WHAT DID THE BUDDHA SAY ABOUT EATING MEAT ?
There is so much misunderstanding about vegetarianism and Buddhism. I went directly to the Sutta, where the Buddha explains it.
It was in China where the monks were ordered by an Emperor to be vegetarians. It was never an order from the Buddha. A follower tried to assassinate the Buddha because the Buddha refused to make vegetarianism a rule of the order.
Also many years ago a self appointed guru, John Lennon, wrote a letter to the Dalai Lama criticizing that he eats meat. I know that the monks in Mongolia eat meat. Theravada monks will eat meat if it is placed in his bowl as long as it followers the direction of this sutta.
MAJJHIMA NIKAYA 55 :
JIVAKA SUTTA
Thus I have heard, at one time the Blessed One lived in Rajagaha, in the mango orchard of Jivaka, the foster son of the prince.
Jivaka the foster son of the prince approached the Blessed One, worshipped, sat on a side and said:
‘I have heard this, venerable sir, that living things are killed on account of the recluse Gotama, and he partakes that knowing, it was killed on account of him.
Venerable sir, those who say, that living things are killed on account of the recluse Gotama, and he partakes that, knowing, it was killed on account of him,
are they saying the rightful words of the Blessed One and not blaming the Teaching?’
Jivaka the foster son of the prince approached the Blessed One, worshipped, sat on a side and said:
‘I have heard this, venerable sir, that living things are killed on account of the recluse Gotama, and he partakes that knowing, it was killed on account of him.
Venerable sir, those who say, that living things are killed on account of the recluse Gotama, and he partakes that, knowing, it was killed on account of him,
are they saying the rightful words of the Blessed One and not blaming the Teaching?’
‘Jivaka, those who say, that living things are killed on account of the recluse Gotama, and he partakes that knowing, because it was killed on account of him.
They are not my words, and they blame me falsely.
Jivaka, I say that on three instances meat should not be partaken, when (1) seen, (2) heard, or when (3) there is suspicion.
I say, that on these three instances meat should not be partaken.
I say, that meat could be partaken on three instances, when not seen, not heard, and not when there is suspicion about it.
They are not my words, and they blame me falsely.
Jivaka, I say that on three instances meat should not be partaken, when (1) seen, (2) heard, or when (3) there is suspicion.
I say, that on these three instances meat should not be partaken.
I say, that meat could be partaken on three instances, when not seen, not heard, and not when there is suspicion about it.
Jivaka, the bhikkhu supported by a village or hamlet sits pervading one direction with thoughts of loving kindness,
and also the second, third, fourth, above, below and across, in all circumstances, for all purposes, towards all.
With that thought developed limitlessly and grown great without anger.
Then a certain householder or the son of a householder approaches and invites him for the next day’s meal.
If the bhikkhu desires he accepts and at the end of that night, putting on robes and taking bowl and robes,
approaches the house of that householder or the son of the householder and sits on the prepared seat.
That householder or his son serves him with the nourishing food with his own hands. It does not occur to him.
and also the second, third, fourth, above, below and across, in all circumstances, for all purposes, towards all.
With that thought developed limitlessly and grown great without anger.
Then a certain householder or the son of a householder approaches and invites him for the next day’s meal.
If the bhikkhu desires he accepts and at the end of that night, putting on robes and taking bowl and robes,
approaches the house of that householder or the son of the householder and sits on the prepared seat.
That householder or his son serves him with the nourishing food with his own hands. It does not occur to him.
This householder should offer me nourishing food in the future too. He partakes that morsel food, neither enslaved and swooned, nor guilty.
Wisely reflecting the danger. Jivaka, does this bhikkhu think to trouble himself, another or both at that moment?’.
‘No, venerable sir, he does not.’ ‘Jivaka, isn’t this bhikkhu partaking this food without a blemish?’
‘He is, venerable sir I have heard, that Brahma abides, in loving kindness. I witness it in the Blessed One. The Blessed One abides in loving kindness.’
‘Jivaka, the Thus Gone One has dispelled that greed, hate and delusion, pulled it out with the roots, made palm stumps and made them not to grow again.
If you say it, on account of that, I allow it. ’‘Venerable sir, I say it, on account of that.’
Wisely reflecting the danger. Jivaka, does this bhikkhu think to trouble himself, another or both at that moment?’.
‘No, venerable sir, he does not.’ ‘Jivaka, isn’t this bhikkhu partaking this food without a blemish?’
‘He is, venerable sir I have heard, that Brahma abides, in loving kindness. I witness it in the Blessed One. The Blessed One abides in loving kindness.’
‘Jivaka, the Thus Gone One has dispelled that greed, hate and delusion, pulled it out with the roots, made palm stumps and made them not to grow again.
