades
Translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi (2012).
[ ] : words within brackets were inserted by the author of this book.
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