EATING MEAT — WHY THE BUDDHA WAS NOT A VEGETARIAN
Quotes Taken From The Theravada Pali Canon
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The idea that the Buddha taught strict vegetarianism in his day does not reflect the original Buddhist teachings. The Buddha did have rules for monks about meat eating, but he did not adopt the strict ‘no meat eating’ that was associated with Jainism in his day. Furthermore, he shows in the teachings that there are more important defilements and unwholesome states of the mind to deal with.
In the Amagandha Sutta in the Suttanipata (verses 239-252), Bhikkhu Bodhi [the famous translator] states that:
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“The theme of the discourse is meat-eating, which testifies to a type of criticism that Gotama himself faced during his lifetime. The Buddha did not make vegetarianism compulsory but permitted his monastic disciples to consume meat, on condition that the animal was not killed specifically for them”:
The allowance to eat meat is “pure in three respects” (tikotiparisuddha) in the Buddhist teachings. The details of this can be found at Vin I.238, as well as at MN I.369 [Jivaka Sutta, Majjhima Nikaya Sutta No. 55]:
“In three cases, Jivaka, I say that meat may be eaten: when it has not been [1] seen, [2] heard, or [3] suspected [that the animal was killed for oneself].”
This shows that the Buddha does not require the monks to observe a strict vegetarian diet. It permits them to consume meat when they know that the animal has not been slaughtered especially to provide them with food. Such meat is called tikotiparisuddha, “pure in three aspects,” because it is not seen, heard, or suspected to come from an animal killed specifically for the monk.
There is also textual evidence that the Buddha himself ate meat. This custom provoked sharp criticism from other quarters, particularly the Jains, who insisted on strict vegetarianism. At AN III.49,19–23 the Buddha tells a lay supporter that he will accept a dish of pork (sukaramamsa):
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“Bhante, in the presence of the Blessed One I heard and learned this: ‘The giver of what is agreeable gains what is agreeable.’ Bhante, my pork embellished with jujubes is agreeable. Let the Blessed One accept it from me, out of compassion.” The Blessed One accepted, out of compassion.” — AN III.49
The Anguttara Nikaya-atthakatha commentary explains this passage as: “The flesh of a one-year-old pig cooked with spices such as cumin seeds, etc., together with sweet jujube fruits.”
To get back to the Amagandha sutta, the brahmin Tissa accuses the Buddha of eating carrion (amagandha). This word is rendered as “carrion,” but it literally means “raw smell”.
In the Suttanipata verses the Buddha uses his particular way of teaching, in which a term with negative connotations is used and returned as the same to his critic, but this time with a Buddhist meaning attached to it. In this teaching the Buddha re-defines ‘carrion’ (amagandha) so that it does not mean abhorrent food, but immoral actions such as:
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“destruction of life, theft, false speech, fraudulence and cheating, resorting to the wives of others” (verse 242) and such defiled mental states as “anger, vanity, obstinacy, recalcitrance, hypocrisy, envy, boastfulness, and haughtiness” (verse 245)
I include the complete Suttanipata verses 241 to 250 to provide the full context of this teaching:
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The Buddha Kassapa [answers]:
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249.“Neither [avoiding] fish and meat nor fasting,
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I will flag comment spam at 1% strength. If you keep on spamming my post I will flag you at 100%. I don't care if you have limited English abilities, write a couple of sentences about this article, no copy-paste please. I will flag: one sentence comments, links to your blog and begging for up-votes and follows. Also I will flag comments that have nothing to do with my blogs article. I will also check your comment section to see if you have been comment spamming on other blogs..
Devadaha Sutta: At Devadaha In this sutta, the Buddha refutes the theories of the Jains — here called the Niganthas — an order of contemplatives flourishing in India during his time. Although on the surface this sutta may seem to be of strictly historical interest, it makes two important points that are very relevant to some common misunderstandings about Buddhism alive today. (Karma, Pain, and Suffering)
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Misunderstanding the context of the past is one of the biggest errors of our modern society. Its amazing that no one has challenged you yet. Buddha was strictly against dogmas and ignorant adherence to rules. if you meditate without a proper understanding of why then you will not get any benefit from it. Thats what you so nicely pointed out in Buddhas words over and over again, its not the act of putting the meat in your mouth thats bad but everything that went in to getting the meat to your mouth. Buddhas main contribution to spiritual thought at the time was wisdom, don't just do, understand fully what you're doing. He was dealing with rampant dogmatic religions and his teachings are countering that. You have somehow twisted his beautiful teachings to suggest that because Buddha wasn't dogmatic that he somehow didn't have morals. If we actually apply his teachings and not just talk about them and skew them to get a rouse to make yourself some money, you will get there someday.
