The First Precept and Eating Meat

[Emmet]

Verse 129 of the Dhammapada always resonated deeply with me, and I practiced vegetarianism quite happily for years (someone wiser than I once defined 'happiness' as when what you think, say, and do are in complete harmony). When I became ill, among other things it was discovered that I had virtually no B12; a nutrient found almost exclusively in animal protein. While a B12 deficiency wouldn't cause my neurologic illness, it could exacerbate it. Oral supplements and injections could not bring my B12 within normal parameters, so reluctantly at my mate's behest I added meat to my diet. Part of my rationale was related to my terminal diagnosis; if by eating meat I preempted a postmortem "what if/if only" for my mate, any karmic debt thus incurred would be more than an equitable price to pay to relieve her suffering, no matter in how small a measure.
Nowadays she does almost all of the food prep, and I try to practice not a vegetarian diet, but a Buddhist one; in the spirit of takuhatsu, I accept what is offered without discrimination and with sincere gratitude.

(When I didn't die on cue, they upgraded me from 'terminal' to merely 'chronic')

Sat today.

[Jundo]

Verse 129 of the Dhammapada always resonated deeply with me, and I practiced vegetarianism quite happily for years (someone wiser than I once defined 'happiness' as when what you think, say, and do are in complete harmony). When I became ill, among other things it was discovered that I had virtually no B12; a nutrient found almost exclusively in animal protein. While a B12 deficiency wouldn't cause my neurologic illness, it could exacerbate it. Oral supplements and injections could not bring my B12 within normal parameters, so reluctantly at my mate's behest I added meat to my diet. Part of my rationale was related to my terminal diagnosis; if by eating meat I preempted a postmortem "what if/if only" for my mate, any karmic debt thus incurred would be more than an equitable price to pay to relieve her suffering, no matter in how small a measure.
Nowadays she does almost all of the food prep, and I try to practice not a vegetarian diet, but a Buddhist one; in the spirit of takuhatsu, I accept what is offered without discrimination and with sincere gratitude.

(When I didn't die on cue, they upgraded me from 'terminal' to merely 'chronic')

Sat today.

The Dalai Lama eats meat for much the same reason.

MORGAN: I’m back with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama.

Your Holiness, I want to get into your life and the kind of lifestyle that you lead because you’re a fascinating man in many ways. First of all, you were a vegetarian. But then you got bored with that and went back to meat. Is that right?

DALAI LAMA: Yes, right. Of course, my early part of my life as in — under Tibetan, you see, our main diet non-vegetarian. Then after I came to India, 65, I give up eating meat and eggs and fish. Pure vegetarian. So, next, about 20 months, I remain that. Then some illness. The gallbladder, jaundice problem.

So, I — my sort of face become yellow. And nails and eyes become yellow. So later, I jokingly telling people, at that time, I truly become living Buddha.

(LAUGHTER)

DALAI LAMA: Yellow, yellow person.

(LAUGHTER)

DALAI LAMA: So I really making sort of — making effort to promote vegetarianism, but I myself remain non-vegetarian.

http://www.tibet.net/2012/04/text-of-his-holiness-the-dalai-lamas-interview-on-cnn/

More detail on his view here, not black or white:

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/12/dear-dalai-lama-is-it-permissible-for-buddhists-to-eat-meat/

On Meat and Tibetan Buddhism, see also:

http://online.sfsu.edu/rone/Buddhism...gMeatTibet.htm

We will discuss this again as we begin our preparations for Jukai, and reflect on the Precepts, from the start of September. Look for an announcement this week!

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH