I came across this quotation and story and find it very meaningful.
A fool who knows his foolishness is wise at least to that extent,
but a fool who thinks himself wise is a fool indeed.
- The Buddha (Dharmapada Verse 63)
From the Dharmapada are these verses uttered by the Buddha, ‘Though all his life a fool associates with a wise man, he no more comprehends the truth than a spoon tastes the flavor of the soup. (Verse 64) Though only for a moment a discerning person associates with a wise man, quickly he comprehends the truth, just as the tongue tastes the flavour of the soup. (Verse 65)’ (While we might imagine these parallel but contrasting verses to be taught during the same occasion, they were not, as we shall see.) Though the verses seem common-sensical, they are good reminders against unmindfully tricking oneself into thinking we are close to enlightenment simply because we are surrounded by those who have practised and realised the Dharma well, because we immerse ourselves superficially in Dharma materials, or because we ‘hang around’ Dharma centres and temples.
While staying at Jetavana monastery, there was a pretentious elder monk called Udayi, who would often sit on a platform where learned disciples of the Buddha taught the Dharma. One day, some visiting monks mistaken him to be knowledgeable and asked him some basic questions (on the five aggregates). When Udayi could not reply as he did not know the answers, they expressed their shock that one who stayed with the Buddha in the same place knew so little.
The Buddha then uttered verse 64 and instructed them, after which they attained arahatship. Even though one purposely keeps the close company of the wise and mimic their ways without understanding, the foolish will not realise the nature of the truth, just as a spoon never knows the taste of soup despite soaking in it. One must always learn and practise the Dharma diligently to personally know and see the truth.
On another occasion, there were thirty youths from Paveyyaka who were enjoying themselves with a prostitute in a forest. When she stole their valuables and ran away, they searched for her and came across the Buddha. Asking whether it was better to look for her or themselves, the Buddha caught their attention and delivered a discourse to them, after which they attained Sotapannaship and joined the Sangha at Jetavana monastery.
While staying there, they learnt and practised the Dharma diligently, and attained arahatship. When some other monks remarked that the youths were very swift in attaining arahatship, the Buddha uttered verse 65. The opposite of those described in verse 64, even though the wise associates only briefly with other wiser ones, they will quickly understand the Dharma, just as the tongue directly tastes the subtle flavours of the soup – versus the spoon, which only stirs the soup round and round without digesting it. Remember to taste the true flavour of the Dharma!
Just as in the great ocean there is but one taste - the taste of salt -
so in this Dharma and Discipline there is but one taste - the taste of freedom.
- The Buddha (Uposatha Sutta)
Daisypath Happy Birthday tickers
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Megazip park_flying fox ride adventure
- adventure park with a solid 12-m high ropes course, a free-fall parachute stimulator, a challenging climb wall and the flying fox ride
- the parent company Flying Dragon Adventures has more than 10 staff, most of whom possess Outward Bound experience
- good way for energetic children to spend the weekend, get some fresh air and stretch their muscles.
Getting started
- only kids who are at least 1.2 m tall are allowed.
- those under 8 yrs old or under 30kg will have to travel in tandem with an adult on MegaZip.
- some restrictions apply at the lower course of ClimbMax (tree top course)
- ClimbMax and NorthFace (rock climbing wall) will require a higher level of physical fitness, and kids may take short breathers in between obstacles.
Difficulties
- for ClimbMax, kids will have to exercise their balance and strength and needs alot of patience and endurance.
- for NorthFace, kids can choose from the 3 different routes and the level of difficulty that will help them develop their muscle strength and agility.
- by the end of it, kids will have trained their strength, agility, resilience and concentration skills.
- the parent company Flying Dragon Adventures has more than 10 staff, most of whom possess Outward Bound experience
- good way for energetic children to spend the weekend, get some fresh air and stretch their muscles.
Getting started
- only kids who are at least 1.2 m tall are allowed.
- those under 8 yrs old or under 30kg will have to travel in tandem with an adult on MegaZip.
- some restrictions apply at the lower course of ClimbMax (tree top course)
- ClimbMax and NorthFace (rock climbing wall) will require a higher level of physical fitness, and kids may take short breathers in between obstacles.
Difficulties
- for ClimbMax, kids will have to exercise their balance and strength and needs alot of patience and endurance.
- for NorthFace, kids can choose from the 3 different routes and the level of difficulty that will help them develop their muscle strength and agility.
- by the end of it, kids will have trained their strength, agility, resilience and concentration skills.
Q&A on child's behaviour
Sudden Rudeness
Q: child has been mean and rude to father recently. father feels like child doesn't even love him. No apparent reason for her actions.
A: She may
- have some negative emotions towards the father.
- get the wrong perception when she sees her father with mother, that she's fighting for attention or jealous.
- feel mother has not shown her enough attention thus trying to seek attention by asking her to do things for her
- feel anxious about changes.
Talk to her to find out more about her feelings and thoughts.
Explain to her if she has some misconception and provide support if she has fear.
Q: child has been mean and rude to father recently. father feels like child doesn't even love him. No apparent reason for her actions.
A: She may
- have some negative emotions towards the father.
- get the wrong perception when she sees her father with mother, that she's fighting for attention or jealous.
- feel mother has not shown her enough attention thus trying to seek attention by asking her to do things for her
- feel anxious about changes.
Talk to her to find out more about her feelings and thoughts.
Explain to her if she has some misconception and provide support if she has fear.
How to Communicate With Infants Before They Can Speak
- a number of parents these days are learning to sign with their babies.
- infants in the past were taught to sign "bye bye", "flying kiss", "hug" and so on, which are forms of sign language.
- they can learn gestures to help them communicate with their caregivers long before they master their speaking skills.
Benefits of signing
- Eg. "hungry", "hot", "sleep" are common signs an infant can learn to communicate their needs.
- signing enhances the social - emotional development of babies and reduces the frustration of babies.
- this leads to less negative interactions between them and their caregivers.
- babies are able to share what they observe, think or feel.
- more trust is established as babies know their caregivers understand what he is trying to say.
- have greater self-esteem and self-confidence.
Preparation for speech
Signing
- makes learning to talk easier and motivates a baby to communicate.
- whets a child's appetite for better ways to communicate. Eg. a baby learning to crawl before walking which motivates him to want to walk to get around.
- helps to stimulate learning through the different senses.
- children begin speaking much earlier than non-signing peers.
- children at early age have higher IQ later in life.
