A parent laments that his Buddhist vegetarian child does not buy non-vegetarian food for him as an act of filial piety. He hears of another vegetarian child who buys meat delicacies for his father. But this displeasure is due to different perceptions of filial piety. The common worldly perception is that anything done to please one’s parents is being filial. But this is spiritually short-sighted, as the Buddhist perspective is that the truly filial are so towards all parents of the past, present and future. As such, to add demand for the death of more past and future parents by buying meat to appease just a parent or two is not true filial piety.
The Buddha also taught that true filial piety is to persuade one’s parents to learn the Dharma – which would include the above truths. This is so as the Dharma is the greatest gift one can give, as it can lead to liberation from all suffering. One should not feed anyone’s craving for dead animals; not even upon request – as this leads to demand for the deaths of more animals – which is clearly against universal filial piety. If the meat-buying child understood what it means to practise universal filial piety, he wouldn’t do that. He might have intentions to be filial, but the result is not really good.
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Hi,
I think it is best to leave it to the individual to determine the filial acts that one wishes to do.
The possible problems that can arise from a vegan child not buying non-vegan food for his/her parent are as follows.
1) the parent developing a hatred for people learning buddhism.
2) causing the parent to turn away from buddhism.
3) discouraging other people’s children from learning buddhism.
4) generating negative impression of vegetarians as negative and extreme.
While it is true that all animals and life forms were our parents once the many lives of ours, Buddha also taught specifically that one should respect and care for parents that have cared for us in this present life.
While vegetarianism has many values, it is up to the individual as there are buddhist traditions that allow for non-vegan diets. There are many good buddhists in Sri Lanka, Thailand etc that are not vegetarians.
Furthermore, I remember reading in Ven. Shengyen’s work, zhengxin de fojiao,(pg 22) he mentioned that it is not a requirement to be a vegetarian in order to be a buddhist. He did mention that it is up to the individual family/social circumstances.
I think it is best left to the individual according to the individual circumstances of each family.
Yes, we have to leave it to individuals to decide. However, it’s true that the greater scope of filial piety should be universal, while vegetarianism/veganism is in the spirit of non-harm under as many circumstances as possible.
> 1) the parent developing a hatred for people learning buddhism.
To counter this, children should be loving in all other moral ways.
> 2) causing the parent to turn away from buddhism.
> 3) discouraging other people’s children from learning buddhism.
To counter this, children should be so loving, that parents realise their change is due to Buddhism.
> 4) generating negative impression of vegetarians as negative and extreme.
To counter this, children should patiently explain that meat-eating is the real negative extreme, as it must involve killing at some point, while damaging the environment and health.
It is interesting that the Buddha was never recorded to have offered meat to parents of his past as a token of respect and care.
Yes, there are good Buddhists who eat meat, though their choice of diet can be more good – with greater compassion and wisdom.
Yes, vegetarianism is not a must to be a beginner Buddhist, though vegetarianism is a Bodhisattva precept in the Brahma Net Sutra. The Bodhisattva precepts are crucial in leading to Buddhahood.
The Gift of Dharma is Great but not everyone has the good fortune to accept it. Parents are usually of another generation who have their own thoughts & moral values firmly instilled in their mind & difficult to change. Time & great effort is really needed to educate them.
Maybe some successful vegetarians can share ways of showing love in more details?
Some may be already loving to their parents so the increased love is hard to notice but denial to serve them good non-vegetarian food in comparison to past worldly filial piety act of doing so will be more visible “negative” change to the parents if they discourage their children to be vegetarianism.
Looking fwd to sharing of more ideas of showing love as well as encourage vegetarianism maybe not soley on religious ground may be more acceptable to general.
When sharing vege food, it is good to share that which is tasty and nutritious at the same time. While eating together, extol about the value of the food. Let them know it’s not the usual, that it’s better than the usual! And it’s true! Amituofo
😉