Expert: Bodhicitta - 8/5/2006

Question
Dear Bodhicitta
Namo Amitabha.

THis is my follow up question as regard to being a vegetarian.
In your earlier reply , you said (in bold letter) " WE CONSIDER EATING MEAT THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN KILLED OR DIED MAKES A GOOD CONNECTION WITH THE OTHER BEING ""
I am a bit confused of the statement above because as far as i understand from most of the books in Buddhism , they tell us that eating meat will indirectly encourage the killing of animals to serve as food for men . Which i think is logical .If we all become vegetarian , there will be no killing of animals .So that is why i feed bad when a piece of meat is served on the table .
Kindly elaborate further why you said eating meat can make a good connection with other being ?Thank you very much .


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Followup To

Question -
Dear Bodhicitta ,
Namo Amitabha .

Question 1 )I have a question on my practice as a vegetarian.
Whenever i go to eat , i would choose those foods which do not contain meat . But at home , it is my mother who cooks for me . Normally my mother will prepare few preparations , some with meat , some without meat .But with meat placed in front of me , i would normally take a little in order to satisfy my stomach . Am i considered a vegetarian ?
Will i gain negative karma as a result of taking the meat in this way ?

Question 2) Family gathering at dinner time is an important way of strengthening the relationship with my family . As the head of the family , i used to take my family out for dinner. But all my family members like to take meat .So i would normally take them to the restaurant and let them pick the dishes because i don't want to be the person who makes the decision to place meat on the table . But when the foods are served (mainly meat and little vege , all ordered by my family members ) , i would normally eat the vege and a little bit of meat . My question is , if i bring my family out to take meat , will i get negative karma ?
Thank you very much

Answer -
Dear Poh Kian Bin
I am wondering why you are  vegetarian? Have you taken any vows in a Buddhist tradition that specified you should be vegetarian?

Personally I eat meat like my Tibetan Buddhists. We consider eating meat that has already been killed or died makes a good connection with the other being.

Bodhicitta

Answer
Dear Poh
It does vary with different types of Buddhist tradition and it depends what vows you have taken. The matter is not simple.

The reasons for this are probably both cultural, dharma related and programatic based on what food is available

Buddhism emphasizes following the vows of a particular tradition given to you by your teacher or preceptor. Taking and keeping vows is one of the main practices of Buddhism.These vows may or not give guidance on eating meat.

To give you an idea of the diversity of different traditions:
- Some Jain traditions think it bad to move and  breath as we kill countless organisms everyytime we move and breath.
- The forest sangha take vows to be vegatarian.
- Some Tibetan traditions allow dead animals to be eaten.
- Some Buddhist traditions say meat must be eaten on some occassions into create a link with the dead.

I encourage you to study around this topic further.

Bodhicitta