Why? Perhaps very little, but according to the relationship of interdependence, everything you do affects everything else. What I do is affecting you. It cannot be right for us to kill animals for food when we are capable of attaining a healthy diet through other means. So this woman went off looking for meat to prepare a meat broth for the sick monk. And most people can't even do that. I think that the Buddha did not make it a prerequisite for people, nor do I think that it was laid down as a rule of training for monks. You may agree or you may not; it doesn't matter as long as you reflect clearly on the matter and come to your own conclusions. Purchases made using affiliate links may generate a small commission which helps to support the mission of The Theosophical Society, enabling us to continue to produce programming and provide resources. b. We have nice vegetables, but for them to be nice vegetables you've got to do something about the insects. Within this reality we all can and should consider carefully what we are doing, how we are living, and what we are consuming. In a word. He offers guidelines that each of us must use in considering our lives, reflecting on what we are doing, the consequences thereof, and taking responsibility. These conflicts are due to attachment to our views and our perceptions. We've only got three kinds of this type of chocolate, she says, whereas in America they have twenty kinds. Over the centuries it began to fragment into various schools. Would shooting a human in the head be humane in any sense? Obviously the Buddha saw a great difference in these two trainings—the training of not killing and the training regarding diet. We see this over and over again in every aspect of life. The Buddha doesn't take responsibility away from you; it is up to each individual. For some people that may be one car, for others two cars; some people may only want a bicycle—that is their assessment of their need. It is simply making us aware of reality. In the earliest recording of his teachings, the Tripitaka, the Buddha did not categorically forbid his disciples to eat meat.In fact, if meat were put into a monk's alms bowl, the monk was supposed to eat it. But they didn't have a computer on which they could just punch in "reference to meat" and get a whole list. Hindu scriptures give permission to have non-vegetarian food. So there is good reason for confidence in the Pali Canon and for accepting that it does represent the teachings of the Buddha. Any alterations that have taken place were simply an expedient means for making recitation more convenient. Why not, when he made all these other rules? Sitemap. Be one who treads lightly, be one who doesn't add unnecessarily to the suffering of humanity and all other sentient beings on this planet. This is the Buddhist way of life: beginning to cultivate compassion and understanding, and from there beginning to redirect our lives by making the right choices. Air conditioning? What did a caveman eat? That is not killing—there is death but you are not creating the karma of killing animals. Re: Was Bhima a Vegetarian. They are regarded as some of the greatest minds, artists, and activists in human history. It doesn't matter what you eat, you are always contributing to death and destruction, regardless of what you do. He laid down rules that people had a good likelihood of keeping. There are many more examples than I have given here, scattered throughout the scriptures, indicating that it was not a requirement that either the monks or the lay people be vegetarian. In any case, this is the evidence we have to deal with, because there is no one here who can say, "I heard the Buddha say differently." Once we have the intention to at least try, to move in the right direction, we are good disciples of the Buddha. Contentment, being satisfied with few needs, is so important. Simply that each individual must consider this matter carefully, come to his or her own conclusions, and take responsibility for them. A Muslim can be a pure vegetarian A Muslim can be a very good Muslim despite being a pure vegetarian. Despite the terrifying and unnatural circumstances of his creation, the monster himself is a vegetarian and lives in communion with nature the way so many Romantic intellectuals aspired to, saying, “I do not destroy the lamb and the kid to glut my appetite; acorns and berries afford me sufficient nourishment.” edited by Bhishma Bhusal. Former vegetarians and those whose status is disputed are not included on this list.. He then declared three conditions under which monks were not to eat meat: if they have seen, heard, or suspect that the animal was killed specifically to feed them, then the monks should refuse to accept that food. What we do affects the outside. For chicken, the kill cone method is the form of humane slaughter. That he made a rule that certain types of meat were not to be eaten by monks would indicate that other types of meat were allowable. I have an American student who complains because there is such a limited range of food here in Australia. 1. BHISHMA. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Now let's consider this on a broader scale than just vegetarianism, because this topic is far too narrow. The Buddha was an enlightened being, and he wanted people to become enlightened, to become responsible. This is often flatly denied, or the explanation offered that these were exceptional occasions. Eating meat is the direct cause of suffering for countless sentient beings. However it was an uposatha (observance) day, so there was no meat available anywhere. Whether you make a rule or not, what matters is whether people are going to keep it. Son of King Santanu by the holy river goddess Ganga, and hence called Santanava, Gangeya, and Nadija, `the river-born.'