- infants in the past were taught to sign "bye bye", "flying kiss", "hug" and so on, which are forms of sign language.
- they can learn gestures to help them communicate with their caregivers long before they master their speaking skills.
Benefits of signing
- Eg. "hungry", "hot", "sleep" are common signs an infant can learn to communicate their needs.
- signing enhances the social - emotional development of babies and reduces the frustration of babies.
- this leads to less negative interactions between them and their caregivers.
- babies are able to share what they observe, think or feel.
- more trust is established as babies know their caregivers understand what he is trying to say.
- have greater self-esteem and self-confidence.
Preparation for speech
Signing
- makes learning to talk easier and motivates a baby to communicate.
- whets a child's appetite for better ways to communicate. Eg. a baby learning to crawl before walking which motivates him to want to walk to get around.
- helps to stimulate learning through the different senses.
- children begin speaking much earlier than non-signing peers.
- children at early age have higher IQ later in life.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Preparations for Baby's arrival
After a tiring 9 mth of pregnancy, many women expect to ease into their roles of mothers as naturally as their love for their children, but such expectations are unrealistic.
Newborn babies:
- are actually much trickier to handle than toddlers, and are more delicate and prone to injury.
- muscles are not strong enough for them to hold their heads upright or even to turn from side to side.
- have underdeveloped immune systems, making them more prone to bacterial infections.
Safe environment for Baby
- make sure there're no pillows or stuffed toys around the cot that may cause suffocation.
- remove any strings used to secure the beddings as these can cause strangulation of baby's limbs.
- pets should be kept in separate rooms.
- wait until your child is 5-6 yrs old to get a new pet for him/her.
Handling guidelines
- cradle the head when carrying a newborn.
- keep one hand gripping his thigh firmly to keep him from falling.
- never shake or toss a newborn up and down as this can result in serious brain injuries.
- avoid shining bright lights into the eyes or place newborn underneath a lamp while changing his diapers.
Newborn babies:
- are actually much trickier to handle than toddlers, and are more delicate and prone to injury.
- muscles are not strong enough for them to hold their heads upright or even to turn from side to side.
- have underdeveloped immune systems, making them more prone to bacterial infections.
Safe environment for Baby
- make sure there're no pillows or stuffed toys around the cot that may cause suffocation.
- remove any strings used to secure the beddings as these can cause strangulation of baby's limbs.
- pets should be kept in separate rooms.
- wait until your child is 5-6 yrs old to get a new pet for him/her.
Handling guidelines
- cradle the head when carrying a newborn.
- keep one hand gripping his thigh firmly to keep him from falling.
- never shake or toss a newborn up and down as this can result in serious brain injuries.
- avoid shining bright lights into the eyes or place newborn underneath a lamp while changing his diapers.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Child's well-being Q&A_Sunken chest
Q: 4-yr old daughter weighs about 15kg started to cough and develop a fever which lasted for a week, and ended only after two weeks with antibiotics. The centre of her chest had 'sunk' a little.
She started to cough again last week, and this time with a lot of phlegm and a runny nose. GP said she lacked calcium. I've been advised to sunbathe her for 10-15 min every morning. I'm worried she'll suffer from malnutrition.
A: likely to be Harrison's sulcus, the most frequent cause of this condition is a prolonged cough or increased breathing effort in children. Your daughter should undergo a thorough evaluation.
She started to cough again last week, and this time with a lot of phlegm and a runny nose. GP said she lacked calcium. I've been advised to sunbathe her for 10-15 min every morning. I'm worried she'll suffer from malnutrition.
A: likely to be Harrison's sulcus, the most frequent cause of this condition is a prolonged cough or increased breathing effort in children. Your daughter should undergo a thorough evaluation.
Q&A on milk feeding
Q: 6-mth old son on full breast milk from birth till 4 mth, and since then (7-8pm) he has two intakes of formula milk twice a day.
In between, he'll have breast milk and formula milk. Before starting on infant rice cereals, he drinks breast milk (4-6 oz).
After he was introduced infant cereals from 4 mth onwards, he has been drinking less milk. Is it normal?
At night, he'll be full on breast milk till the next day. He wakes up twice at night for feeding. Other infants are drinking 6 oz or more, plus infant cereals. Is my son ok?
He's 8.3kg now.
A: your baby is above the 50th percentile for weight (above average for weight). Once weaning begins, the amount of milk intake varies for different babies, depending on their capacity for solids.
In between, he'll have breast milk and formula milk. Before starting on infant rice cereals, he drinks breast milk (4-6 oz).
After he was introduced infant cereals from 4 mth onwards, he has been drinking less milk. Is it normal?
At night, he'll be full on breast milk till the next day. He wakes up twice at night for feeding. Other infants are drinking 6 oz or more, plus infant cereals. Is my son ok?
He's 8.3kg now.
A: your baby is above the 50th percentile for weight (above average for weight). Once weaning begins, the amount of milk intake varies for different babies, depending on their capacity for solids.
Solving Gum Problems
- results from a recent health survey revealed that about 85% of adult Singaporeans are suffering from some form of gum disease.
- many adults suffer from sensitivity, which impacts the quality of life.
- many adults suffer from sensitivity, which impacts the quality of life.
Breakthrough Technology for feet
- over decades, individuals having a tendency for their feet to roll inwards and flatten out more when they walk, the incidence of foot and heel pains remains highly probable of occurring
- if unaddressed, these pains can become recurrent and severe to the point of affecting one's ability to move.
- a new range of footwear incorporates the revolutionary TriPlanar Control Motion System which helps to provide pain relief in the lower limbs for those suffering from aggravated foot pain.
- these footwear gel form surpassed any traditional foot padding or cushion insoles available in the market.
- if unaddressed, these pains can become recurrent and severe to the point of affecting one's ability to move.
- a new range of footwear incorporates the revolutionary TriPlanar Control Motion System which helps to provide pain relief in the lower limbs for those suffering from aggravated foot pain.
- these footwear gel form surpassed any traditional foot padding or cushion insoles available in the market.
Wholegrain food for your little ones
- HPB of Singapore introduced new whole grain guidelines
- whole grain cereal manufacturers are now required to guarantee at least 25% wholegrain content in cereals and have their wholegrain content stated clearly on every pack
- HPB recommends having 2-3 servings of whole grains daily in place of foods made from refined grains
- higher intake of whole grain foods is known to have benefits that include a reduced risk of type-2 diabetes, lower risk of heart disease, lower cholesterol as well as blood pressure.
