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Theravada Buddhism , Vegetarianism
Faustrim
New
Hello all!
I was thinking about eating meat.Buddha allowed his monks to eat pork, chicken and beef if the monk was aware that the animal was not killed on their behalf. But think, the animals are KILLED for us, it doesn't matter if the slaughter, who killed animal, doesn't even know your name, but the animal was killed indirectly for you(if u will buy it). What do you think friends?
I was thinking about eating meat.Buddha allowed his monks to eat pork, chicken and beef if the monk was aware that the animal was not killed on their behalf. But think, the animals are KILLED for us, it doesn't matter if the slaughter, who killed animal, doesn't even know your name, but the animal was killed indirectly for you(if u will buy it). What do you think friends?
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Comments
The Buddha did not wish for there to be restrictions because monks do impose a strain on the lay persons livelihood, and its expected that a person only give to the monk if they want to give, and only so much that it doesn't hurt your own family.
As for the "killed for us" rule. This is for monks that they cannot eat only if the KNOW the animal was killed DIRECTLY for them. IE a monk comes visiting and someone goes out back and kills a chicken because of the monks visit. This whole " well since you were going to eat the animal was killed indirectly for you" thing doesn't cut it when it comes to kamma. There is no bad kamma for eating meat.
in fact vegetarianism was used in an attempt to split the sangha and cause problems by Buddha's cousin devadatta, who wanted to have 13 extra rules put into place for the monks that were more ascetic, vegetarianism was one of these rules. The Buddha stated that if monks wish to follow these rules they can, otherwise they are not forced to.
anyways for all these threads I always post these two links, The first by Ajahn Brahm
http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma3/meat.html
and a second
http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma3/vegi.html
If you have never eaten meat before why the desire now?
If you are a meat eater and are raising the question of what are the consequences of eating meat, then there are many answers to choose from. But I would suggest you would best investigate that, that raised the question.
Mettha
If you want to eat meat, eat meat and don't beat yourself up over it.
You might think to tell your family that you would 'like to try to eat less meat', and perhaps they will surprise you and support that idea. They might be willing to cook extra veggies and meatless dishes just for you.
But if not, that's ok too.
Graciously and with gratitude accept what is offered... once you get older and on your own you can decide for other eating styles.
But my friend, who worked on farm, where the cows were killed and then they were working with that meat, say me that: the farmers were killing the cows really brutal, and the cows weren't healthy as well, they had inflammation on the breasts(big like soccer ball), and some of the cows were pregnant too
@Faustrim
These questions are excellent potential teachings that are best explored through your own chosen practice.
but...
The Buddhas teaching to the Monks about accepting what ever was put into your offering bowl was appropriate, if only from the view of how the monks would be negatively received by the often poor donors, if they picked and choose what they liked of those offerings.
No food offerings- no Sangha.
Food is also one of the more common attachments amongst Monks when so many of their other worldly vices have been limited by their vocation. Neither of these points really apply to you at this point.
As a 16 year within a family, you are under rules of patronage by those providing the food. I think, you could respectfully describe your wish to explore vegetarianism with who ever buys and prepares the food to see if they could help you in any way with your wish. Pick a time to do this when both of you can have an easy discussion about it.
Consider how far you are willing to go to help in preparing your own alternatives to the meat part of your families meals and include this in the discussion.
"What comes out of your mouth is more important than what goes into it"
No matter whether you are a meat eater, vege or vegan you will still be doing something to harm other sentient beings. God knows how many ants i killed yesterday watering my strawberry plants!
If you feel you are obliged to eat meat but are unhappy about that, I offer you something that might seem a little weird, but it works for me.
First if someone offers you a meal that has meat in it; thank them (for their generosity of spirit) and offer them ... (a silent blessing of) ... gratitude in return, 'thank you this looks and/or tastes great'. Look at it and taste it. If you can do that there is a great reward for you and them.
Second, when you are eating the meal, take time to compliment them on how wonderful the food is, especially if it really is an enjoyable meal for you. It may well taste amazingly good, savour each mouthful, feel the texture of the food and then let it just be swallowed up and become part of you. When you contemplate this it is quite rewarding to.
Lastly, when you go to bed think about what you have done that day, but don't focus on any detail, focus on the meat if that is a problem for you. Think about the animal that offered up its life for your enjoyment and then try to connect with it. After all it is now materially part of you. If you can hear you, it can hear you now...
Mettha
As someone who considers vegetables, trees and rocks as friends, I am prepared to eat my friends. You may not be.
PS. the only rocks I am aware of eating is salt.
I will now turn myself over to the authorities for further evaluation. I just hope they do not add me to the food chain prematurely
:wave:
By the super-uber-scientific poll on DhammaWeb.org (the premier therevada forum)-- about 50% of Therevadans (who visit forums and enjoy answering polls) are some sort of vegetarian, that is 25 times higher than the US rate and almost 6 times the typical West europe rates (of 2% and 20% respectively)
And I wonder how developing Right Intention is compatible with contributing to the suffering and killing of animals, for whatever reason.
I've wondered about this myself - I rarely eat any fruits/vegetables, which I clearly should eat more of.
I try to defer to the Dalai Lama on this topic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Dalai_Lama#Diet_and_animal_welfare
I want to lower my meat intake; going to try smaller portions. My goal is to adopt an alternate day diet.
Sometimes, such as times like this, I think my lack of formal practice is a boon. There is so much data out there regarding this topic and arguments have been made on both sides going back to the Buddha and his cousin. I do not know which is right. I do believe (at this moment in time) that it is not my job to know what is right.
I believe, that as a Buddhist, it is my job to pay attention. How do I feel when I eat meat and pay very close attention? How do I feel when I replace the euphemism's such as 'meat' with 'flesh' - or 'leather' with 'skin'? How do I feel as I cut through a piece of cow? How do I feel as I put a piece of the deer in my mouth? How do I feel as the chicken slides down my throat?
More importantly, because I'm the only one I can change, what am I doing to myself when I don't pay attention to how I feel? What damage do I do to me when I ignore those feelings or refuse to act upon them?