The TVA (Tibetan Volunteers for Animals) held their annual gathering in the birthplace of the Buddhist faith, Bodhgaya, India again this year, advocating a vegetarian diet for Buddhists. Tibetan Buddhists are seldom vegetarians, since plant-based foods are scarce in the high mountain altitudes of Tibet. But with the influx of hundreds of thousands of Tibetan refugees into India, where vegetables and non-meat cuisine is standard fare, Tibetans are changing their thinking about diet. The Buddhist principle of compassion for all sentient beings provides a reason for cruelty-free eating, and the TVA, staffed by young volunteers has gained the widespread support of lamas, geshes and other Tibetan teachers in India.
An article by Caroline Martin posted to the Phayul.com website explains this transformation of social norms and Buddhism's influence on contemporary Tibetan culture.
A San Francisco Bay Area author, Vasu Murti, an American-born Hindu devotee has written a wonderful book on Western Religions' writings and views on compassionate eating. I met Vasu Murti at the San Francisco Vegetarian Society's annual celebration in Golden Gate Park.
Vasu Murti gave me permission to link to his website: http://www.all-creatures.org/murti/index.html.
The first chapter of his book, "They Shall Not Hurt or Destroy" is available on his website. He presents detailed sources and information; one fact I enjoyed reading was that John Wesley, the founder of Methodism in England, was an animal rights activist, and a vegetarian!
Please take a look at his work and join the discussion.
This post signals the official launch of the Happy Heart Compassionate Eating Cooperation Circle!
Please send all emails to me at <hengsureATmacDOTcom>
Recent Comments