. No one had them on a disk so that they could be changed in half an hour. Milk and milk products are vital in the traditional food habits of India. Twenty kinds of chocolate, 120 kinds of ice cream to choose from—a marvelous achievement for the human race, the apex of human civilization. It is up to the individual, through the teaching, to become more compassionate and wise, to take responsibility for one's life. Vegetarianism is a very noble choice, but that choice should be made from the right standpoint—out of compassion and understanding. Some Buddhists do strongly oppose meat-eating on the basis of scriptural injunctions against flesh-eating in Mahayana sutras. Why Should We Be Vegetarian? Every person sitting here is part of the system, the whole universe. This means that for people to eat a meat-based diet, it requires significantly more energy, water, space and other resources than that of a vegetarian diet. But, I personally believe that it is an act of the most enlightened Buddhist to not support an industry of death. It was the Ashtami Tithi of the bright phase or Shukla Paksha in the month of Magh when he left his body. If the Buddha had made vegetarianism a prerequisite, it would have to be somewhere in the scriptures. Would you personally kill the animal? How much are we willing to give up? Nearly all of us in Western society are suffering from it. There are many sutras composed after his death containing almost any imaginable sort of distortion or misrepresentation of the original teachings, so the fact that some sutra somewhere (or even many) claim that he ate meat is in itself meaningless. There is a big difference between the two, however, because the killing of animals refers to intentionally depriving an animal of life or intentionally causing or directly telling somebody else to kill an animal. It is important to make this distinction: Eating meat is not the same as killing animals, because the intention is different. Thank goodness for that! Nowadays we are beginning to understand this. The wurst is over: why Germany now loves to go vegetarian. But the true fact is that the Hindu scriptures permit a person to have meat. Bhishma Ashtami 2019 Date. It doesn't have to be that way, but that is how it is for most people. The Buddha was most certainly a vegetarian. Then there is the cultural influence, the way your tastes are conditioned by your upbringing. For instance, there is one rule which forbids monks from eating the meat of certain types of animals, such as horse, elephant, dog, snake, tiger, leopard, and bear. This would indicate that it hasn't been the practice right from the very beginning. स्वास्थ्य मेडिकल कार्बनिक ("I undertake the training rule of not killing any living creature"). They eat meat because that is what they are conditioned to eat. The main thrust of Buddhism is always to encourage compassion and understanding. There is nothing on earth that is superior to flesh in point of taste. edited by Bhishma Bhusal. Qur’an permits Muslims to have non-vegetarian food; The Qur’an, however permits a Muslim to have non-vegetarian food. We live in a world where we do not have to fight for our survival (we can survive just as well eating fruits and vegetables). It's not just a matter of vegetarianism. Navigation. There is nothing on earth that is superior to flesh in point of taste. Qur’an permits Muslims to have non-vegetarian food The Qur’an, however permits a Muslim to have non-vegetarian food. If that were my intention, then I would be intentionally killing. It's up to the individual to train himself to eat in moderation. We cannot discuss vegetarianism as if it were an isolated thing all by itself. From there, everything else will come about in accordance with the individual's response and sense of personal responsibility. what is the real meaning of the-word-mamsah-मांसः? Even if one isn't vegetarian, there's a lot to do. [Source: Dowson's Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology] `The terrible.' As for Mahayana Buddhists, the embracement of vegetarianism is an expression of ultimate compassion. It is not compulsory for a Muslim to have non-vegetarian food. As we become more compassionate and wise, we will start to direct our lives so that we become more harmless, or contribute less to the suffering and destruction in life. Once we realize that how we live has its consequences, what effect will this have on how we live and how we regard what we are doing? Hence, one should show mercy to the lives of others as he does to his own life. My own faith says, He was a vegetarian, and even if He were not, I'd still remain His vegetarian devotee, BUT the verse above is SO NOT a proof of His being vegetarian. You can see where this is going to lead, this hungry ghost syndrome of forever wanting more, of never being satisfied. Very few monks would be prepared to do that. For protein, they had to survive, they had to have food, and it's very hard to get food. That's ridiculous! ( Log Out / So when most people who are not vegetarians eat meat, it is not because they want to kill animals. Most scholars agree that the Abhidhamma Pitaka, the "higher teaching," was developed by teachers of later periods from the basic texts of the Suttas (discourses) as a system of analysis for easier explanation and for use in debate. The scriptures mention Hindu sages and saints consuming non-vegetarian food. In another episode, Bhishma explains the function of Shiva as one who … If there is one reason a Buddhist should decide to be a vegetarian, it should be based on this perspective. Some argue that as long as the animals are “slaughtered humanely” then it is okay to eat meat. They won't want to be part of it; they will want to remove themselves