{"id":6895,"date":"2010-07-21T17:37:49","date_gmt":"2010-07-21T09:37:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moonpointer.com\/new\/?p=6895"},"modified":"2023-01-09T17:12:35","modified_gmt":"2023-01-09T09:12:35","slug":"spiritually-justifying-use-of-animal-products","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moonpointer.com\/new\/2010\/07\/spiritually-justifying-use-of-animal-products\/","title":{"rendered":"Spiritually Justifying Use of Animal Products?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Q:<\/strong> I once watched a Buddhist TV programme in a Taiwan in which the Master said that we should avoid using leather products eg. bags, belts and shoes etc. and that we should chant some sutra to ‘chaodu’ the affected animals (for better rebirths). Are you able to advise me on this?<\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> It is common to know that Buddhism encourages vegetarianism (for those who wish to cultivate greater compassion to help more beings), but it is also true that the Buddha urged veganism (no consumption or use of any animal products – including milk, cheese, cream, honey, silk…) towards the end of his teaching career. You can see this in the Surangama Sutra: http:\/\/moonpointer.com\/index.php?itemid=2449<\/a> This is because animals need to be trapped, reared and exploited for animal products to be possible. And the animals get killed in the end for their meat and such too.<\/span> Usually, for beginners, vegetarianism is good ‘enough’ \u2013 unless they are already ready to go further.<\/p>\n

As for chanting to chaodu, many chants can be used. The easiest is the name of Amituofo. However, this is not to say every time we chant Amituofo, the cows from which the leather used come from will definitely go Pureland \u2013 because the consciousness of the cows, if not yet already reborn, must generate faith, aspiration and practice (the three provisions needed) to reach Pureland. If not, and if already reborn, merits dedicated to them after chanting can help alleviate their suffering. We should avoid doing this to continually ‘justify’ our use of animal products though. If it is so easy to ‘send’ the deceased to a better realm, the Buddha wouldn’t encourage vegetarianism or veganism to avoid support of killing.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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