Buddha said many times killing animals in rituals like the Brahmans did, they were also paid for this..... wouldn't help anyone attain a better place in their next life. I think that is where the "do not kill" came from. Plus he also told stories about killing needlessly and do not murder....Buddha came from the Warrior class and I love his life story as well!
If you read some of the comments on this post the reaction is about the title and the pictures, not the actual teaching. What is worse than eating meat? Reacting with ignorance, hatred, greed, to what you like or dislike! The comment section here is a teaching in itself!
Excellent thoughtful reply, thank you @jaredcordon.
@reddust,
This is one of the major question that we also got and I am personally won't get either side!
There are two reading about this question and I am keeping silence, coz personally I have doubt about my believes!
Cheers~
Just keep your mind pure when you eat that yummy beef steak😜
Well! Shut my mouth! Time to get the Parker Hunter Bow out and go get an elk! You put a lot of work into this post. Quite impressive. I didn't know this at all. May you be filled with equanimity... but not pork.
I prefer elk the the best wild meat....I was given my first rifle at six years old, a little 22 for target practice we never hunted for sport, fished off the pacific coast for salmon too😋 I’m a redneck Buddhist ....
Living on a farm we learned about death up close and personal...no video games and extra lives.
It really is the best meat. If I had my choice I would only eat wild game. I started the "sacred hunt" back in my 20's. Honoring the life that was given to sustain life, etc. I am getting very sensitive to the cruelty we submit animals to that we consume. I don't eat pork any more for that reason. Well...perhaps one day I'll be a vegetarian. Perhaps.
Animals will live a life of birth and death no matter how we treat them. Not eating animals won't save them from preditors. I will not buy animals products from factory farms because factory farms are destorying our enviornment, are cruel to animals and their workers. Plus they are destroying what has supported humans for over 10,000 years our heritage livestock and seeds.
I don't hunt, never have except when I was very young and went hunting with my family, but I can skin and part out any animal, can or freeze their meat...up north there are not a lot of veggies if our food grid system breaks down. Keeping the old ways is important just in case...
I wish you the best on your spiritual journey warrior friend <3
Ditto! Indeed, I've been the warrior. Many times. Blessings.
Humans are omnivores. There are essential vitamins and nutrients that we can't get from any food other than meat. I read an article once of a vegan couple who almost killed their baby by feeding him/her nothing but soy milk. They went to jail for it. Although I have nothing against vegetarianism, be real.
Any mono-diet will have detrimental effects. It wasn't lack of meat that lead to illness, it was mono-soy. There are literally millions of people who have lived their whole lives without eating meat.
All illlness are usually caused by lack of proper nutrition. It has nothing to do with traditional diets, meat, veggies, fruit, what we could grow in our enviornment before factory farming or humanity would be dead by now. People ate from the enviornment they lived in...my people come from the north and our food was primarly meat in the winter and a varied vegertarian and fish based diet in the summers...we did just fine eating that way fro thousands of years @rieki...
This article was actually about the stink of carriorn, non virtuious actions like greed, hatred, ignorance, envy, stealing, ....backbiting, reacting blindly lashing out and hurting people.
Then how are they getting their vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 comes from bacteria. It's found in natural water, in dirt, on plants (that aren't cleaned). etc. If you foster a healthy gut biome the bacteria in your gut will provide you with enough B12.
Problem is, society is addicted to sanitation and antibacterials that kill these bacteria.
Further, we don't eat dirt or natural flowing water very often.
Our deficiencies are a result of our disconnection from natural cycles and environments.
Not sure I buy that 100%. These days scientists can genetically modify bacteria to produce anything. The problem with going full natural and forgetting all the sanitation is today society now becomes unable to sustain high density ways of living such as cities. Also, nature is not always friendly and unlike sharks and crocodiles, we are not perfectly adapted to our environment. There will be casualties and everything becomes survival of the fittest. By the way, dirt houses the bacteria that causes the black plague.
