On January 3, 2007, the leader of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, made a strong statement against eating meat within his monasteries and centers around the world. These rules went into immediate effect that date:
- No meat is to be prepared in the kitchen of any Kagyu Monastery or Center.
- No one is to be involved in the business of buying and selling meat — for all of his students this practice must stop.
- There is to be no killing of animals on Kagyu premises.
- Karmapa is aware of monks in robes going to buy meat and does not want to see this ever again.
Below is a very well done video of the above rules that the Karmapa has laid out. Note: This video is important, but not for the feint of heart, nor for children.
I started thinking about vegetarianism a few years ago, but I was misinformed by the American medical and food industries. One book I read brought me a long way on the road to a meat free diet though, Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, I highly recommend it. I have educated myself, and with the help of some good friends, I am getting better and better at eating a solely vegetarian diet. This is not an easy task in America. This is the land of the fast food burger, pepperoni pizzas and even our American past time, baseball, demands you enjoy a hot dog or two.
December 28th, 2007, that was the date that I said, I can do this, to eating vegetarian. Yes, I have cheated a few times since then, but in large part I have been meat free. Beans have become my friends, though those around me may counter that comment. Salads are now a mainstay of my lunch and dinner. They have even become a breakfast option for me, and I like it too. Fruits and veggies were always high on my list, now they are simply the largest part of that list, along with grains, rice and other staples. Have I mentioned how much I love fresh tofu yet? Not the stuff you get in Wal-Mart or the local grocer either. Nope, I love the stuff you get in your city’s Asian district. Hey, I live in Oklahoma City, if I can find fresh tofu surely you can too.
Let me speak for a moment about vegetarianism from the Buddhist standpoint. The Buddha said, among other things, that we should give up evil actions. I view the killing of animals as an act of aggression against a sentient being. Every action produces karma, good or bad, without consideration as to our intentions or the outcome. Eating the meat is no different from being the person who slaughtered the animal for you to eat that flesh. To think otherwise is an illusion. Being a person on the path to Enlightenment, foloowing the Dharma, means I listen and try fervently to follow the Buddha and those in his lineage, such as H.H. 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Orgyen Trinle Dorje.
I feel better physically when I am meat and dairy free too. I used to eat lunch or dinner and feel bloated and lethargic, not anymore. Here are some links you might find helpful.
- Vegetarian books I can personally recommend are found here
- Vegetarian cook books in general can be found here
- Shabkar.org is an excellent site devoted to vegetarianism for Buddhists
I know this is a big step for anyone, let alone an American, so just think about it. Be mindful of your actions, show compassion and educate yourself.
I’m proud of you for doing this!!! Very impressive feat
Keep it up Matt, I’m very proud of you; even before you went vegeterian.
Love You!
I respect your decision. I’ve had many friends make that choice and stick to it. I have a bias, first because I think fish, chicken, and an occasional burger are delicious, and second because a couple of my clients are very giant publicly traded meat producers. They kill many thousands of pigs a day. I also am a former employee of Tyson Foods, and they kill thousands of chickens an hour. I think if we were not meant to eat meat, our bodies would not be able to digest meat, like other vegetarian creatures. I know that nutritionally, the fewer feet the better. Fish is better than fowl is better than anything else. I tend to avoid beef unless I’m feeling iron deficient. Many of the people at work are Hindu, and probably would quit if our clients were killing cows. Factory farms produce inferior meat, though. The pork you get at the store has a lot of added sodium. I have seen how pepperoni and sausage is made in the factories I’ve visited in the past year. The amount of chemical junk they put in the meat to give it a particular flavor or color or fat/protein content is alarming. That said, I like to buy meat from local farmers at the market on Saturday. The chickens I buy weren’t kept in cages, fed hormones or chemicals, and they taste better. My body is healthier because I do eat grass-fed meat, so it’s great that you feel you are healthier without meat. Good for you, but I like the full menu.
. . . and you’ll probably outlive me. 🙂
Hello Matt.
Becoming a vegetarian or vegan is a personal choice and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. Surely the world could and should be more conscious about the consumption of meat and how inhumanely many animals are treated in order to stuff the supermarkets with an abundance of choice.
The Buddhist aspect, however, is relative.
I understand that Karmapa forbids his monks from preparing and eating meat. The rules by which monks live are very strict, but need not necessarily apply to the rest of us.
It is said that the Buddha died of food poisoning after eating meat. In those days, the monks subsisted on alms given to them each day and they were supposed to eat whatever that was given to them.
Then there is also the story of Kalu Rinpoche, a very highly regarded Tibetan Lama and close friend of the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje.
He was with some monks and ate meat. They were astonished and couldn’t believe it. Killing an animal would bring about bad Karma. Kalu Rinpoche pointed to a cup of tea and explained that in order to make it fields had to be ploughed, seeds planted and grown, plants harvested and so on. In that process little bugs and animals living in the ground would be squashed and killed as a natural part of these activities. So instead of drinking tea they might as well drink a cup of blood.
I guess the morale of this story is that all is relative and one should do the best he/she can. As Charles Hill stated, our bodies seem to be meant to digest meat so there is a certain naturalness to eating it.
Personally I think that modesty and awareness are key elements here. I eat very little meat, lots of vegies and I love fish.
By the way, is it a conscious choice that you follow the 17th Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje?
I am a Karma Kagyu Buddhist, but I chose to follow the “other” Karmapa Trinlay Thaye Dorje.
Cheers,
Yonga Sun
Tashi Yonga, I am vegetarian by compassion and health choices, following the Karmapa was only good fortune in this case.
I follow H.H. the 17th Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje as he is the recognized incarnation by the Dalai Lama. I would not be surprised to one day find out that both of the young men are in fact different aspects of the 16th Karmapa. Until then though, I will sit this debate on the side lines.
P.S. Younga, Keep making music.
I personally think u have made the right decision and wish America would come to the same realization as u have. I believe that anyone who reads the Bible should definately not eat animals for any reason. Mainly because the Bible says thou shall not murder…. Well killing animals is murder they breath and walk and have a brain just like us…. And in the Old testament God says he made unclean foods for a reason: because they are unhealthy. Then the New Testament says it’s ok….So which one are we to believe I personally think people should believe the Old Testament because it came first…. If they both were true shouldn’t they have been put together as one……. Anyways I congratulate you on the caring thought and generousity you have given to animals!!! 🙂
tell it to an eskimo .. meaning, it is all relative
@gregorylent – you are right. i mentioned to a friend a few days ago that to keep my family healthy i would do anything… if it means a hungry vegetarian child or feeding my child meat, there is no question at all.
And to your point, the Eskimos, and the Tibetans for the most part, eat what they have available and there is nothing wrong with that, ever.
thanks for your comment Gregory, and you have amazing art. I think this one is amazing… http://www.gregorylent.com/Big%20Gallery%20Pages/River%20Yogi%20Gold%20Bindu.htm