| I am very, very fond of all types of animals. I don't | | | | Shakyamuni did a lot of things that we can copy but |
| like them to be hurt or abused or slaughtered or | | | | it won't have the same result? |
| eaten. I don't like that and I feel that when we hurt | | | | Shakyamuni, Manjushri, Kuan Yin are enlightened. |
| animals, it is a sign of cowardice because we are | | | | Action that is associated with them will benefit that |
| more powerful than them. | | | | sentient being, even eating their flesh. Because |
| So it is due to our cowardice and our lack of courage | | | | Buddha is not eating from desire or attachment, |
| that we abuse animals. Maybe in the past, food, | | | | Buddha is eating because if someone offered out of |
| nutrients and resources and all that was very limited. | | | | great compassion, it benefits that sentient being. So |
| But now in the modern world especially in our | | | | therefore, if we purposely kill and offer Buddha, of |
| country here, food resources are very, very plentiful. | | | | course that is not advisable but if it is already dead |
| So we can get our nutrients and proteins and | | | | and that's from their heart and they offer, it is okay. |
| whatever our body needs from all other sources and | | | | The karma that they kill to offer the Buddha is there |
| we don't need to harm any animals. The tradition in | | | | but there is also good karma from offering to the |
| China of praying and dedicating themselves to Kuan | | | | Buddha. So it will benefit the animal and the being but |
| Yin and never harming an animal by taking flesh or | | | | that is not saying you should go and kill to offer to |
| bringing flesh into the temple is one of the best | | | | the Buddha. So for example, if we eat flesh, there is |
| traditions I have ever heard of. If you believe in | | | | a mantra we recite. We can recite the mantra of the |
| Shakyamuni, Amitabha, Kuan Yin, Manjushri, their | | | | medicine Buddha- Tayatha Om Behkanze Behkanze |
| nature is the same - not to harm others. | | | | Maha Behkanze Behkanze Radza Samogate Soha, |
| The first fundamental step is developing 'Tzepei' or | | | | Chenrezig or Kuan Yin - Om Mani Padme Hum. |
| compassion, the first fundamental step is outward. | | | | Blow it on the flesh and it will help the animal to take |
| Outwardly take vows, when we take vows, we | | | | a good rebirth. So if blowing the mantra onto the |
| restrict our body, speech and mind from doing | | | | animal's flesh will benefit the animal then, if the flesh |
| actions that will be contrary to becoming close with | | | | is eaten by the Buddha, there will be tremendous |
| these Enlightened Being by nature and physically as | | | | benefit. So you recite Om Mani Padme Hum on the |
| well. Close by nature means to develop their | | | | flesh before eating and it benefits the flesh, that |
| character and physically close means to have visions | | | | means the power of the mantra is as high as the |
| and see them. In Buddhism, when we say get close | | | | power of the being the mantra represents which, in |
| to a god or get close to a Buddha, there are two | | | | this case, is Kuan Yin. |
| ways of looking at it. One is physically close, they are | | | | In the Sutras, it is said that animals don't have the |
| guarding you and they are always around you. The | | | | capacity to understand Dharma. But by the power of |
| real close is to become like them, to share their | | | | the Dharma, is condensed into sound when it is |
| nature. That is the ultimate closeness that we wish | | | | uttered in a mantra. When you recite and the animal |
| to gather from an enlightened being such as Kuan Yin | | | | hears it, when you recite and you blow on the animal |
| or Manjushri. | | | | directly or indirectly, it plants the seeds of Dharma |
| Therefore, one of the vows we take is not eating | | | | inside their minds and streams through their bodies. |
| meat. People say Shakyamuni ate meat, so if | | | | So the Buddha speech arises from his attainments. |
| Shakyamuni eats meat, it means we can eat meat. | | | | Then the attainments arise in the form of sound and |
| But Shakyamuni did a lot of things that we can copy | | | | sound becomes words. The words become meaning |
| but it won't have the same result. Example a great | | | | and the meaning is called Dharma. Why is it called |
| cook is in a restaurant cutting very fast. I can't go in | | | | Dharma? Because Dharma is transformation but the |
| there and copy, I will cut my fingers up. It may look | | | | transformation starts from hearing the attainment in |
| like it but it is not the same | | | | the form of sound. That is why mantras and chakras |
| People say Shakyamuni ate meat, so if Shakyamuni | | | | have a lot of power. So different mantras represent |
| eats meat, it means we can eat meat. But | | | | different forms of enlightenment. |