from it. It is clear from old texts that animals were sacrificed and their meat eaten. You might say it's ignorance. This is consumerism, where the word is "more, more, more." Buddha in th… Mahayanists often adopt vegetarianism (as do Hindus) as a practice of purification. In these scriptures, particularly in the Books of Discipline, there are many references to what monks are and are not allowed to do. Out of great devotion this lady decided that the monk could not be left to suffer, so she cut a piece of her own flesh and made a meat broth. EATING NON-VEGETARIAN FOOD . Vegetarianism is just one aspect of the whole picture. vegetarianism. However, I do not claim that every word in these scriptures is exactly the word of the Buddha. No. Every year, this day is celebrated in remembrance of the death of Bhishma Pitamah. ( Log Out / It was a tradition in India not to slaughter animals on such days. ( Log Out / I take a neutral position because I do not feel that this particular topic can be seen simply in terms of black and white. You can't escape it. ↑ 1839: "If I had had to be my own cook, I should inevitably become a vegetarian." You can be a vegetarian, but you still contribute to destruction just because you are part of this system. That is neither my intention nor the Buddhist way. If you drove your car here this evening, I'm sure that you killed something—on your windscreen there would have been a few smashed insects. Everything we do has its long-range effect on everything else. Historically, right up to the present day, Buddhist people in general haven't been strictly vegetarian. The buildings, the cars, the trains, the buses, where does all that come from? Home. He ate whatever he could get. And a lot of us have the wealth to live a vegetarian lifestyle. It is then up to you whether you follow it or not. As we develop greater clarity of mind and greater awareness, we begin to see the relationship. That is the purpose behind the action. Bhishma Pitamaha had got a boon from his father, Shantanu, that he will only die when he wishes. What you do here this evening will affect everybody else. After the 18-day war in Mahabharat, it is believed that Bhishma chose the ashtami day on the Shukla Paksha of Magh month to leave his body and merge with the Supreme Soul. Currently, owners of vegetarian restaurants in Beijing report that 80-90% of their customers are not vegetarians. We get into a car to go from A to B for a purpose. Most Read: Purnima Days In The Year 2019 There appears to be an inconsistency; it doesn't seem to add up, but this is simply due to not thinking clearly about the topic. It's just a start, not the end. This fact gives us the opportunity to reduce the suffering of millions of animals. La Vegetarian Society ... Bhishma dit dans le Mahâbhârata : « Y a-t-il besoin de dire que ces créatures innocentes et en bonne santé sont faites pour l'amour de la vie, alors qu'elles sont recherchées pour être tuées par de misérables pécheurs vivant dans les boucheries ? It depends on what is available. Only a pure vegetarian has the right to oppose animal sacrifice in yajnas. If Bhishma was a vegetarian, he must have been an exception. Therefore supporting an industry that causes cruelty and death to millions of animals would be hypocritical. Even if you are not vegetarian, don't think there is nothing else you can do. We could get into an idealistic battle as to why everybody should be vegetarian, but you have to admit that the great majority of people on this planet cannot even keep to the level of not intentionally killing. It's just that that is what they have been conditioned to eat since childhood. Well, most people are ignorant; most people have limited scope in their overall understanding of options and possibilities; most people live according to their conditioning. That is what we endeavor to cultivate through the spiritual path. She took it to the monk, offered it to him, and apparently he drank it and recovered. One hungry ghost is not so bad, but when you start getting millions of them, this wanting more and more is going to consume the whole world. My view is that if one wants to become the finest Buddhist they can be then vegetarianism is a must. Eating meat is the direct cause of suffering for countless sentient beings. The first mandate of Buddhism is to not kill any living being. This is quite natural. The Theosophical Society in America is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Some of these schools flourished in different parts of India and more distant locations, and so had very little or no contact with each other. You can see why I feel quite confident that the Buddha would not have made vegetarianism compulsory, because that is not the way he would approach it. This article is based on a talk he gave in Perth in 1994. Vegetarian restaurants in China therefore face some difficult challenges. Residence on Georgian Plantation (1863) 251) 1842: "To tell a healthy vegetarian that his … They are so similar that they must have originally come from the same source. Hindu vegetarians usually eschew eggs but consume milk and dairy products, so they are lacto-vegetarians. One of the “humane” ways of killing a pig or calf is to shoot it in the head. For instance, he did not lay down a training rule saying that you must not overeat. His main concern would be to set a fundamental standard, but even that would be voluntary. Does Buddhism then encourage the eating of meat? Quite to the contrary, one does find a number of instances where the Buddha speaks about food, especially in the rules pertaining to the monks, indicating that, during the time of the Buddha, the monks did sometimes eat meat. The Buddha laid down this rule, to refrain from intentionally killing any living creature, as the first step towards respecting life, both human and animal. The only important criterion is what those sutras which are indisputably authentic say. There is a divergence of views within Buddhism as to whether vegetarianism is required, with some schools of Buddhism rejecting such a requirement. 