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Should Buddhists
be Vegetarians or not?
Question and Answers in Nutshell
By Ven Bikkhu S Dhammika
1/12
be Vegetarians or not?Question and Answers in Nutshell
By Ven Bikkhu S Dhammika
1/12
Q: Should Buddhists be Vegetarians?
A: NOT necessarily!
The Buddha was a not a Vegetarian
He did not teach his disciples to be vegetarian and even today, there are many good Buddhists who are not vegetarians
2/12
A: NOT necessarily!
The Buddha was a not a Vegetarian
He did not teach his disciples to be vegetarian and even today, there are many good Buddhists who are not vegetarians
2/12
Q: But if you eat meat, you are indirectly responsible for the death of a creature. Isn't that breaking the first precept?
A: It is true when you eat meat, you are indirectly and partially responsible for killing a creature but the same is true when you eat vegetables
3/12
A: It is true when you eat meat, you are indirectly and partially responsible for killing a creature but the same is true when you eat vegetables
3/12
The farmer has to spray his crops with insecticides and poisons so that the vegetables arrive on you dinner plates without holes in them
And once again, animals have been killed to provide the leather for your belt/handbag, oil for soap you use and thousand other products
4/12
And once again, animals have been killed to provide the leather for your belt/handbag, oil for soap you use and thousand other products
4/12
It is impossible to live without, in some way, being indirectly responsible for the death of some other beings, and this is just another example of the First Noble Truth , ordinary existence is suffering and unsatisfactory
5/12
, ordinary existence is suffering and unsatisfactory5/12
When you take the First Precept you try to avoid being directly responsible for killing beings
6/12
you try to avoid being directly responsible for killing beings6/12
Q: Mahayana Buddhists don't eat meat?
A: Incorrect!
Mahayana Buddhism in China laid great stress on being vegetarian but both the monks and laymen/laywomen of the Mahayana tradition in Japan and Tibet usually eat meat
7/12
A: Incorrect!
Mahayana Buddhism
in China laid great stress on being vegetarian but both the monks and laymen/laywomen of the Mahayana tradition in Japan and Tibet usually eat meat7/12
Q: But I still think that Buddhist should be Vegetarian?
A: If there was a man-who was strict Vegetarian but selfish, dishonest, mean
n another man-who not a Vegetarian but who was thoughtful to others- honest generous kind
Which of these two would be a better Buddhist?
8/12
A: If there was a man-who was strict Vegetarian but selfish, dishonest, mean
n another man-who not a Vegetarian but who was thoughtful to others- honest generous kind
Which of these two would be a better Buddhist?
8/12
Q: The person who was Honest and Kind?
A: Why?
9/12
A: Why?
9/12
Q: Because such a person obviously has a good heart?
A: Exactly! One who eats meat can have a pure heart just as one who does not eat meat can have an impure heart
10/12
A: Exactly! One who eats meat can have a pure heart just as one who does not eat meat can have an impure heart
10/12
In the Buddha's teaching, the important thing is the quality of your heart, not the content of your diet.
Many Buddhists take great care never to eat meat but they are not concerned about being selfish, dishonest, cruel or jealous
11/12
Many Buddhists take great care never to eat meat but they are not concerned about being selfish, dishonest, cruel or jealous
11/12
They change their diet which is easy to do, while neglecting to change their hearts which is a difficult thing to do
So whether you are a Vegetarian or not, remember that the purification of mind is the most important thing in Buddhism
Jai Bhim Namo Buddhay
12
So whether you are a Vegetarian or not, remember that the purification of mind is the most important thing in Buddhism
Jai Bhim Namo Buddhay
12
