“The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated”.–Mahatma Gandhi
Buddha and Original Buddhism on eating slaughtered animals
Tibetan Buddhist masters on abandoning eating animals
Contrary to popular belief, and despite the difficulties of giving up meat in countries like Tibet (due to lack of plant food available), there are many examples of past and present Tibetan Buddhist masters who advocated strict vegetarianism in line with the Buddha Shakyamuni’s teachings. One recent article, “The Hidden Vegetarians of Tibet” by Geoffrey Barstow (author of the book Food of Sinful Demons: Meat, Vegetarianism, and the Limits of Buddhism in Tibet) identifies more than 110 individual Tibetan Buddhist teachers who made the decision to give up meat in Tibet, prior to the Chinese invasion in the 1950s. For my recent podcast interview with Barstow about his work, see here: https://youtu.be/brbrMm2LwNc
Thus inspired by these examples, and the recent teachings of HH 17th Gyalwang Karmapa on the long history of vegetarianism in Tibetan Buddhism (with the exception of the Gelugpas) and other Buddhist traditions, page is dedicated to relevant research, texts and Tibetan Buddhists who advocate vegetarianism and animal rights.
There are brief profiles of well-known Tibetan Buddhist strict vegetarians, past and present, including Jetsun Milarepa, Drukpa Kunleg, Kunkhyen Dolpopa [Jonang], Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo [Sakya], 1st Sangye Nyenpa, 4th Karmapa, 7th and 8th Karmapa, Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye and contemporary examples such as Chadral Rinpoche, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, Khenpo Tsultrim Lodro and Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo. Although there are many more individuals that are vegetarians, I have listed some who have written or spoken extensively about vegetarianism.
See: https://dakinitranslations.com/buddhist-vegetarianism/
As the 17th Karmapa recently taught (see the video clip (with subtitled translation, I created here), if people who say they are Buddhists were forced to eat the flesh of their own mothers they would be weeping uncontrollably and not want to do it, and that is how anyone eating meat with compassion would feel too, and would be crying and grief-stricken if they had to do so. We do not need lots of Buddhist scriptures to stop either, we can see that young children are horrified when they see animals being killed:
I understand that being completely plant based is difficult in certain parts of the world. Any reduction in consuming animals and their products helps to reduce the suffering of animals raised for food.
It’s because of articles like this that i feel inclined to support you and your website.
Thank you for speaking out for the animals.
Thank you Jon! For your kind and supportive words and comments here. Am happy to hear that you value someone speaking out for animals and how as Buddhists (and human beings with compassion) we should abandon and refrain from supporting and engaging in actions that deliberately harm and kill animals.