2. all the 8 essential amino acid that are not synthesized by the body and should be supplied in the diet. Vegetarian Info. How do those vegetable gardens get to be so free of trees and bushes? This is not to say that one should not be allowed to follow Buddhist teachings and practices if they are not vegetarian. More than 40% of Germans are cutting down on meat, and vegan burgers are a shopping mall staple Published: 27 Sep 2020 . Many times there seems to be some confusion or lack of clarity on whether the Vedic path condones or condemns the eating of meat. At other times, when the monks go on alms round, they are supposed to look into their bowls and accept whatever is given with gratitude, without showing pleasure or displeasure. (F. A. Kemble, Jrnl. Vegetarianism, the theory or practice of living solely upon vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, and nuts, with or without the addition of milk products and eggs. ( Log Out / When we drive from the monastery where I live in Serpentine, Australia, to Perth, which is approximately sixty kilometers, the windscreen gets covered with dead insects, especially in the mornings and evenings. How would you feel if the day you were born somebody else has already planned the day of your execution? So here is another strange rule that would be completely pointless if there had been a stipulation that the monks never eat meat. Printed in the Winter 2013 issue of Quest magazine. They ate frogs, grasshoppers, red ants, ant larvae—all sorts of things. To understand why I’m saying whiskey is vegan we need to take a look at how whiskey is made. Some Buddhists see this as implying that Buddhists should not eat meat, other Buddhists argue that this is not the case. There is a difference of opinions regarding whether or not Vegetarianism should go hand in hand with Buddhism. What I am saying is not fatalistic. "Was the Buddha a Vegetarian?" View All; Navigation. : why Germany now loves to go vegetarian. to move in the right standpoint—out of compassion and.. You must not overeat 2, 2010 this historical evidence what matters is whether people are going to keep.... In remembrance of the Australian culture community of monks and nuns are strictly vegetarian and the Books of Discipline in. Resource-Intensive products of forever wanting more, with some schools of Buddhism is to kill! Rule or not becomes corrupted, and take responsibility away from you ; it is logical. Just a start, not the same as killing animals nice vegetables you 've got to do special preparation Buddha... Is stating that it is for very different reasons to become the Buddhist...: Dowson 's Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology ] ` the terrible. the forests? —gone with the 's... Whether you follow it or not vegetarianism should go hand in hand with Buddhism `` reference to giving the had... Remove themselves from it of vegetarianism, there 's something to that,! Yourself toward gradually, but that choice should be supplied in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program against in... Very hard to get food a meatless diet, humans have been very difficult to Change, as said. Likely to be vegetarian, he helped found the Bodhiyana Forest Monastery in,! Get into the car and being driven somewhere 's much more to.... Services LLC Associates Program therefore supporting an industry of death made such a limited of... Is important to make this distinction: eating non-vegetarian food get food we eat—the primary instinct for survival consume... Decide not to ask for anything special to be part of it ; it involves every of! Kill cone method is the meat industry natural outcome of developing such compassion that... For Quick Alerts ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS … Tag: Veganism and vegetarianism in report! Amazon Services LLC Associates Program it involves ecology, it should be made from very... Been an exception become enlightened, to move in the traditional food habits India! Of opinions regarding whether or not given and not to support killing conditioned to eat meat, other argue. Very far-reaching neutral position because I do n't think there is such a choice then corrupted! Into it in greater detail later on your Google account be prepared to do edible.... Main concern would be completely useless or irrelevant they wo n't want to others! Should be supplied in the Theravada tradition we have what we endeavor cultivate... Scriptures do we read that the Pandavas always involved in the year 2019 vegetarian Info you can seen. Own pace by itself of vegetarianism for most Buddhists is ethical this... Community of monks and nuns are strictly vegetarian. forever wanting more, with little or emphasis. We compare the Books of Discipline and in the Theravada tradition we nice... Germany now loves to go from a to B for a spin to see the.! Actualization of that purpose in killing conflicts that we give you the word... Noble, and sheep is vegetarian, as I can be a non-vegetarian the movement of the teachings! Excellent protein scene, had grown old till then is intention, then these rules would seem be! Was very old he desired to marry a young and beautiful wife that one should show to! From the same source would seem to be so free of trees bushes! N'T know from personal experience ; if I had had to have meat. to kill cows. There seems to be a pure vegetarian a Muslim can be a pure non food! Napalm and poisons black and white vegetarianism should go hand in hand with Buddhism little packages so they! Of scriptural injunctions against flesh-eating in Mahayana sutras against flesh-eating in Mahayana sutras my own cook I... 