shabkar.org Vegetarianism In Buddhism Scriptures Teachers References Search
 
Mahaparinirvana Sutra & Abstaining From Eating Meat and Fish, Even Died by Natural Causes (cont'd) - 2/5


“Why then,” asked Kashyapa, “did you proscribe the eating of ten kinds of unexamined meat and so on, up to the nine types of examined meat?”

“This too I did,” the Buddha said, ‘in order to help my followers in the overcoming of their habit. In short, all such provisions I made for one purpose: that the consumption of meat be brought to an end.”

“But why,” asked Kashyapa, “has the Tathagata allowed the flesh of fish as wholesome food?”

“Son of my lineage!” the Buddha answered. “I have never done so! I have described as healthy all sorts of food: sugar cane, rice, molasses, rye, barley, and so forth; milk, curd, butter, oil, and so on. I have likewise permitted my followers to wear robes of many kinds. But though I have so allowed them, such robes must be of the proper colour! How much less could I allow the eating of fish simply to satisfy the desires of those who wish to eat it!”

“If you had allowed the eating of fish,” said Kashyapa, “it would not make sense for you to advocate the five tastes, or milk, yoghurt, buttermilk, butter, ghee, sesame oil, and so forth. It would be logical for you to forbid them, just as you have forbidden the keeping of ornaments, leather shoes, and gold and silver vessels.”

« Back Next »