- whole grain foods contain more fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals (beneficial plant substances) than refined grains such as white rice and white flour.
- whole grain cereal manufacturers are now required to guarantee at least 25% wholegrain content in cereals and have their wholegrain content stated clearly on every pack
- HPB recommends having 2-3 servings of whole grains daily in place of foods made from refined grains
- higher intake of whole grain foods is known to have benefits that include a reduced risk of type-2 diabetes, lower risk of heart disease, lower cholesterol as well as blood pressure.
- whole grain foods contain more fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals (beneficial plant substances) than refined grains such as white rice and white flour.
21st week of Pregnancy
Today there's a heavy downpour in the afternoon, and it became light drizzle when I was about to leave for home. Just when I was about to alight the bus, the rain became heavier and heavier. There's strong wind blowing and I was waiting at the pedestrian crossing, I suddenly felt so cold, so hungry, tired and wet from the rain.
It felt so good to take my dinner after almost 8 hours..I took white fungus dessert first, while I made guo tiao soup in tom yam flavour. After tomorrow, I must make time to prepare for my work observation next week.
It's so cooling tonight, feels better than the air-conditioner..:)
It felt so good to take my dinner after almost 8 hours..I took white fungus dessert first, while I made guo tiao soup in tom yam flavour. After tomorrow, I must make time to prepare for my work observation next week.
It's so cooling tonight, feels better than the air-conditioner..:)
Monday, April 12, 2010
Childbirth experience 1
Read this article:
- developed diabetes when I was expecting my firstborn.
- developed diabetes when I was expecting my firstborn.
- went for 2-hour blood tests for glucose.
- one midnight, felf a sudden gush down my thighs and was shocked to discover much blood.
- unexplained tear in my placenta at 32 weeks of pregnancy.
- had a painful injection on my thigh (to strengthen my baby's undeveloped lungs), and medications to stop my contractions.
- strapped to a machine to keep tabs on my baby's heartbeat and rate of contractions.
- after 3 days, I was sent home to take medication every 6 hr to prevent contractions.
- 2 days, bled profusely again.
- doc didn't stop my labour, had an 18-hour ordeal w contractn every 2.5 min
- after hospital discharge, lost bladder control and badly constipated.
- had mother who made nourished soups for me & confinement who helped clean up my mess
Sunday, April 11, 2010
20th week of Pregnancy
As I'm writing this, my Darling is sitting beside me, drinking my powder milk formula (maternal supplement) for pregnant & breastfeeding mother and watching magic show on TV. :)
Today, we've just went swimming again and had dinner with Pa. We're looking forward to the anomaly scan next week, and yes, we'll sleep early tonight. Quality rest is as important as well-balanced diet.
Vaginal Birth after Caesarean
Vaginal Birth after Caesarean (VBAC)
- one mother shared that after 8 hours of labour, cradling her wailing baby in her arms was totally worth it.
- felt like she really shared her very first moment with her own flesh and blood and nothing could come close.
- due to various health conditions, many women are unable to deliver their babies naturally, thus requiring Caesarean births.
- VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) although riskier can be successful.
- 25% of patients with previous caesarean births try for natural births during their second pregnancies.
- of these patients who try for natural births, 60-70% are successful.
Reasons for VBAC
- Natural birth is associated with significantly less morbidity and mortality compared to caesarean delivery.
- With Natural birth, there's less blood loss, less need for painkillers and reduced hospital stay.
- babies born by caesarean delivery are more likely to need help with breathing soon after birth.
- an electice repeat of LSCS (Lower Segment caesarean section) may put you at a higher risk of serious complications for the next pregnancy.
16-24 weeks of pregnancy
Bodily changes
- Skin changes (flushed appearance, stretch marks over abdomen & breasts, with pigmentation)
Treatment: usually goes away after some time.
- Heartburn
Treatment: avoid spicy, fried and oily food. Take small frequent meals.
- Shortness of breath
Treatment: Slow down your pace
- Leg cramps
Treatment: Drink enough water and take calcium supplements
- Constipation
Treatment: Drink enough water and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables
- Vaginal discharge
Treatment: Discharge with itching or foul smell is sign of infection. Discharge which is watery could mean that your water bag has burst
Health concerns
- Anomaly scan between weeks 19-22 will detect any major anomaly in the foetus
- 70% of the abnormalities can be picked up on the anomaly scan
- Common health problems are gestational diabetes mellitus and pre-eclampsia
- Skin changes (flushed appearance, stretch marks over abdomen & breasts, with pigmentation)
Treatment: usually goes away after some time.
- Heartburn
Treatment: avoid spicy, fried and oily food. Take small frequent meals.
- Shortness of breath
Treatment: Slow down your pace
- Leg cramps
Treatment: Drink enough water and take calcium supplements
- Constipation
Treatment: Drink enough water and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables
- Vaginal discharge
Treatment: Discharge with itching or foul smell is sign of infection. Discharge which is watery could mean that your water bag has burst
Health concerns
- Anomaly scan between weeks 19-22 will detect any major anomaly in the foetus
- 70% of the abnormalities can be picked up on the anomaly scan
- Common health problems are gestational diabetes mellitus and pre-eclampsia
Monday, April 5, 2010
19th week of Pregnancy
Darling read from the Time magazine, dated April 12, 2010 that all the plastic bottles contain toxic of some kind which will lead to health problems.
Imagine all the cutlery made of plastic materials we've been using since young. Who would think of spending more on BPA free products?
Are Plastic Baby bottles harmful?
Researchers tested 19 baby bottles purchased in nine U.S. states and Canada. Bottle brands included Avent, Dr. Brown, Evenflo, Disney, Gerber and Playtex. When the bottles were heated to 175 degrees F (80 degrees C), every one of them leached bisphenol A at about 5 to 7 parts per billion. The report also suggested that because of the chemical makeup of bisphenol A, it may leach more in fatty or acidic liquids, such as milk or apple juice, than in water.
Imagine all the cutlery made of plastic materials we've been using since young. Who would think of spending more on BPA free products?
Are Plastic Baby bottles harmful?
Researchers tested 19 baby bottles purchased in nine U.S. states and Canada. Bottle brands included Avent, Dr. Brown, Evenflo, Disney, Gerber and Playtex. When the bottles were heated to 175 degrees F (80 degrees C), every one of them leached bisphenol A at about 5 to 7 parts per billion. The report also suggested that because of the chemical makeup of bisphenol A, it may leach more in fatty or acidic liquids, such as milk or apple juice, than in water.
17th week of Pregnancy- Bitten by insect
I was walking on a pavement along the road towards the bus-stop when I felt an acute pain on the right ankle. I quickly took off the sandal to find out who was the 'culprit'. I saw a bite wound but didn't see any insect or whatsoever. I approached a stationary cab for help. I surprised myself when I found myself lost at words when I was asked where I would like to go.
For once, I was quick to say a clinic nearby and even related the whole incident to the cab driver. He was so kind to offer help, and when I reached the destination, I found out I didn't have enough cash to pay, so I started digging all the coins I had in the purse. He showed kindness again by saying it's alright, but I insist to pay him using all the possible coins I had.
The doc said it's a clean cut, and after 2-3 days the pain and the swelling should be gone. I was charged $37.40 for a tiny tube of cream for application, and some pills for swelling.
After 8 days, the area became itchy including my toes and I couldn't help scratching it, and the more I scratch it, the itchier it became. It was so swollen another 2 days later that I couldn't see the ankle bone. It became so bad at night that I couldn't help scratching it, till I woke up to soak my foot in hot water.
On the 12th day, I went to visit TCM doc, and was told at once that the bite was very poisonous. The TCM doc asked if I've taken green beans, and I was suddenly struck by unknown mighty power. I had been searching for days for the 'thing' or food that I've taken that started the swell again, but in vain. But this doc solved the mystery at first sight.
I was advised to drink green bean water (boiled for a couple of minutes before the green beans break open) till all the poison is out of the body. And most importantly, I should drink more water and there is no need to take any medicine. I was to see TCM doc so poison should be removed from the body. Western doc can cure the infection or bacteria, but will not remove any possible toxic in the body.
On the left is the result of drinking a glass of the miracle green bean soup for a week. The redness/dark patch had faded, and swelling subsided, but the scar left by the bite is still abit visible.
This is a lesson learnt, but I hope it won't affect my baby-to-be.
I'm so glad that my baby-to-be is so strong to have antibodies against the 'poison'.
I didn't want to be worrier but luckily I had the support of Darling, and constantly assure me and give me encouragement to get the extra strength and confidence. :)
For once, I was quick to say a clinic nearby and even related the whole incident to the cab driver. He was so kind to offer help, and when I reached the destination, I found out I didn't have enough cash to pay, so I started digging all the coins I had in the purse. He showed kindness again by saying it's alright, but I insist to pay him using all the possible coins I had.
After 8 days, the area became itchy including my toes and I couldn't help scratching it, and the more I scratch it, the itchier it became. It was so swollen another 2 days later that I couldn't see the ankle bone. It became so bad at night that I couldn't help scratching it, till I woke up to soak my foot in hot water.
On the 12th day, I went to visit TCM doc, and was told at once that the bite was very poisonous. The TCM doc asked if I've taken green beans, and I was suddenly struck by unknown mighty power. I had been searching for days for the 'thing' or food that I've taken that started the swell again, but in vain. But this doc solved the mystery at first sight.
I was advised to drink green bean water (boiled for a couple of minutes before the green beans break open) till all the poison is out of the body. And most importantly, I should drink more water and there is no need to take any medicine. I was to see TCM doc so poison should be removed from the body. Western doc can cure the infection or bacteria, but will not remove any possible toxic in the body.
On the left is the result of drinking a glass of the miracle green bean soup for a week. The redness/dark patch had faded, and swelling subsided, but the scar left by the bite is still abit visible.
This is a lesson learnt, but I hope it won't affect my baby-to-be.
I'm so glad that my baby-to-be is so strong to have antibodies against the 'poison'.
I didn't want to be worrier but luckily I had the support of Darling, and constantly assure me and give me encouragement to get the extra strength and confidence. :)
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Vegetarian Meals
Last week, there is a small Q n A converstation in SBF class (sem 1 year 2 ) between teacher Hui Ling & Sally...and i wonder why they want to use precious teaching time for that topic when we have so little time left for D.O.B topics. Nonetheless, it dawn on me that though many people are aware that several of the practitioners are vegans for good, there are still a lot of people who are unsure about the benefits...in fact many people still have misconception of vegan meals.
As i search the web for some "proof of concepts" answers, i chanced upon KMS website which illustrate the vegan concepts pretty well. Hope it helps those still in doubts and start trying the vegan ways...
Below is an extract from the site. For the full text details view: KMS article on vegetarian
No.
Why the fuss then?
Though the Buddha never made it a compulsory rule that all His followers have to be vegetarians, He strongly encouraged us to be. In the Bodhisattva practice of minimising harm to all beings and benefiting them as much as possible, the practice of vegetarianism as far as possible plays an essential role. We can see this in many of the Buddha's recorded teachings.
“The eating of meat extinguishes the seed of great Compassion.”
-Mahaparinirvana Sutra (The Buddha)
"...Ananda, I permit the bhiksus (monks) to eat only the five kinds of pure flesh* which are the product of my transcendental power of transformation and not of animal slaughter. You, Brahman, live in a country where vegetables do not grow because it is too damp and hot and because of all the gravel and rock. I use my spiritual power of compassion to provide you with illusory meat to satisfy your appetite. How then, after my nirvana, can you eat the flesh of living beings and so pretend to be my disciple?..."
"...All monks who live purely and all Bodhisattvas always refrain even from walking on grass; how can they agree to uproot it? How then can those who practise great Compassion feed on the flesh and blood of living beings?..."
”...How can a monk, who hopes to become a deliverer of others, himself be living on the flesh of sentient beings?...”
”...If a man can (control) his body and mind and thereby refrains from eating animal products, I say he will really be liberated. This teaching of mine is that of the Buddha whereas any others that of evil demons..."
-Surangama Sutra (The Buddha)
Surangama Sutra
”The Bodhisattva, whose nature is Compassion, is not to eat any meat… For fear of causing terror to living beings…let the Bodhisattva who is disciplining himself to attain Compassion, refrain from eating flesh.”
-Lankavatara Sutra (The Buddha)
"If a bhikkhu sees, hears or suspects that it has been killed for him, he may not eat it."
-Mahavagga of Vinaya Pitaka (The Buddha)
"Let him not destroy, or cause to be destroyed, any life at all, nor sanction the acts of those who do so. Let him refrain from even hurting any creature, both those that are strong and those that tremble in the world."
