Guest guest Posted September 30, 2006 Report Share Posted September 30, 2006 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) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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