You don't have to buy it. It's fact by these scientists you speak of.
Dirt houses the foundations for literally all of life. So, naturally it houses "black plague bacteria". The reason this isn't a problem is because there is diversity in the soil that doesn't allow any one bacteria to grow unchecked.
The same holds true for our bodies and our own biome. Diversity is key to thriving.
Speaking of black plaque... It was our
That caused it...
Also, what you have quoted on B12 may be fact but it is a misleading one. This is what I found on a vegan website.
The internet is so fascinating because we can find whatever "truth" we want.
From the same article you sited.
Wait, unusual in western cultures? I wonder then if it has something to do with how we live and not objective facts about B12 absorption?
It's not limited to B12. There are 6 more nutrients that we know of that cannot come from plants. Plus, children under a certain age will not have the right gut bacteria to process solid foods or this B12 producer you speak of. Sure, it can also be supplemented by dairy and eggs. But you would need a lot of it.
Yes, everything starts from dirt. But that doesn't change why you must wash your hands after handling it. The moment it enters the body, the environment has changed. Favouring one group over another. The soil may be sporting it just fine and the veggies in it but you simply should not eat dirt.
I'd rather educate everyone so they don't eat dirt rather than split them up so that if someone does eat dirt and dies of bubonic plague, it will be an isolated incident.
The population is huge on Earth. You can't just blame cities for existing. People need to live somewhere and they choose to be with other people. Some are born on islands with no means to relocate. There are also regions on Earth which are not suitable for long term human occupancy. The benefits of being in a city must far outweigh it's drawbacks for enough people to form them.
I eat dirt. But only from organic and regenerative farms with incredible fertile and healthy soil. I love it.
Something you may not know. The entire tube from your mouth to your anus is technically outside of your body. In this cavity there are more non-human cells than human one in the entire body....
Eating dirt aids in diversity of these bacteria, fungi, yeast, etc.
This diversity maintains balance and helps break down our food so that we can actually absorb the vital nutrients.
Humans are like bears, we eat what we can get from the environment we live in...soy is harmful unless fermented and most soy is soaked in glyphosate. Formulas are toxic and full of ingredients babies cannot digest. You can read about this in my last article https://steemit.com/health/@reddust/i-didn-t-know-this
Thank you @bahamutzero and I have nothing against vegans or vegetarians if they are nice to me when I eat my steak...hehehe
Thank you for your support
vegetarians are people who do not eat meat or people who like to eat vegetable vegetables.we do not eat those who have blood like flesh who have their blood should not eat it in the beliefs of vegetarian Buddhists.i like your [email protected] upvote and resteem your post .
Thank you @pengenkaya, the post was about blind reaction to what we don't like or we do like...it really wasn't about eating meat.
So you mean let's eat some more meat? Add some spices and grill it.
Come one over to Oklahoma and we will barbaque some steak for ya ;-)
I am vegetarian and for me, this is a better option.
I am an omnivore, I get sick without iron from animal products.
Great post.
It's a shame that Steemit is increasingly being used to push the Agenda 2030 eugenics propaganda designed to lead to infertility, and promoting veganism is a part of that.
@sift666, this is another series or at least a large article! My first Buddhist teachers never pushed what I should or should not eat...although the Korean monks followed a strict vegetarian diet and so did my Theravada meditation teacher. When I go to retreat I follow a vegan diet as well...My Tibetan teachers come from the high mountains were growing enough grain and vegetables to feed everyone is difficult to say the least, many of their tradition were vegan but most ate meat...
Mao killed millions by shutting down the food grids...that's what happens when systems become centralized...we the common people become dependent on authority and history has shown that is when democide and genocide happens.
Like the article states, there are worse things we can do than eating meat.
Very interesting pointd but i feel we have to try everything to get all the nutrients for our body and you have to have in mind that all in excess is bad so we have to have control about what we do and take in our life. Regards
Depending on where one lives eating animal products may be ones only option...here in the west it is very easy to be a vegan...
But the point is there are worse things than being a meat eater that one can do ;-)