Grist for the Mill

[Guest guest]

via TDE:

 

The Invisible Conveyor Belt of Meat & Murder

 

If a person does not harm any living being… and does

not kill or cause others to kill - that person is a

true spiritual practitioner. -The Buddha (Dhammapada)

 

 

With some Buddhist friends, we bumped into another

group of Buddhist friends at a sushi restaurant. It

was one of those with a conveyor belt going around,

with dishes on it, which you can help yourself with.

 

The bunch I was with decided to have dinner there, not

for sashimi or such, but to try out its extended menu

of some 30 new vegetarian dishes. After eating, we

walked over to chat with the others. Having assumed

they were there to try the vegetarian food too, I was

surprised they did not. They were not aware of the

vegetarian menu's existence. Neither were they exactly

enthusiastic when told about it. One of them remarked

that though he isn't vegetarian, he eats only " pure

meat " , presumably at this restaurant too.

 

The Buddha once taught, " Monks, I allow you fish and

meat that are quite pure in three respects: if they

are not seen, heard or suspected to have been killed

on purpose for a monk. " " Pure meat " refers to meat

that fulfils these three conditions. But was my friend

eating " pure meat " ? It's true that he never saw or

heard any animals being killed for him. But does he

not suspect it in the least?

 

There is a widespread misconcept that meat bought at

supermarkets and restaurants (other than those which

kill to cook on demand) is " pure meat " for the random

consumer, assumed unconnected to animals' deaths. Is

the consumer really out of the loop?

The market for meat is composed largely of these

" random " yet regular consumers. It is huge enough to

urge relentless breeding and slaughter of millions of

animals daily. Nothing random here.

 

We might not see or hear animals killed specifically

for us, but how can we not even suspect that what we

buy was intended for none other than us, who

continually demand for its supply?

We all play a part, directly or indirectly. When the

buying reduces or stops, the killing will reduce or

stop. Simple economics. If we are not part of the

solution, we are most likely part of the problem.

" Pure meat " exists probably only as randomly received

almsfood. The quoted teaching of " pure meat " is

obviously for alms-seeking monks, not modern

consumers. While the monks back then could not choose,

we do. Today, increasingly more Buddhists know the

sensibility of offering vegetarian almsfood. Even

monks encourage it.

 

" Pure meat " is not found by " randomly " plucking meat

dishes off the conveyor belt. Meat does not magically

appear from nowhere. They are the effects of supply,

caused by individual and collective demand. The more

meat is taken off the belt, the more will they be

replenished. Beyond the kitchen, the " conveyor belt "

extends on invisibly, linked to animals killed to meet

demands. The usual " suspects " of those who condition

their deaths are the consumers.

 

There's no argument.

Like the belt at the restuarant, the conveyor belt of

supply and demand goes in circles, as repercussions of

cause and effect.

The ills of meat-eating are indeed plentiful. It is

generally more harmful than helpful for personal

health. It is damaging for the welfare of countless

animals, who face the horror of torture and murder.

It depletes Earth's resources, while contributing to

environmental disasters.

It redirects crops as animal feed to produce meat for

the rich, while the poor starve.

And we havn't even touched on any religious reasons

for vegetarianism yet! Common sense is already enough.

Please eat less animals, if any at all.

On the behalf of voiceless animals,

I hope this has offered some

nourishing " food " for thought.

 

-Shen Shi'an

 

'As I am, so are others; as others are, so am I.'

Having thus identified self and others, harm no one

nor have them harmed. -The Buddha (Sutta Nipata 705)

 

The Website the Meat Industry Doesn't Want You to See:

http://meat.org

(The Website Meat Industry's Animals Want You to See)