Buddhism and Animals Documentary

Shojin Cooking

Shojin cooking is vegetarian, which, in Japan, includes certain sea plants. The word shojin is composed of the characters for "spirit" and "to progress" and originally had the meaning of zeal or assiduity in progressing along the path to salvation. In concrete terms, shojin cooking is a discipline meant to improve one's training in and practice of the Buddhist faith. through the consumption of only the simplest foods.

~Soei Yoneda,

before her death

in 1984

Abbess of Sanko-in Temple

Understanding the Suffering of Others

I refuse to eat animals because I cannot nourish myself by the sufferings and by the death of other creatures. I refuse to do so, because I suffered so painfully myself that I can feel the pains of others by recalling my own sufferings.

~Edgar Kupfer,

Greman Pacifist,

written while imprisoned

in the Nazi death camp

of Dachau

Blessed Are The Merciful

See that no animal of any kind, whether

entrusted to thy care, or coming across

they path, suffer they neglect or abuse.

Let no hope of profit,

no compliance with custom,

and no fear of the ridicule of the world,

ever tempt thee to the least act of cruelty

or injustice to any creature whatsoever.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they shall obtain mercy.

~Reverend Humphrey Primatt, d. 1790

Vegetarianism or Food Fad

Some vegetarians have a near obsession with meat and its consumption and little or no interest or concern about any other kind of cruelty towards animals (the circus, animals used in labor or entertainment, exotic pets) or they exhibit a carelessness towards the environment in which animals and humans need to live.

For many vegetarians, simply abstaining from meat is enough. From a thoughtful Buddhist perspective, this may not be enough.

You can be a scrupulous vegetarian and at the same time be unkind and uncaring towards other Beings.

Vegetarianism is good, but if it does not go hand-in-hand with a compassionate regard for all human and animal life it's just another food fad.

If a person decides to be a vegetarian, may they be aware and be an intelligent and compassionate one.

Food

Food can be delicious without using the flesh of animals.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Vegetarianism

Practicing vegetarianism will not stop animals' suffering or their being killed. But vegetarianism is a single small step one can take, a very simple step, a step that costs nothing, a step that will help diminish at least some of the suffering in the world. It will also help reduce one's complicity in the suffering. 

Think Vegan

Life

Love, Compassion, and Wisdom

We Should Not Misuse Our Intelligence to Destroy Animals

Buddhist are encouraged to love all living beings and not to restrict their love only to human beings. They should practice loving kindness towards every living beings. The Buddha's advice is that it is not right for us to take away the life of any living being since every living being has a right to exist. Animals also have fear and pain as do human beings. It is wrong to take away their lives. We should not misuse our intelligence and strength to destroy animals even though they may sometimes be a nuisance to us. Animals need our sympathy. Destroying them is not the only method to get rid of them. Every living being is contributing something to maintain this world. It is unfair for us to deprive their living rights.

---Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda---