Please sign and share new petition to ban animal cruelty, slaughter and sale of meat near Buddhist temples and sacred sites:
For practising Buddhists, animal lovers and environmentalists it is deeply disturbing to witness the increasing prevalence of slaughterhouses and the commercial selling of meat, near sacred Buddhist sites in India, Nepal and South-East Asia. Shakyamuni Buddha emphasized the crucial importance of non-violence and compassion, and advised people to abandon the killing and consumption of animals for personal gain, health or desire.
Indian law (and other countries) contains general anti-cruelty provisions that apply to animals in captivity. Particularly relevant are the prohibitions on confining an animal in a way that does not permit reasonable opportunity for movement or tethering an animal for an unreasonable time (Section 11 (e)(f)).
So, it is disheartening (and upsetting) to see such illegal, cruel and barbaric activities (where animals are often kept cooped up in filthy cages, sick and unable to move, in extreme heat, waiting to be slaughtered) operating and making profit from meat-eating consumers around sacred Buddhist temples and sites, such as the sacred Bodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, where Buddha attained enlightenment.
Buddhist temples and sites represent not only spiritual awakening and wisdom, but also the core ethos of Buddhism, advocating for love, compassion and respect for all living beings. So, it is sad and disturbing that places dedicated to teaching and practising love and peace coexist alongside facilities that engage in the direct opposite: the slaughter of animals. Moreover, it tarnishes and corrupts the sacred sanctity of these spaces for pilgrims and spiritual practitioners who seek spiritual growth and peaceful meditation.
The Buddhist land of Bhutan has banned slaughterhouses nationwide for many years. India, the heartland and home of Buddhism, is recognized as a predominantly (and traditionally) vegetarian country, and yet, the presence of slaughterhouses near these major and influential spiritual centres undermines this cultural heritage and history. It is essential to preserve the integrity and peaceful atmosphere of these pilgrimage locations, enabling practitioners and visitors to immerse themselves fully in the tranquil and serene aura of such historically significant Buddhist sites. Local Indians often say that selling meat in these areas is relatively new and arose mainly from the demand of foreign consumers and pilgrims.
We urge local and national authorities to enact a ban on slaughterhouses and the commercial sale of meat within a stipulated radius of all sacred Buddhist temples and pilgrimage destinations in India, and other sacred Buddhist sites in Asia, starting with those most revered and frequented by pilgrims. This measure not only adheres to India’s cultural and religious values but also respects the teachings of Buddha, fostering an environment of compassion around places of spiritual learning and reflection.
Please lend your support to this noble cause by signing this petition. Peace begins on our plates. Together, we can demonstrate our joint, humane commitment to the principles of compassion, non-violence and respect for all creatures, and honour the sanctity and purpose of these sacred sites.
