Difference between revisions of "Buddhist Attitude Toward Killing of Animals"
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| − | Most devout Buddhists are vegetarians who are opposed to killing any animals. Buddhists believe in reincarnation and they maintain that killing an animal is killing the soul of a being that may one day be a human being. Many Buddhists go as far as rescuing insects from their tea. Some Buddhists hold special ceremonies for dead chickens or dead fish. Tibetan Buddhists believe that dogs are the last reincarnation before rebirth as humans, and as a result the country is filled with mangy dogs. | + | Most devout [[Buddhists]] are vegetarians who are opposed to killing any [[animals]]. [[Buddhists]] believe in [[reincarnation]] and they maintain that killing an [[animal]] is killing the [[soul]] of a [[being]] that may one day be a [[human being]]. Many [[Buddhists]] go as far as rescuing insects from their tea. Some [[Buddhists]] hold special ceremonies for [[dead]] chickens or [[dead]] fish. [[Tibetan]] [[Buddhists]] believe that dogs are the last [[reincarnation]] before [[rebirth]] as [[humans]], and as a result the country is filled with mangy dogs. |
| − | Many Buddhists believe that equal compassion must be extended to all living things. Some Buddhists believe that killing flies, mosquitos and even bacteria is wrong and walk softly so as not to trample insects and have special filters for their drinking cups and weak masks to prevent them from inadvertently consuming microorganisms. Despite this, there is a prevailing view that not are all living things are alike and equal and only humans are capable of reaching enlightenment | + | Many [[Buddhists]] believe that equal [[compassion]] must be extended to all living things. Some [[Buddhists]] believe that killing flies, mosquitos and even bacteria is wrong and walk softly so as not to trample insects and have special filters for their drinking cups and weak masks to prevent them from inadvertently consuming microorganisms. Despite this, there is a prevailing [[view]] that not are all living things are alike and equal and only [[humans]] are capable of reaching [[enlightenment]] |
| − | The are a number of stories in Buddhist literature about Bodhisattvas and Buddhas giving their life for animals. In one often-told tale, The Buddha, in his previous incarnation as the Prince of Benares, lashed his own throats with a piece of bamboo so an exhausted tigress could eat him and take care of her five newly-born cubs. In another famous story, a celebrated Bodhisattva who was a king freed a pigeon from a hawk by giving the hawk a pound of his own flesh. | + | The are a number of stories in [[Buddhist]] {{Wiki|literature}} about [[Bodhisattvas]] and [[Buddhas]] giving their [[life]] for [[animals]]. In one often-told tale, The [[Buddha]], in his previous [[incarnation]] as the {{Wiki|Prince}} of [[Benares]], lashed his own throats with a piece of {{Wiki|bamboo}} so an exhausted tigress could eat him and take care of her five newly-born cubs. In another famous story, a celebrated [[Bodhisattva]] who was a [[king]] freed a pigeon from a hawk by giving the hawk a pound of his own flesh. |
| − | However, Peter Garfinkle wrote in National Geographic, "Even though The Buddha voiced his opposition to killing animals either for food or ritualistic passages from early Buddhists texts suggest that not only did he sometimes eat meat he may have died from food poisoning from contaminated pork. (Other say he died from eating a poisonous mushroom)." | + | However, Peter Garfinkle wrote in National Geographic, "Even though The [[Buddha]] voiced his opposition to killing [[animals]] either for [[food]] or [[ritualistic]] passages from early [[Buddhists]] texts suggest that not only did he sometimes eat meat he may have [[died]] from [[food]] poisoning from contaminated pork. (Other say he [[died]] from eating a poisonous mushroom)." |
| − | Text Sources: World Religions edited by Geoffrey Parrinder (Facts on File Publications, New York); Encyclopedia of the World’s Religions edited by R.C. Zaehner (Barnes & Noble Books, 1959); Encyclopedia of the World Cultures edited by David Levinson (G.K. Hall & Company, New York, 1994); The Creators by Daniel Boorstin National Geographic articles. Also the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Times of London, The New Yorker, Time, Newsweek, Reuters, AP, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Compton’s Encyclopedia and various books and other publications. | + | Text Sources: [[World]] [[Religions]] edited by Geoffrey Parrinder (Facts on File Publications, {{Wiki|New York}}); {{Wiki|Encyclopedia}} of the World’s [[Religions]] edited by R.C. Zaehner (Barnes & [[Noble]] [[Books]], 1959); {{Wiki|Encyclopedia}} of the [[World]] Cultures edited by David Levinson (G.K. Hall & Company, {{Wiki|New York}}, 1994); The Creators by {{Wiki|Daniel Boorstin}} National Geographic articles. Also the {{Wiki|New York}} Times, Washington Post, {{Wiki|Los Angeles}} Times, Smithsonian magazine, Times of {{Wiki|London}}, The New Yorker, [[Time]], Newsweek, Reuters, AP, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Compton’s {{Wiki|Encyclopedia}} and various [[books]] and other publications. |
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
[http://factsanddetails.com/world.php?itemid=1331&catid=55&subcatid=355 factsanddetails.com] | [http://factsanddetails.com/world.php?itemid=1331&catid=55&subcatid=355 factsanddetails.com] | ||
Revision as of 20:35, 30 August 2013
by Jeffrey Hays
Most devout Buddhists are vegetarians who are opposed to killing any animals. Buddhists believe in reincarnation and they maintain that killing an animal is killing the soul of a being that may one day be a human being. Many Buddhists go as far as rescuing insects from their tea. Some Buddhists hold special ceremonies for dead chickens or dead fish. Tibetan Buddhists believe that dogs are the last reincarnation before rebirth as humans, and as a result the country is filled with mangy dogs.
Many Buddhists believe that equal compassion must be extended to all living things. Some Buddhists believe that killing flies, mosquitos and even bacteria is wrong and walk softly so as not to trample insects and have special filters for their drinking cups and weak masks to prevent them from inadvertently consuming microorganisms. Despite this, there is a prevailing view that not are all living things are alike and equal and only humans are capable of reaching enlightenment
The are a number of stories in Buddhist literature about Bodhisattvas and Buddhas giving their life for animals. In one often-told tale, The Buddha, in his previous incarnation as the Prince of Benares, lashed his own throats with a piece of bamboo so an exhausted tigress could eat him and take care of her five newly-born cubs. In another famous story, a celebrated Bodhisattva who was a king freed a pigeon from a hawk by giving the hawk a pound of his own flesh.
However, Peter Garfinkle wrote in National Geographic, "Even though The Buddha voiced his opposition to killing animals either for food or ritualistic passages from early Buddhists texts suggest that not only did he sometimes eat meat he may have died from food poisoning from contaminated pork. (Other say he died from eating a poisonous mushroom)."
Text Sources: World Religions edited by Geoffrey Parrinder (Facts on File Publications, New York); Encyclopedia of the World’s Religions edited by R.C. Zaehner (Barnes & Noble Books, 1959); Encyclopedia of the World Cultures edited by David Levinson (G.K. Hall & Company, New York, 1994); The Creators by Daniel Boorstin National Geographic articles. Also the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Times of London, The New Yorker, Time, Newsweek, Reuters, AP, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Compton’s Encyclopedia and various books and other publications.