-Sutta-Nipata (The Buddha)
"I have enforced the law against killing certain animals and many others, but the greatest progress of righteousness among men comes from the exhortation in favor of non-injury to life and abstention from killing living beings."
-King Asoka's Edicts
All true practitioners of the Bodhisattva path eventually relinquish meat-eating. In His previous lives, the Buddha as a Bodhisattva would rather cut His own flesh to feed an eagle than let it eat a smaller bird. All advanced practising Bodhisattvas are thus necessarily vegetarians, since they cannot bear the pain of sentient beings.
While nothing we eat makes us impure, our choice of diet is an action with implications. If our choice of diet arises from greed, sustaining the greed obviously makes us impure.
The Buddha and the Sangha in His time were not total vegetarians as they consumed alms food offered by lay followers, whom they encountered “randomly” from place to place. Though the Buddha never requested specific food to be offered, He spoke against the intentional acquiring of meat for Him and the Sangha. In this way, the Buddha neither directly nor indirectly cause the death of any being for His food.
On the other hand, we have the freedom of the choice of our diet, since we do not eat alms food. Why not make the kinder and wiser decision?
Of course we can. One who eats meat can cultivate a pure heart just as one who is vegetarian might have an impure heart. But why not cultivate a pure heart while making the extra effort to further the practice of Compassion by being vegetarian?
The Buddha advised monks that meat should only be accepted when certain conditions are met. Meat may be eaten by one who does (1) not see, (2) hear of, (3) or doubt about the animal having been killed purposely for him to eat, (4) but is certain that it either died naturally, (5) or that its flesh had been abandoned by birds of prey.
No, because demand creates supply.
Once, a disciple of the Buddha asked a man why he kept buying meat. The man replied that he did so since the meat-seller kept selling meat. When the meat-seller was asked why he kept selling meat, he replied that he did so since the man kept buying from him. When the Buddha was consulted as to who was the unskillful (in Compassion and Wisdom) one, He replied that both were unskillful.
Supply and demand is an obvious vicious cycle. The whole universe of meat eating and animal slaughtering is an intricate web of interdependence, of related cause and effect. When we buy meat, we play a part in the circle of life and death of other beings.
Here are some forms of meat that can be considered pure meat.
1. Meat ordered or received by mistake.
2. Leftover or discarded meat.
3. Meat from animals that have died naturally or by accident for at least 16 hours
(The number of hours is to ensure the consciousness has left the body).
4. Meat from random alms rounds as practised in the Buddhist tradition.
Yes. However, plant life is not sentient life- they are not beings with reason and emotion.
This is not true if we choose organic food, which are grown without the use of pesticides (which can be harmful to humans too). In comparison to eating non-organic vegetables, pesticides are used fifty times more when we eat meat- to kill pests to produce animal feed. It takes ten kilos of vegetable protein to produce only one kilo of animal protein!
Much of our daily products also involve animals- such as leather shoes, milk from cows, honey from bees, soap from animal fat, drugs with animal serum (that might be tested on animals)… However, there are many new products today that are free from animal derivatives. Given more choice, we are at liberty to make wiser decisions on how to live life in a more harmless way. Consider becoming a vegan!
Despite all we can do, merely to live is to deprive other beings of their food, habitat and/ or life to a certain extent. Therefore, Buddhists practising the Bodhisattva path should do all they can in their ability to avoid killing, and to protect life instead.
Here are some good reasons to be a vegetarian.
1. Personal well-being- No disease can come from a balanced vegetarian diet. Medical proof states that all kinds of diseases can spring from meat-eating, while having a vegetarian diet can not only prevent, but help cure many diseases. Our body constitution is also not designed for meat digestion. For example, our teeth and intestine structure are virtually identical to that of herbivorous, not carnivorous animals. Eating animals which die in great fear and hatred, we devour along their toxins of fear and hatred, which affects both our spiritual and physical health.
2. Well-being of animals- Animals live imprisoned and tortured lives before the final horror of being slaughtered. While alive, they suffer from overcrowding, castration and countless other cruelties.
3. Well-being of the environment- Animal-rearing depletes the Earth’s resources of energy, land, crops and water. It also creates large amounts of harmful animal sewage and greenhouse gases..
4. Well-being of fellow humans- More than two-thirds of the Earth’s cropland is used for cultivating animal feed for animals to be slaughtered as meat. No human starvation would exist if animal rearing for the rich meat-consumers was lessened, converting the crops as food for citizens of the Third World Countries.
5. Peace on Earth- Wars, racial riots and other forms of related human unrest are collective karmic results of generated hatred when group-slaughtered animals, which die in great fear and hatred, are reborn as humans.
“For hundreds of thousands of years
the stew in the pot has brewed hatred and resentment
that is difficult to stop.
If you wish to know why there are disasters of armies and weapons in the world,
listen to the piteous cries from the slaughterhouse at midnight.”
-Ancient Chinese Verse translated by Gold Mountain Monastery Staff
6. All beings have at one point or another been reborn as our kin. The practice of vegetarianism is thus the practice of filial piety. It is the practice of the Loving-kindness, Compassion and Equanimity to all beings, recognising that they have Buddha Nature (the potential to become Buddhas) like us.
Another reason why the Buddha never made vegetarianism a compulsory rule is His understanding that the living and karmic conditions of different people are different. For example, it would be downright impossible for all Tibetan Buddhists to have vegetarian diets when Tibet can hardly grow vegetables. However, at least three major Tibetan monasteries have become totally vegetarian today with the aid of imported food.
What happens if you cannot find vegetarian food readily? Does it mean you have no choice but to eat meat? Think again carefully... the path of Compassion is not always easy to tread. It involves making many sacrifices. Being a committed vegetarian might mean having to go the extra mile to get vegetarian food.
The Buddha remarked that the meat He consumed in His entire life was manifested by His great compassion and psychic powers. That is to say, not only does the meat in theory already exist as pure meat, it isn’t even real meat! In other words, the Buddha was a full vegetarian at heart!
It is worth mentioning that the Buddha did not die from eating meat (poisoned or putrid pork), as it is so often mistaken. His last meal consisted of "sukara-maddava"- which is correctly translated to be (1) a pig's soft food, ie. food eaten by pigs, (2) "pig's delight," ie. a favourite food of pigs, (3) "pig-pounded," ie., food trampled by pigs. It was actually a kind of mushroom called truffles.
