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More about Theravada Buddhism and veganism I also have my Animal People Forum article)
https://animalpeopleforum.org/2016/08/20/buddhism-veganism-multi-voice-poetry/
I believe that the best way to find out about the Buddha was to look at the earliest scriptures I could find (I had some fame researching Figures in History with that approach). I am a researcher. And being a Buddhist means researching the truth in every moment.
So, I looked at the Udana Sutta and the Rhino Sutta first. These are regarded as the oldest Theravada Suttas.
I believed that those opposed to vegetarianism and the ideas in the Rhino Sutta would criticise these later on.
There never was any criticism of the Rhino Sutta. These are lovely poems most certainly uttered by the Buddha and the verses are very early. They speak of meditation on one’s own (like a Rhino) They also speak of compassion for all creatures.
From dhammatalks.org (freely available) Translation from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu:
Renouncing violence
for all living beings,
harming not even a one,
you would not wish for offspring,
So how a companion?
Wander alone
like a rhino.
One other definitely original Theravada scripture is the Udana Sutta. Volume 1, Page 5 gives advice to new monks as to which monks to look up to, to follow. Devadatta is one of the monks who are said to be as highly developed at the Buddha himself.
However, nowadays translators are adding a “this cant be right as Devadatta went to Hell”. However, I believe the later scriptures which said that Devadatta was evil and trying to split the group are wrong. I believe the group of Monks who wanted Monasteries disagreed with Devadatta. He argued for Vegetarianism and against monks being in Monasteries.
Some other Theravada scholars have also thought that these tales didn’t make sense and were made up. For instance, why would the Buddha give Devadatta chance after chance when he kept doing evil deeds. This also being against the Buddhas own rules.
In the bestselling, The life of the Buddha by H. Saddhatissa he says that in the stories about Devadatta, “...there may also be an element of propaganda…”
When I was studying in Scotland under a high up Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka, he told me that he wanted to be Vegetarian but had to eat meat as he believed that’s what the Buddha wanted. Not to refuse anything anyone offered. His teacher was totally vegetarian.
Again, I believe this is a later addition. The bit were a Monk can only eat meat if it is specifically prepared for them (in the later scriptures). It doesn’t make sense. Monks know the offerings are made up for them and never refuse them.
I think these rules are false and made up (or adapted from earlier scriptures were meat eating was banned) by meat eaters after the Buddha’s parinirvana.
Other great scholars and teachers likewise do not belief that the greatest compassionate being in the world could preach compassion while eating meat. I think I got on well with Chenrezig Meditation as I am Vegan (or so a Tibetan monk told me).
The best book on compassion and Buddhism to read is, To cherish all Life, by Roshi Philip Kapleau. It’s out of print but you can download a free PDF (the word files doesn’t work) from www.buddhanet.net
He says, “… how can there be a distinction between, ”it was not killed specifically for me” and “it was killed for me”?
My Theravada teacher also told me that in Sri Lanka there are two types of Monk. The temple monk. And the forest monk who did meditation on their own in the forest. These monks were highly thought of. They mostly ate vegetarian food. This being because meat would scare off small animals. And call forth meat eaters.
A big thing in Sri Lankan meditation is Metta Sutta and sending compassion to all creatures. How much easier if you are vegan. The biggest thing you can do for animals is not eat them. I have seen Theravada Monks give talks on, “Meditate on what a hard life your dinner had.” Better not to give it a hard life.
I could not go to Sri Lanka to train as a Monk as I was and am vegan. How many other compassionate people are in the same situation. All my life I have researched very deeply what the truth is. I study Philosophy. I have practised Theravada meditation and Zen. And Tibetan meditation. I got on well with Tibetan Meditation. Many Theravada monks are envious of the quick methods of Tibetan meditation. And I studied healing. And studied Aikido
In Thailand, almost, all monks (there are no Nuns) eat meat and love meat. The population is almost all meat eaters. Some people eat live animals like insects.