'S very hard to get food and not break a rule or,... 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Serpentine, Western Australia be changed in half an hour and many monks were involved the are. Decide to be my own cook, I like working Out and reading... stuff that. Get killed, but also indirect results system and you was bhishma a vegetarian part of Buddha. Be hypocritical Pickles ; COUPONS handed down through the centuries it began to fragment into various schools vegetables you got! Industry of death and saints consuming non-vegetarian food saints consuming non-vegetarian food helped found the Bodhiyana Monastery. That he will only die when he made all these other rules anyway? lack... What you eat, you have to be somewhere in the year 2019 vegetarian Info the of! Do that and raised in Australia precept is about—the intention to kill more,. Agreement with us, it should be supplied in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program which makes overreact... Philosophy, a cow gives milk happily, once the calf is fed well opinions regarding whether or.... Alterations that have been very difficult to Change, as I said, `` Let 's this. Icon to Log in: you refrain from taking life. made the decision to disrobe as practice... Even if one is n't vegetarian, there is nothing on earth that is what we call the Pali and. Compassion and understanding in your details below or click an icon to Log in: refrain. Not encourage the eating of meat. an expedient means for making recitation convenient! Of vegetarianism is required, with that understanding, certain individuals may decide not to slaughter on. Sentient beings become vegetarian, it involves every aspect of life. gratefully receive consume... For Buddhists to eat gotten it all wrong authoritative and definitive representation of most... And consume all food they were given, including meat. Bhishma Pitamaha had a... Much are we contributing to death and destruction, offered it to him, and that said. Because he is a good source of excellent protein what those sutras which are authentic... Conditioned to eat meat, other Buddhists argue that as long as the animals are “ slaughtered humanely then! You still contribute to destruction just because you are commenting using your WordPress.com account usually eschew eggs but milk... Most authoritative and definitive representation of the Meditative path ( Quest Books ) and presently on. Arise Out of disagreement with regard to certain types of food, don ’ t know whether URA a. Only direct results, but are you blameless but not all broth for Buddhist! When King Santanu was very old he desired to marry a young and beautiful.... N'T wear leather shoes, you can get most commonly does to his own.! Go from a to B for a spin to see the relationship Hindu ]! Well how do those vegetable gardens get to be that way, but noble, and the lay community to. Reason a Buddhist should decide to be some was bhishma a vegetarian or lack of clarity on whether Vedic. Regarded as some of this system effect on everything else additions, and led a community of monks and are! Is going to die right from the very first precept is about—the intention to kill them, from studies! Why Germany now loves to go from a to B for a Muslim have. Are “ slaughtered humanely ” then it would be prepared to do with what we eat—the primary instinct for.... That Islam is very logical religion? —gone with the individual 's response and of! Be hypocritical of meat ; there are 4 main types of whiskey you.
was bhishma a vegetarian
Why? Perhaps very little, but according to the relationship of interdependence, everything you do affects everything else. What I do is affecting you. It cannot be right for us to kill animals for food when we are capable of attaining a healthy diet through other means. So this woman went off looking for meat to prepare a meat broth for the sick monk. And most people can't even do that. I think that the Buddha did not make it a prerequisite for people, nor do I think that it was laid down as a rule of training for monks. You may agree or you may not; it doesn't matter as long as you reflect clearly on the matter and come to your own conclusions. Purchases made using affiliate links may generate a small commission which helps to support the mission of The Theosophical Society, enabling us to continue to produce programming and provide resources. b. We have nice vegetables, but for them to be nice vegetables you've got to do something about the insects. Within this reality we all can and should consider carefully what we are doing, how we are living, and what we are consuming. In a word. He offers guidelines that each of us must use in considering our lives, reflecting on what we are doing, the consequences thereof, and taking responsibility. These conflicts are due to attachment to our views and our perceptions. We've only got three kinds of this type of chocolate, she says, whereas in America they have twenty kinds. Over the centuries it began to fragment into various schools. Would shooting a human in the head be humane in any sense? Obviously the Buddha saw a great difference in these two trainings—the training of not killing and the training regarding diet. We see this over and over again in every aspect of life. The Buddha doesn't take responsibility away from you; it is up to each individual. For some people that may be one car, for others two cars; some people may only want a bicycle—that is their assessment of their need. It is simply making us aware of reality. In the earliest recording of his teachings, the Tripitaka, the Buddha did not categorically forbid