Some of these practitoners are advanced practising Bodhisattva, who eat meat out of skillful means and compassion to benefit more beings indirectly. In fact, they might even be enlightened beings who are able to manifest "fake" meat like the Buddha. If one wishes to follow the practices of these masters, one has to be sure of one's motivation. If it is not compassion and wisdom, it is greed and ignorance at play- nothing other than selfish rationalisation.
It is also a mistake to think that by eating meat, one will generate a karmic Dharma connection with the deceased being, so as to help it in future. These beings would rather us to connect with them while alive- not when they are on your dinner plate!
On a related note, animal liberation (life-releasing) is easily practised when we practise vegetarianism- which is simply liberating animals from our dinner table. If one thinks carefully, it is actually spiritually hypocritical to liberate animals from captivity when we eat them. This is especially so when animal liberation is at times done in an ignorant random manner, endangering environmental balance, the animals themselves and other animals.
Hmmm… I’m still unsure whether to be a vegetarian…
Well… the Buddha left it to you to choose!
Remember- Buddhism is a free religion. Though there are always kinder and wiser choices you can make, you are also free to choose otherwise.
"A vegetarian diet is not obligatory for Buddhists. Still, for those of us who follow the teachings of the Great Vehicle, it is important. But the teachings of the Buddha were open and flexible on this subject, and each practitioner has the choice to be vegetarian or not."
-His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
Reflect carefully- why are you putting off vegetarianism when it so obviously has all the plus points? Is it due to plain greed for the taste of meat? If you want to be sure you are not vegetarian not because of greed, the best solution is to be vegetarian and prove it to yourself. This is not my challenge for you- this is your personal spiritual challenge. We have to be totally honest with ourselves. Remember this- your decision to be vegetarian or not will affect thousands of sentient lives in your lifetime.
Quotes on Vegetarianism by the World's Most Famous Buddhist-
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (1989 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate):
In the mid 1960s, the Dalai Lama was impressed by ethically vegetarian Indian monks and adopted a vegetarian diet for about a year and a half. Apparently he consumed primarily nuts and milk. Unfortunately, he contracted Hepatitis B and his liver was seriously damaged.
For health reasons, he was advised by his personal physicians to consume meat. While he has eaten meat in moderation ever since, the Dalai Lama has repeatedly acknowledged that a vegetarian diet is a worthy expression of compassion and contributes to the cessation of the suffering of all living beings. However, he eats meat only on alternate days (six months a year). He is a semi-vegetarian, though he wishes to be a full one. By making an example of cutting his meat consumption in half, he is trying to gently influence his followers.
"While many of the great Tibetan teachers did and do eat animals, the Dalai Lama has broken new ground by publicly stating his case for vegetarianism. If we seriously consider the compassion inherent in His Holiness’ advice and actions, Buddhist meat-eaters could similarly try to eat vegetarian at least every other day to start out with. Since Buddhists have taken vows not to kill, they should not support a livelihood that makes others kill. Even if one does not have great compassion for animals this would meritoriously save humans from performing heinous deeds.
The power of each human being becoming vegetarian releases the most intense suffering of the animal realm—the agony of factory-farmed animals. This profound action can help slow the grinding wheels of samsara, bringing to a halt the cycles of suffering of the entire animal realm and influencing their eventual liberation. When animals are not just looked upon as creatures to fill our stomachs, they can be seen as they really are—beings who have the same Buddha nature as we all do."
Eileen-Weintraub
"This Thanksgiving, staff of the Fund for Animals are thanking the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, for recent statements in support of animal rights. In an audience with representatives of The Fund for Animals earlier this month, the Dalai Lama commended the animal rights movement for working to end the suffering of animals, and urged everyone who can to adopt a vegetarian diet.
Speaking with The Fund for Animals' national director, Heidi Prescott, and program coordinator, Norm Phelps, the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize recipient said, "People think of animals as if they were vegetables, and that isn't right. We have to change the way people think about animals. I encourage the Tibetan people and all people to move toward a vegetarian diet that doesn't cause suffering."
His Holiness also condemned the abuse and killing of animals for entertainment purposes, such as the practice of hunting wild animals for sport. The Dalai Lama invited the Fund for Animals to work with his government in exile in India to help encourage people to become vegetarian and to protect animals from suffering."
-AmeriScan: November 25, 1998
"According to Buddhist teaching, there is a very close interdependence between the natural environment and the sentient beings living in it. Some of my friends have told me that basic human nature is somewhat violent, but I have told them I disagree. If we examine different animals, such as tigers or lions, we learn that their basic nature provides them with sharp fangs and claws. Peaceful animals, such as deer, which are completely vegetarian, are more gentle and have smaller teeth and no claws. From that viewpoint we human beings have a nonviolent nature."
-Ecology and the Human Heart
"Whenever I visit a market and see the chickens crowded together in tiny cages that give them no room to move around and spread their wings and the fish slowly drowning in the air, my heart goes out to them. People have to learn to think about animals in a different way, as sentient beings who love life and fear death. I urge everyone who can to adopt a compassionate vegetarian diet."
As i search the web for some "proof of concepts" answers, i chanced upon KMS website which illustrate the vegan concepts pretty well. Hope it helps those still in doubts and start trying the vegan ways...
Below is an extract from the site. For the full text details view: KMS article on vegetarian
Must Buddhists be vegetarian?
No.
Why the fuss then?
Though the Buddha never made it a compulsory rule that all His followers have to be vegetarians, He strongly encouraged us to be. In the Bodhisattva practice of minimising harm to all beings and benefiting them as much as possible, the practice of vegetarianism as far as possible plays an essential role. We can see this in many of the Buddha's recorded teachings.
“The eating of meat extinguishes the seed of great Compassion.”
-Mahaparinirvana Sutra (The Buddha)
"...Ananda, I permit the bhiksus (monks) to eat only the five kinds of pure flesh* which are the product of my transcendental power of transformation and not of animal slaughter. You, Brahman, live in a country where vegetables do not grow because it is too damp and hot and because of all the gravel and rock. I use my spiritual power of compassion to provide you with illusory meat to satisfy your appetite. How then, after my nirvana, can you eat the flesh of living beings and so pretend to be my disciple?..."
"...All monks who live purely and all Bodhisattvas always refrain even from walking on grass; how can they agree to uproot it? How then can those who practise great Compassion feed on the flesh and blood of living beings?..."
