the great vegetarian debate

Exploring Theravāda's connections to other paths - what can we learn from other traditions, religions and philosophies?
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Mojo
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Re: the great vegetarian debate

Post by Mojo »

nekete wrote:Image
I've gone back and forth with vegetarianism since I was 18 or 19 and have been away from the practice for about a year now mostly as an issue of convenience that I rationalized into an issue of health. Anyways, I came across this photo a few days ago which got my gears turning and so I've decided to try treating vegetarianism as an ideal not an identity this go around but vow to not eat meat out of craving anymore.
Buckwheat
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Re: the great vegetarian debate

Post by Buckwheat »

nekete wrote: Image
I would eat the pig. :twisted: :embarassed: Sorry, but it's true.
Sotthī hontu nirantaraṃ - May you forever be well.
Spiny Norman
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Re: the great vegetarian debate

Post by Spiny Norman »

Buckwheat wrote:I would eat the pig. :twisted: :embarassed: Sorry, but it's true.
Me neither. I'd rather have the company. ;)
Buddha save me from new-agers!
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nekete
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Re: the great vegetarian debate

Post by nekete »

Buckwheat wrote:
nekete wrote: Image
I would eat the pig. :twisted: :embarassed: Sorry, but it's true.
What's really true it's that you never will have to choose between die or eat a pig in a desert island. The true is that everyday most of the people choose to buy a killed pig in a supermarket full of non bloody food.
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Aloka
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Re: the great vegetarian debate

Post by Aloka »

I can't remember if I've posted in this thread before, but I've been a vegetarian since not long after thinking when I was a teenager that I didn't want to eat my friends . (i liked all animals that I saw or had any contact with, still do.)

So no, there's no way I'd eat the pig....or eat pork from a supermarket.

:)
mogg
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Re: the great vegetarian debate

Post by mogg »

knitted wrote:I believe it is no longer simply an issue of preventing cruelty to animals. Resources are so scarce that our current habits will destroy us all. I find myself less and less willing to eat anything that we do not grow or cook ourselves, or comes from local ingredients. Mass production = mass extinction.
Frankly I'm not really worried about mass extinction...its a certainty for all life on Earth regardless of what we do. Our concern shouldn't be trying to fix samsara (leave that to the Christians), our goal is to end suffering here and now.
Samsara is broken. It cannot be fixed.

I adhere to the precepts and eat meat occasionally. What goes into my mouth isn't my primary conern.

With metta
corrine
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Re: the great vegetarian debate

Post by corrine »

About that whole living in Alaska thing. A dear friend lived in Tok, Alaska for several years. She was vegetarian. She had a large greenhouse thing going and grew all sorts of veggies all year. In addition, and this was back in the sixties when it was more difficult, she ordered large amounts of wheat, grains, dried beans etc. for long term storage. She did okay. She also ordered cartons of books this way as she had no television or electronics as we do now. Today I imagine it would be quite easy. Just get the equipment and move forward.

There is always a way should one wish to avoid harming other living things. Ethical behavior is not always easy but it is usually doable should one wish to make the effort. I think sometimes we just look for excuses to do as we please.

corrine
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Zenainder
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Re: the great vegetarian debate

Post by Zenainder »

Unfortunately in my current conditioned thought I am a savage, although I've become more interested in organic choices, including a reduction of red meats and more fish / chicken. I've considered easing into becoming vegetarian, but I am not there yet. I do often think of the animals that suffered at the stake for my nourishment. Maybe one day? :shrug:
person
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Re: the great vegetarian debate

Post by person »

Has anyone read this:
http://a-bas-le-ciel.blogspot.com/2012/ ... odoxy.html by Eisel Mazard?
If so, what did they think? I found it somewhat unclear, but the author seems very knowledgeable, so I would like to understand what he is saying.
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Mojo
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Re: the great vegetarian debate

Post by Mojo »

I'm considering moving from an ovo-lacto vegetarian diet to a vegan one. I'm going to discuss it wit my doctor at my next physical.
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lyndon taylor
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Re: the great vegetarian debate

Post by lyndon taylor »

Personally, the main benefit of defending vegetarians and vegetarianism on these forums is I've gone from a partial vegetarian, eating only a little chicken, to a full vegetarian, lots of cheese and eggs, though.