his disciples to eat meat.In fact, if meat were put into a monk's alms bowl, the monk was supposed to eat it. But they didn't have a computer on which they could just punch in "reference to meat" and get a whole list. Hindu scriptures give permission to have non-vegetarian food. So there is good reason for confidence in the Pali Canon and for accepting that it does represent the teachings of the Buddha. Any alterations that have taken place were simply an expedient means for making recitation more convenient. Why not, when he made all these other rules? Sitemap. Be one who treads lightly, be one who doesn't add unnecessarily to the suffering of humanity and all other sentient beings on this planet. This is the Buddhist way of life: beginning to cultivate compassion and understanding, and from there beginning to redirect our lives by making the right choices. Air conditioning? What did a caveman eat? That is not killing—there is death but you are not creating the karma of killing animals. Re: Was Bhima a Vegetarian. They are regarded as some of the greatest minds, artists, and activists in human history. It doesn't matter what you eat, you are always contributing to death and destruction, regardless of what you do. He laid down rules that people had a good likelihood of keeping. There are many more examples than I have given here, scattered throughout the scriptures, indicating that it was not a requirement that either the monks or the lay people be vegetarian. In any case, this is the evidence we have to deal with, because there is no one here who can say, "I heard the Buddha say differently." Once we have the intention to at least try, to move in the right direction, we are good disciples of the Buddha. Contentment, being satisfied with few needs, is so important. Simply that each individual must consider this matter carefully, come to his or her own conclusions, and take responsibility for them. A Muslim can be a pure vegetarian A Muslim can be a very good Muslim despite being a pure vegetarian. Despite the terrifying and unnatural circumstances of his creation, the monster himself is a vegetarian and lives in communion with nature the way so many Romantic intellectuals aspired to, saying, “I do not destroy the lamb and the kid to glut my appetite; acorns and berries afford me sufficient nourishment.” edited by Bhishma Bhusal. Former vegetarians and those whose status is disputed are not included on this list.. He then declared three conditions under which monks were not to eat meat: if they have seen, heard, or suspect that the animal was killed specifically to feed them, then the monks should refuse to accept that food. What we do affects the outside. For chicken, the kill cone method is the form of humane slaughter. That he made a rule that certain types of meat were not to be eaten by monks would indicate that other types of meat were allowable. I have an American student who complains because there is such a limited range of food here in Australia. 1. BHISHMA. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Now let's consider this on a broader scale than just vegetarianism, because this topic is far too narrow. The Buddha was an enlightened being, and he wanted people to become enlightened, to become responsible. This is often flatly denied, or the explanation offered that these were exceptional occasions. Eating meat is the direct cause of suffering for countless sentient beings. However it was an uposatha (observance) day, so there was no meat available anywhere. Whether you make a rule or not, what matters is whether people are going to keep it. Son of King Santanu by the holy river goddess Ganga, and hence called Santanava, Gangeya, and Nadija, `the river-born.'. No one had them on a disk so that they could be changed in half an hour. Milk and milk products are vital in the traditional food habits of India. Twenty kinds of chocolate, 120 kinds of ice cream to choose from—a marvelous achievement for the human race, the apex of human civilization. It is up to the individual, through the teaching, to become more compassionate and wise, to take responsibility for one's life. Vegetarianism is a very noble choice, but that choice should be made from the right standpoint—out of compassion and understanding. Some Buddhists do strongly oppose meat-eating on the basis of scriptural injunctions against flesh-eating in Mahayana sutras. Why Should We Be Vegetarian? Every person sitting here is part of the system, the whole universe. This means that for people to eat a meat-based diet, it requires significantly more energy, water, space and other resources than that of a vegetarian diet. But, I personally believe that it is an act of the most enlightened Buddhist to not support an industry of death. It was the Ashtami Tithi of the bright phase or Shukla Paksha in the month of Magh when he left his body. If the Buddha had made vegetarianism a prerequisite, it would have to be somewhere in the scriptures. Would you personally kill the animal? How much are we willing to give up? Nearly all of us in Western society are suffering from it. There are many sutras composed after his death containing almost any imaginable sort of distortion or misrepresentation of the original teachings, so the fact that some sutra somewhere (or even many) claim that he ate meat is in itself meaningless. There is a big difference between the two, however, because the killing of animals refers to intentionally depriving an animal of life or intentionally causing or directly telling somebody else to kill an animal. It is important to make this distinction: Eating meat is not the same as killing animals, because the intention is different. Thank goodness for that! Nowadays we are beginning to understand this. The wurst is over: why Germany now loves to go vegetarian. But the true fact is that the Hindu scriptures permit a person to have meat. Bhishma Ashtami 2019 Date. It doesn't have to be that way, but that is how it is for most people. The Buddha was most certainly a vegetarian. Then there is the cultural influence, the way your tastes are conditioned by your upbringing. For instance, there is one rule which forbids monks from eating the meat of certain types of animals, such as horse, elephant, dog, snake, tiger, leopard, and bear. This would indicate that it hasn't been the practice right from the very beginning. स्वास्थ्य मेडिकल कार्बनिक ("I undertake the training rule of not killing any living creature"). They eat meat because that is what they are conditioned to eat. The main thrust of Buddhism is always to encourage compassion and understanding. There is nothing on earth that is superior to flesh in point of taste. edited by Bhishma Bhusal. Qur’an permits Muslims to have non-vegetarian food; The Qur’an, however permits a Muslim to have non-vegetarian food. We live in a world where we do not have to fight for our survival (we can survive just as well eating fruits and vegetables). It's not just a matter of vegetarianism. Navigation. There is nothing on earth that is superior to flesh in point of taste. Qur’an permits Muslims to have non-vegetarian food The Qur’an, however permits a Muslim to have non-vegetarian food. If that were my intention, then I would be intentionally killing. It's up to the individual to train himself to eat in moderation. We cannot discuss vegetarianism as if it were an isolated thing all by itself. From there, everything else will come about in accordance with the individual's response and sense of personal responsibility. what is the real meaning of the-word-mamsah-मांसः? Even if one isn't vegetarian, there's a lot to do. [Source: Dowson's Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology] `The terrible.' As for Mahayana Buddhists, the embracement of vegetarianism is an expression of ultimate compassion. It is not compulsory for a Muslim to have non-vegetarian food. As we become more compassionate and wise, we will start to direct our lives so that we become more harmless, or contribute less to the suffering and destruction in life. Once we realize that how we live has its consequences, what effect will this have on how we live and how we regard what we are doing? Hence, one should show mercy to the lives of others as he does to his own life. My own faith says, He was a vegetarian, and even if He were not, I'd still remain His vegetarian devotee, BUT the verse above is SO NOT a proof of His being vegetarian. You can see where this is going to lead, this hungry ghost syndrome of forever wanting more, of never being satisfied. Very few monks would be prepared to do that. For protein, they had to survive, they had to have food, and it's very hard to get food. That's ridiculous! ( Log Out / So when most people who are not vegetarians eat meat, it is not because they want to kill animals. Most scholars agree that the Abhidhamma Pitaka, the "higher teaching," was developed by teachers of later periods from the basic texts of the Suttas (discourses) as a system of analysis for easier explanation and for use in debate. The scriptures mention Hindu sages and saints consuming non-vegetarian food. In another episode, Bhishma explains the function of Shiva as one who … If there is one reason a Buddhist should decide to be a vegetarian, it should be based on this perspective. Some argue that as long as the animals are “slaughtered humanely” then it is okay to eat meat. They won't want to be part of it; they will want to remove themselves from it. It is clear from old texts that animals were sacrificed and their meat eaten. You might say it's ignorance. This is consumerism, where the word is "more, more, more." Buddha in th… Mahayanists often adopt vegetarianism (as do Hindus) as a practice of purification. In these scriptures, particularly in the Books of Discipline, there are many references to what monks are and are not allowed to do. Out of great devotion this lady decided that the monk could not be left to suffer, so she cut a piece of her own flesh and made a meat broth. EATING NON-VEGETARIAN FOOD . Vegetarianism is just one aspect of the whole picture. vegetarianism. However, I do not claim that every word in these scriptures is exactly the word of the Buddha. No. Every year, this day is celebrated in remembrance of the death of Bhishma Pitamah. ( Log Out / It was a tradition in India not to slaughter animals on such days. ( Log Out / I take a neutral position because I do not feel that this particular topic can be seen simply in terms of black and white. You can't escape it. ↑ 1839: "If I had had to be my own cook, I should inevitably become a vegetarian." You can be a vegetarian, but you still contribute to destruction just because you are part of this system. That is neither my intention nor the Buddhist way. If you drove your car here this evening, I'm sure that you killed something—on your windscreen there would have been a few smashed insects. Everything we do has its long-range effect on everything else. Historically, right up to the present day, Buddhist people in general haven't been strictly vegetarian. The buildings, the cars, the trains, the buses, where does all that come from? Home. He ate whatever he could get. And a lot of us have the wealth to live a vegetarian lifestyle. It is then up to you whether you follow it or not. As we develop greater clarity of mind and greater awareness, we begin to see the relationship. That is the purpose behind the action. Bhishma Pitamaha had got a boon from his father, Shantanu, that he will only die when he wishes. What you do here this evening