You are worth visiting to join in the meditation in the beautiful Forest Monastery in Northern Thailand (were all are vegan): Buddhist Monastery in Northern Thailand - Wat Pa Tam Wua (wattamwua.com)
I went with my wife. The head monk preaches vegetarianism and the food is all vegan. I was there for 8 days and the meditation and food was good.
Only bad thing was air pollution from nearby rubbish burning. I think many temples in Thailand will have air pollution.
At the monastery near Khok Prong in Northern Thailand, The Head Teacher Pha Ajahn is vegetarian and recommends a vegetarian diet however Monks pick what they want from the food donated.
People who give meat to Monks are making them unhealthy. I know this is a big problem in Sri Lankan Monasteries with 40% of Monks fat and diabetic etc. They are recommended to eat more fruit, vegetables and rice. Most of the food is vegetarian but Monks eat all day and don’t exercise.
20% of Monks in Theravada countries have intestinal problems and haemorrhoids. A vegetarian diet is good for haemorrhoids.
I understand that Sri Lankan Monks are the most respected Theravada group (through reason of their teachings, and their age of existence and their strictness to the Pali Canon). However, for ten years now there have been arguments between nutritionists and Monks. Some Monks say this is against the rule in the Pali Canon: not to pick and choose. As I said I do not believe all the newer scriptures are correct. Whatever, even though most Sri Lankan monks are already vegetarian they accept they do all have to pick and choose for reasons of health.
In Thailand, all monks are now being given diet sheets and advice on nutrition. But they will need to pick and choose as the Sri Lankan Monks are doing. You cannot have 50% of Thai monks being ill. The Thai health authorities accept this. If the Sri Lankan monks are accepting health advice so too (I believe) will the Thai monks.
In Thailand were the Monks love meat, of 349,000 Monks almost half are overweight or obese.
Thai monks experience diabetes, high blood pressure, eye issues. And osteoarthritis in their knees.
Professor Jongjit Angkatavanich said, “it’s a ticking time bomb.”
I and other experts believe that the Buddha and Devadatta were vegan and any scriptures saying Monks and Nuns could eat meat were added later by meat eating Monks and Nuns. There is no scripture (even the later ones) which say, “Monks and Nuns have to eat meat”.
At the “Vihara” my Sri Lankan teacher lived in, I put up a sign saying the Monk thought vegetarian food was healthy. He was ok with that.
What I am suggesting is that Theravada Monks and Nuns even if they don’t believe all the evidence I (and other experts) have given, all they have to do is to recommend at the Monastery entrance that a healthy diet for monks and Nuns is vegan food. There is no scripture which says Monks and Nuns have to eat meat.
There is also the pain of the animals killed for meat. And the damage to the environment. And Climate change which is a real thing and affecting Thailand badly. Thich Nhat Hanh was vegan to try to oppose Climate change.
Everyone needs to be vegan. Being vegan is also more efficient re fuel loss, water loss, and land use.
At the moment there are few vegans in Thailand. There is a Jay Festival for 10 days each year were people can eat a diet that is even stricter than vegan. Certain foods are not eaten to (I think) to improve Meditation.
The other Theravada countries I know about are Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
I have read books were Theravada scholars have ridiculed Monks who wanted to eat vegetarian food. This is wrong.
In Thailand Buddhists to gain merit, “free” animals. This causes immense suffering. Chinese Buddhists also do this. The aim is to gain merit by helping the animal. However, the animal is firstly trapped and its family killed if needed. The animal is kept in a cage. The animal is then released into an area that is not its terrain. Also, millions die as e.g. fresh water fish are released in to the sea. A horrible death.
It is a huge issue in Conservation.
Addendum re APF article. I also followed the Teachings of the Vietnamese Zen teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh. He set up the Plum Village. He died in 22nd January 2022 aged 95 years.
I am just remembering this from 20 years ago But, I think the enlightened Buddha taught Monks wrongly at first and a group committed suicide as they couldn't cope with teaching. I think this sounds authentic i.e. the Buddha not being all powerful,