I think the message of the buddha is to eat as little meat as you can be comfortable with, some of us have felt certain health benefit to eating meat, some of us are so addicted to meat that we couldn't imagine going without it, but the killing and eating of animals does have a karmic negative, the Buddha taught that, so eat less if you eat a lot, thats a bigger step than me eliminating the little I was eating, All food production involves the killing of some small creatures, but eating farmed animals involves the killing of a lot more small creatures and the actual animal you are eating as well, think of cows and pigs as you would your dog or cat. They didn't ask to be on your plate. and you don't need their distressed hormones running through your body.
18 years ago I made one of the most important decisions of my life and entered a local Cambodian Buddhist Temple as a temple boy and, for only 3 weeks, an actual Therevada Buddhist monk. I am not a scholar, great meditator, or authority on Buddhism, but Buddhism is something I love from the Bottom of my heart. It has taught me sobriety, morality, peace, and very importantly that my suffering is optional, and doesn't have to run my life. I hope to give back what little I can to the Buddhist community, sincerely former monk John

http://trickleupeconomictheory.blogspot.com/
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Vern Stevens
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Re: the great vegetarian debate

Post by Vern Stevens »

I personally enjoy reading the responses in this thread that do not include egotistic judgment of the meat-eater and that focus more on the Dharma. Attempts to employ guilt tactics can be awfully counter-productive. My understanding of Buddhism is that people need our compassion and understanding, not our condescension and derision. This is not to suggest that the animals being consumed do not also need compassion as well, they do. And yes, I do understand this can be an emotionally charged issue for folks on both sides. But these kinds of changes can be very difficult for people to make and sometimes a reduction in meat consumption (versus outright elimination) is the best they can manage. Just because I or you can do something, doesn't mean it is that easy for the next person.

In my case, about a year ago my diet was very meat-centric. I would have meals almost entirely of meat and very little veggies (and the veggies I had were starchy and not the "good" ones). Now I'm down to one side of a chicken breast a day (2 meals with meat, 1 without). Lots of whole food veggies, fruits, nuts, and some beans. I'm not there yet, but for the first time I am considering vegetarian and I can see it as a possibility. Additionally, I've read different opinions that suggest a healthy transition to vegetarianism can take some time for those who are committed to make the change.

Thank you kind forum-dwellers.
“What we think, we become.“ - The Buddha
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lyndon taylor
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Re: the great vegetarian debate

Post by lyndon taylor »

Funny you should say that about chicken, I have this kind of belief that if you could eat only one kind of meat, it should be chicken, something about eating the least advanced animal in our food chain, The arguement has one flaw, the number of chickens you would have to eat to be equivalent to the meat of one cow. Still Chicken or fish seems like a good compromise for someone who feels, like I used to, that their good health depends on eating some meat. SInce I've gone full vege my health hasn't improved, in fact I feel a little "deficient" in my diet, but I don't know if its a coincidence, but I have become more spiritual.
18 years ago I made one of the most important decisions of my life and entered a local Cambodian Buddhist Temple as a temple boy and, for only 3 weeks, an actual Therevada Buddhist monk. I am not a scholar, great meditator, or authority on Buddhism, but Buddhism is something I love from the Bottom of my heart. It has taught me sobriety, morality, peace, and very importantly that my suffering is optional, and doesn't have to run my life. I hope to give back what little I can to the Buddhist community, sincerely former monk John

http://trickleupeconomictheory.blogspot.com/
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Mojo
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Re: the great vegetarian debate

Post by Mojo »

lyndon taylor wrote:Funny you should say that about chicken, I have this kind of belief that if you could eat only one kind of meat, it should be chicken, something about eating the least advanced animal in our food chain, The arguement has one flaw, the number of chickens you would have to eat to be equivalent to the meat of one cow. Still Chicken or fish seems like a good compromise for someone who feels, like I used to, that their good health depends on eating some meat. SInce I've gone full vege my health hasn't improved, in fact I feel a little "deficient" in my diet, but I don't know if its a coincidence, but I have become more spiritual.
Are you getting enough compete proteins (all the essential amino acids)? What about vitamin B12? Iron?
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lyndon taylor
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Re: the great vegetarian debate

Post by lyndon taylor »

I've been a vegetarian most of my life, and was raised strict vegetarian, I eat plenty of Dairy, grains, and vegetables, B12 is really only a big problem for vegans, its in dairy, but I do take multivitamins, just to be safe. thanks for your consideration
18 years ago I made one of the most important decisions of my life and entered a local Cambodian Buddhist Temple as a temple boy and, for only 3 weeks, an actual Therevada Buddhist monk. I am not a scholar, great meditator, or authority on Buddhism, but Buddhism is something I love from the Bottom of my heart. It has taught me sobriety, morality, peace, and very importantly that my suffering is optional, and doesn't have to run my life. I hope to give back what little I can to the Buddhist community, sincerely former monk John

http://trickleupeconomictheory.blogspot.com/
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