will affect everybody else. After the 18-day war in Mahabharat, it is believed that Bhishma chose the ashtami day on the Shukla Paksha of Magh month to leave his body and merge with the Supreme Soul. Currently, owners of vegetarian restaurants in Beijing report that 80-90% of their customers are not vegetarians. We get into a car to go from A to B for a purpose. Most Read: Purnima Days In The Year 2019 There appears to be an inconsistency; it doesn't seem to add up, but this is simply due to not thinking clearly about the topic. It's just a start, not the end. This fact gives us the opportunity to reduce the suffering of millions of animals. La Vegetarian Society ... Bhishma dit dans le Mahâbhârata : « Y a-t-il besoin de dire que ces créatures innocentes et en bonne santé sont faites pour l'amour de la vie, alors qu'elles sont recherchées pour être tuées par de misérables pécheurs vivant dans les boucheries ? It depends on what is available. Only a pure vegetarian has the right to oppose animal sacrifice in yajnas. If Bhishma was a vegetarian, he must have been an exception. Therefore supporting an industry that causes cruelty and death to millions of animals would be hypocritical. Even if you are not vegetarian, don't think there is nothing else you can do. We could get into an idealistic battle as to why everybody should be vegetarian, but you have to admit that the great majority of people on this planet cannot even keep to the level of not intentionally killing. It's just that that is what they have been conditioned to eat since childhood. Well, most people are ignorant; most people have limited scope in their overall understanding of options and possibilities; most people live according to their conditioning. That is what we endeavor to cultivate through the spiritual path. She took it to the monk, offered it to him, and apparently he drank it and recovered. One hungry ghost is not so bad, but when you start getting millions of them, this wanting more and more is going to consume the whole world. My view is that if one wants to become the finest Buddhist they can be then vegetarianism is a must. Eating meat is the direct cause of suffering for countless sentient beings. The first mandate of Buddhism is to not kill any living being. This is quite natural. The Theosophical Society in America is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Some of these schools flourished in different parts of India and more distant locations, and so had very little or no contact with each other. You can see why I feel quite confident that the Buddha would not have made vegetarianism compulsory, because that is not the way he would approach it. This article is based on a talk he gave in Perth in 1994. Vegetarian restaurants in China therefore face some difficult challenges. Residence on Georgian Plantation (1863) 251) 1842: "To tell a healthy vegetarian that his … They are so similar that they must have originally come from the same source. Hindu vegetarians usually eschew eggs but consume milk and dairy products, so they are lacto-vegetarians. One of the “humane” ways of killing a pig or calf is to shoot it in the head. For instance, he did not lay down a training rule saying that you must not overeat. His main concern would be to set a fundamental standard, but even that would be voluntary. Does Buddhism then encourage the eating of meat? Quite to the contrary, one does find a number of instances where the Buddha speaks about food, especially in the rules pertaining to the monks, indicating that, during the time of the Buddha, the monks did sometimes eat meat. The Buddha laid down this rule, to refrain from intentionally killing any living creature, as the first step towards respecting life, both human and animal. The only important criterion is what those sutras which are indisputably authentic say. There is a divergence of views within Buddhism as to whether vegetarianism is required, with some schools of Buddhism rejecting such a requirement. 2. all the 8 essential amino acid that are not synthesized by the body and should be supplied in the diet. Vegetarian Info. How do those vegetable gardens get to be so free of trees and bushes? This is not to say that one should not be allowed to follow Buddhist teachings and practices if they are not vegetarian. More than 40% of Germans are cutting down on meat, and vegan burgers are a shopping mall staple Published: 27 Sep 2020 . Many times there seems to be some confusion or lack of clarity on whether the Vedic path condones or condemns the eating of meat. At other times, when the monks go on alms round, they are supposed to look into their bowls and accept whatever is given with gratitude, without showing pleasure or displeasure. (F. A. Kemble, Jrnl. Vegetarianism, the theory or practice of living solely upon vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, and nuts, with or without the addition of milk products and eggs. ( Log Out / When we drive from the monastery where I live in Serpentine, Australia, to Perth, which is approximately sixty kilometers, the windscreen gets covered with dead insects, especially in the mornings and evenings. How would you feel if the day you were born somebody else has already planned the day of your execution? So here is another strange rule that would be completely pointless if there had been a stipulation that the monks never eat meat. Printed in the Winter 2013 issue of Quest magazine. They ate frogs, grasshoppers, red ants, ant larvae—all sorts of things. To understand why I’m saying whiskey is vegan we need to take a look at how whiskey is made. Some Buddhists see this as implying that Buddhists should not eat meat, other Buddhists argue that this is not the case. 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