”...How can a monk, who hopes to become a deliverer of others, himself be living on the flesh of sentient beings?...”
”...If a man can (control) his body and mind and thereby refrains from eating animal products, I say he will really be liberated. This teaching of mine is that of the Buddha whereas any others that of evil demons..."
-Surangama Sutra (The Buddha)
Surangama Sutra
”The Bodhisattva, whose nature is Compassion, is not to eat any meat… For fear of causing terror to living beings…let the Bodhisattva who is disciplining himself to attain Compassion, refrain from eating flesh.”
-Lankavatara Sutra (The Buddha)
"If a bhikkhu sees, hears or suspects that it has been killed for him, he may not eat it."
-Mahavagga of Vinaya Pitaka (The Buddha)
"Let him not destroy, or cause to be destroyed, any life at all, nor sanction the acts of those who do so. Let him refrain from even hurting any creature, both those that are strong and those that tremble in the world."
-Sutta-Nipata (The Buddha)
"I have enforced the law against killing certain animals and many others, but the greatest progress of righteousness among men comes from the exhortation in favor of non-injury to life and abstention from killing living beings."
-King Asoka's Edicts
All true practitioners of the Bodhisattva path eventually relinquish meat-eating. In His previous lives, the Buddha as a Bodhisattva would rather cut His own flesh to feed an eagle than let it eat a smaller bird. All advanced practising Bodhisattvas are thus necessarily vegetarians, since they cannot bear the pain of sentient beings.
While nothing we eat makes us impure, our choice of diet is an action with implications. If our choice of diet arises from greed, sustaining the greed obviously makes us impure.
If being vegetarian is so important on the Bodhisattva path, why was the Buddha not one?
The Buddha and the Sangha in His time were not total vegetarians as they consumed alms food offered by lay followers, whom they encountered “randomly” from place to place. Though the Buddha never requested specific food to be offered, He spoke against the intentional acquiring of meat for Him and the Sangha. In this way, the Buddha neither directly nor indirectly cause the death of any being for His food.
On the other hand, we have the freedom of the choice of our diet, since we do not eat alms food. Why not make the kinder and wiser decision?
Can’t I be a good Buddhist who is not vegetarian?
Of course we can. One who eats meat can cultivate a pure heart just as one who is vegetarian might have an impure heart. But why not cultivate a pure heart while making the extra effort to further the practice of Compassion by being vegetarian?
*But didn’t the Buddha say there is pure meat?
The Buddha advised monks that meat should only be accepted when certain conditions are met. Meat may be eaten by one who does (1) not see, (2) hear of, (3) or doubt about the animal having been killed purposely for him to eat, (4) but is certain that it either died naturally, (5) or that its flesh had been abandoned by birds of prey.
Isn’t meat from the markets and restaurants considered pure meat?
No, because demand creates supply.
Once, a disciple of the Buddha asked a man why he kept buying meat. The man replied that he did so since the meat-seller kept selling meat. When the meat-seller was asked why he kept selling meat, he replied that he did so since the man kept buying from him. When the Buddha was consulted as to who was the unskillful (in Compassion and Wisdom) one, He replied that both were unskillful.
Supply and demand is an obvious vicious cycle. The whole universe of meat eating and animal slaughtering is an intricate web of interdependence, of related cause and effect. When we buy meat, we play a part in the circle of life and death of other beings.
What is real pure meat then?
Here are some forms of meat that can be considered pure meat.
1. Meat ordered or received by mistake.
2. Leftover or discarded meat.
3. Meat from animals that have died naturally or by accident for at least 16 hours
(The number of hours is to ensure the consciousness has left the body).
4. Meat from random alms rounds as practised in the Buddhist tradition.
Isn’t killing vegetables taking life too?
Yes. However, plant life is not sentient life- they are not beings with reason and emotion.
Doesn’t growing vegetables kill many insects too?
This is not true if we choose organic food, which are grown without the use of pesticides (which can be harmful to humans too). In comparison to eating non-organic vegetables, pesticides are used fifty times more when we eat meat- to kill pests to produce animal feed. It takes ten kilos of vegetable protein to produce only one kilo of animal protein!
Much of our daily products also involve animals- such as leather shoes, milk from cows, honey from bees, soap from animal fat, drugs with animal serum (that might be tested on animals)… However, there are many new products today that are free from animal derivatives. Given more choice, we are at liberty to make wiser decisions on how to live life in a more harmless way. Consider becoming a vegan!
Despite all we can do, merely to live is to deprive other beings of their food, habitat and/ or life to a certain extent. Therefore, Buddhists practising the Bodhisattva path should do all they can in their ability to avoid killing, and to protect life instead.
Can you further convince me to be a vegetarian?
Here are some good reasons to be a vegetarian.
1. Personal well-being- No disease can come from a balanced vegetarian diet. Medical proof states that all kinds of diseases can spring from meat-eating, while having a vegetarian diet can not only prevent, but help cure many diseases. Our body constitution is also not designed for meat digestion. For example, our teeth and intestine structure are virtually identical to that of herbivorous, not carnivorous animals. Eating animals which die in great fear and hatred, we devour along their toxins of fear and hatred, which affects both our spiritual and physical health.
2. Well-being of animals- Animals live imprisoned and tortured lives before the final horror of being slaughtered. While alive, they suffer from overcrowding, castration and countless other cruelties.
3. Well-being of the environment- Animal-rearing depletes the Earth’s resources of energy, land, crops and water. It also creates large amounts of harmful animal sewage and greenhouse gases..
4. Well-being of fellow humans- More than two-thirds of the Earth’s cropland is used for cultivating animal feed for animals to be slaughtered as meat. No human starvation would exist if animal rearing for the rich meat-consumers was lessened, converting the crops as food for citizens of the Third World Countries.
5. Peace on Earth- Wars, racial riots and other forms of related human unrest are collective karmic results of generated hatred when group-slaughtered animals, which die in great fear and hatred, are reborn as humans.
“For hundreds of thousands of years
the stew in the pot has brewed hatred and resentment
that is difficult to stop.
If you wish to know why there are disasters of armies and weapons in the world,
listen to the piteous cries from the slaughterhouse at midnight.”
-Ancient Chinese Verse translated by Gold Mountain Monastery Staff
6. All beings have at one point or another been reborn as our kin. The practice of vegetarianism is thus the practice of filial piety. It is the practice of the Loving-kindness, Compassion and Equanimity to all beings, recognising that they have Buddha Nature (the potential to become Buddhas) like us.