If you say it, on account of that, I allow it. ’‘Venerable sir, I say it, on account of that.’
‘Jivaka, the bhikkhu abides supported on a certain village or hamlet. He abides pervading one direction with thoughts of compassion….
With thoughts of intrinsic joy…With equanimity and also the second, third, fourth, above, below and across, in all circumstances, for all purposes,
towards all, equanimity grown great and developed limitlessly without anger.
Then a certain householder or the son of a householder approaches him and invites him for the next day’s meal.
If the bhikkhu desires he accepts the invitation. At the end of that night, putting on robes and taking bowl and robes,
he approaches the house of that householder or the son of the householder and sits on the prepared seat.
That householder serves the bhikkhu with the nourishing food with his own hands.
It doesn’t occur to him, this householder should offer me nourishing food in the future too.
With thoughts of intrinsic joy…With equanimity and also the second, third, fourth, above, below and across, in all circumstances, for all purposes,
towards all, equanimity grown great and developed limitlessly without anger.
Then a certain householder or the son of a householder approaches him and invites him for the next day’s meal.
If the bhikkhu desires he accepts the invitation. At the end of that night, putting on robes and taking bowl and robes,
he approaches the house of that householder or the son of the householder and sits on the prepared seat.
That householder serves the bhikkhu with the nourishing food with his own hands.
It doesn’t occur to him, this householder should offer me nourishing food in the future too.
He partakes that morsel food, not enslaved, not swooned, and without a guilt, wisely reflecting the danger.
Jivaka, does this bhikkhu think to trouble himself, another, or trouble both at that moment?’.
‘No, venerable sir, he does not.’ ‘Jivaka, doesn’t this bhikkhu partake this food without a blemish?’
‘Venerable sir, he partakes food without a blemish. .I have heard, that Brahma abides in equanimity.
I witness it, in the Blessed One. The Blessed One, abides in equanimity.’
‘Jivaka, the Thus Gone One is not troubled, is detached, and not averse to greed, hate and delusion,
pulled it out with the roots, made palm stumps and made not to grow again.
If it is said on account of that, I allow it.’ ‘Venerable sir, I say it, on account of that.’
Jivaka, does this bhikkhu think to trouble himself, another, or trouble both at that moment?’.
‘No, venerable sir, he does not.’ ‘Jivaka, doesn’t this bhikkhu partake this food without a blemish?’
‘Venerable sir, he partakes food without a blemish. .I have heard, that Brahma abides in equanimity.
I witness it, in the Blessed One. The Blessed One, abides in equanimity.’
‘Jivaka, the Thus Gone One is not troubled, is detached, and not averse to greed, hate and delusion,
pulled it out with the roots, made palm stumps and made not to grow again.
If it is said on account of that, I allow it.’ ‘Venerable sir, I say it, on account of that.’
‘Jivaka, who ever destroys living things on account of the Tathagatha or the disciples of the Tathagatha, accumulate much demerit on five instances:
If he said, go bring that living thing of such name.
In this first instance he accumulates much demerit.
In this first instance he accumulates much demerit.
If that living thing is pulled along, tied, with pain at the throat, feeling displeased and unpleasant.
In this second instance he accumulates much demerit.
In this second instance he accumulates much demerit.
If it was said, go kill that animal.
In this third instance he accumulates much demerit.
In this third instance he accumulates much demerit.
When killing if that animal feels displeased and unpleasant.
In this fourth instance he accumulates, much demerit.
In this fourth instance he accumulates, much demerit.
When the Tathagatha or a disciple of the Tathagatha tastes that unsuitable food.
In this fifth instance he accumulates much demerit.
In this fifth instance he accumulates much demerit.
Jivaka, if anyone destroys the life of a living thing on account of the Tathagatha or a disciple of the Tathagatha,
he accumulates much demerit on these five instances.’
he accumulates much demerit on these five instances.’
When this was said Jivaka the foster son of the prince said; ‘Wonderful venerable sir, the bhikkhus partake suitable faultless food.
Now I understand venerable sir. It is as though something overturned was reinstated.
Something covered was made manifest. As though the path was told to someone who had lost his way.
As though an oil lamp was lighted, for those who have sight to see forms. In various ways the Teaching is explained.
Now I take refuge in the Blessed One, in the Dhamma and the Sangha.
May I be remembered as one who has taken refuge from today until life lasts.
Now I understand venerable sir. It is as though something overturned was reinstated.
Something covered was made manifest. As though the path was told to someone who had lost his way.
As though an oil lamp was lighted, for those who have sight to see forms. In various ways the Teaching is explained.
Now I take refuge in the Blessed One, in the Dhamma and the Sangha.
May I be remembered as one who has taken refuge from today until life lasts.
