The Lankavatara Sutra
In the Metta Sutta the Buddha teaches his followers to hold all living beings, not just humans but "whatever living beings there may be", in the same loving regard as a mother holds her only child. Likewise, the Khandha Paritta Sutta calls for love between the one who recites it and all creatures everwhere, creatures without feet, with two feet, with four feet, with many feet.
And in the Lankavatara Sutra the Buddha states, quite clearly, that "if anyone regards me as his teacher, he should not eat any meat" and goes on to list many of the reasons why not. "People who practice the holy Way should not eat meat" he says, because to do so "has countless offences", which he explains, and leads to endless "wandering in cycles of births and deaths".
On the other hand, "those who renounce the flavor of meat can taste the flavors of the true Dharmas, truthfully practice the Bodhisattva stages, and attain Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi quickly". Vegetarians, the Buddha says, "have masses of countless merits and virtues" and, after some wondeful teachings, stories, and examples, the Buddha ends with this short verse summary. See the links below for the full text.
from the Lankavatara Sutra
In the future there will be ignorant people who say:
"Meat is pure, eating it is sinless, and is allowed by the Buddha".
But in fact what I always say is,
Eating meat is like eating the flesh of one's own son.
My disciples are content with very little,
they dislike the suffering in the world,
seek for liberation,
and practice mendicancy.
I always say that,
if anyone wishes to keep a peaceful and merciful heart,
he should keep away from eating meat.
For example,
people do not dare to walk and live together with lions, jackals, tigers and wolves,
because those are meat eaters, they make everyone who sees them frightened;
Likewise, eating meat frightens many living beings, how could we do that?
Thus, practitioners should be merciful and should not eat meat.
Meat eating destroys the merciful heart,
obstructs Nirvana and liberation,
and violates the teachings of sages,
thus I do not allow eating meat.
Not eating meat cultivates the pure-heavenly (Brahma) seed and many practice-Ways;
Wisdom, richness and nobleness,
all come from not eating meat.
- The words of the Buddha in the Lankavatara Sutra
Sutras:
And in the Lankavatara Sutra the Buddha states, quite clearly, that "if anyone regards me as his teacher, he should not eat any meat" and goes on to list many of the reasons why not. "People who practice the holy Way should not eat meat" he says, because to do so "has countless offences", which he explains, and leads to endless "wandering in cycles of births and deaths".
On the other hand, "those who renounce the flavor of meat can taste the flavors of the true Dharmas, truthfully practice the Bodhisattva stages, and attain Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi quickly". Vegetarians, the Buddha says, "have masses of countless merits and virtues" and, after some wondeful teachings, stories, and examples, the Buddha ends with this short verse summary. See the links below for the full text.
from the Lankavatara Sutra
In the future there will be ignorant people who say:
"Meat is pure, eating it is sinless, and is allowed by the Buddha".
But in fact what I always say is,
Eating meat is like eating the flesh of one's own son.
My disciples are content with very little,
they dislike the suffering in the world,
seek for liberation,
and practice mendicancy.
I always say that,
if anyone wishes to keep a peaceful and merciful heart,
he should keep away from eating meat.
For example,
people do not dare to walk and live together with lions, jackals, tigers and wolves,
because those are meat eaters, they make everyone who sees them frightened;
Likewise, eating meat frightens many living beings, how could we do that?
Thus, practitioners should be merciful and should not eat meat.
Meat eating destroys the merciful heart,
obstructs Nirvana and liberation,
and violates the teachings of sages,
thus I do not allow eating meat.
Not eating meat cultivates the pure-heavenly (Brahma) seed and many practice-Ways;
Wisdom, richness and nobleness,
all come from not eating meat.
- The words of the Buddha in the Lankavatara Sutra
Sutras:
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