What if vegetarian food is hard to find?
Another reason why the Buddha never made vegetarianism a compulsory rule is His understanding that the living and karmic conditions of different people are different. For example, it would be downright impossible for all Tibetan Buddhists to have vegetarian diets when Tibet can hardly grow vegetables. However, at least three major Tibetan monasteries have become totally vegetarian today with the aid of imported food.
What happens if you cannot find vegetarian food readily? Does it mean you have no choice but to eat meat? Think again carefully... the path of Compassion is not always easy to tread. It involves making many sacrifices. Being a committed vegetarian might mean having to go the extra mile to get vegetarian food.
Did you know the Buddha is a vegetarian at heart?
The Buddha remarked that the meat He consumed in His entire life was manifested by His great compassion and psychic powers. That is to say, not only does the meat in theory already exist as pure meat, it isn’t even real meat! In other words, the Buddha was a full vegetarian at heart!
It is worth mentioning that the Buddha did not die from eating meat (poisoned or putrid pork), as it is so often mistaken. His last meal consisted of "sukara-maddava"- which is correctly translated to be (1) a pig's soft food, ie. food eaten by pigs, (2) "pig's delight," ie. a favourite food of pigs, (3) "pig-pounded," ie., food trampled by pigs. It was actually a kind of mushroom called truffles.
Why do some well-known practitioners not vegetarian?
Some of these practitoners are advanced practising Bodhisattva, who eat meat out of skillful means and compassion to benefit more beings indirectly. In fact, they might even be enlightened beings who are able to manifest "fake" meat like the Buddha. If one wishes to follow the practices of these masters, one has to be sure of one's motivation. If it is not compassion and wisdom, it is greed and ignorance at play- nothing other than selfish rationalisation.
It is also a mistake to think that by eating meat, one will generate a karmic Dharma connection with the deceased being, so as to help it in future. These beings would rather us to connect with them while alive- not when they are on your dinner plate!
On a related note, animal liberation (life-releasing) is easily practised when we practise vegetarianism- which is simply liberating animals from our dinner table. If one thinks carefully, it is actually spiritually hypocritical to liberate animals from captivity when we eat them. This is especially so when animal liberation is at times done in an ignorant random manner, endangering environmental balance, the animals themselves and other animals.
Hmmm… I’m still unsure whether to be a vegetarian…
Well… the Buddha left it to you to choose!
Remember- Buddhism is a free religion. Though there are always kinder and wiser choices you can make, you are also free to choose otherwise.
"A vegetarian diet is not obligatory for Buddhists. Still, for those of us who follow the teachings of the Great Vehicle, it is important. But the teachings of the Buddha were open and flexible on this subject, and each practitioner has the choice to be vegetarian or not."
-His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
Reflect carefully- why are you putting off vegetarianism when it so obviously has all the plus points? Is it due to plain greed for the taste of meat? If you want to be sure you are not vegetarian not because of greed, the best solution is to be vegetarian and prove it to yourself. This is not my challenge for you- this is your personal spiritual challenge. We have to be totally honest with ourselves. Remember this- your decision to be vegetarian or not will affect thousands of sentient lives in your lifetime.
Quotes on Vegetarianism by the World's Most Famous Buddhist-
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (1989 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate):
In the mid 1960s, the Dalai Lama was impressed by ethically vegetarian Indian monks and adopted a vegetarian diet for about a year and a half. Apparently he consumed primarily nuts and milk. Unfortunately, he contracted Hepatitis B and his liver was seriously damaged.
For health reasons, he was advised by his personal physicians to consume meat. While he has eaten meat in moderation ever since, the Dalai Lama has repeatedly acknowledged that a vegetarian diet is a worthy expression of compassion and contributes to the cessation of the suffering of all living beings. However, he eats meat only on alternate days (six months a year). He is a semi-vegetarian, though he wishes to be a full one. By making an example of cutting his meat consumption in half, he is trying to gently influence his followers.
"While many of the great Tibetan teachers did and do eat animals, the Dalai Lama has broken new ground by publicly stating his case for vegetarianism. If we seriously consider the compassion inherent in His Holiness’ advice and actions, Buddhist meat-eaters could similarly try to eat vegetarian at least every other day to start out with. Since Buddhists have taken vows not to kill, they should not support a livelihood that makes others kill. Even if one does not have great compassion for animals this would meritoriously save humans from performing heinous deeds.
The power of each human being becoming vegetarian releases the most intense suffering of the animal realm—the agony of factory-farmed animals. This profound action can help slow the grinding wheels of samsara, bringing to a halt the cycles of suffering of the entire animal realm and influencing their eventual liberation. When animals are not just looked upon as creatures to fill our stomachs, they can be seen as they really are—beings who have the same Buddha nature as we all do."
Eileen-Weintraub
"This Thanksgiving, staff of the Fund for Animals are thanking the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, for recent statements in support of animal rights. In an audience with representatives of The Fund for Animals earlier this month, the Dalai Lama commended the animal rights movement for working to end the suffering of animals, and urged everyone who can to adopt a vegetarian diet.
Speaking with The Fund for Animals' national director, Heidi Prescott, and program coordinator, Norm Phelps, the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize recipient said, "People think of animals as if they were vegetables, and that isn't right. We have to change the way people think about animals. I encourage the Tibetan people and all people to move toward a vegetarian diet that doesn't cause suffering."
His Holiness also condemned the abuse and killing of animals for entertainment purposes, such as the practice of hunting wild animals for sport. The Dalai Lama invited the Fund for Animals to work with his government in exile in India to help encourage people to become vegetarian and to protect animals from suffering."
-AmeriScan: November 25, 1998
"According to Buddhist teaching, there is a very close interdependence between the natural environment and the sentient beings living in it. Some of my friends have told me that basic human nature is somewhat violent, but I have told them I disagree. If we examine different animals, such as tigers or lions, we learn that their basic nature provides them with sharp fangs and claws. Peaceful animals, such as deer, which are completely vegetarian, are more gentle and have smaller teeth and no claws. From that viewpoint we human beings have a nonviolent nature."
-Ecology and the Human Heart
"Whenever I visit a market and see the chickens crowded together in tiny cages that give them no room to move around and spread their wings and the fish slowly drowning in the air, my heart goes out to them. People have to learn to think about animals in a different way, as sentient beings who love life and fear death. I urge everyone who can to adopt a compassionate vegetarian diet."
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