Re: Which menu for Easter?

Hugh Betcha wrote:

The Buddha also recommended that everybody be celibate; did you
vegetarians miss that part?
...
· This must have been a mistranslation!!!

"And what, bikkyus, is right action? Abstaining from taking life,
abstaining from stealing, abstaining from unchastity: This, bikkyus, is
called right action."
-Buddha

I suppose that their are some Buddhists who sit around and ponder how
that MUST be a mistranslation, or, that MUST be open to
interpretation... just as there are many Christians who sweat over
Matthew 19:12.

"Main Entry: chas·ti·ty
Pronunciation: 'chas-t&-tE
Function: noun
1 : the quality or state of being chaste : as a : abstention from unlawful
sexual intercourse b : abstention from all sexual intercourse c : purity in
conduct and intention d : restraint and simplicity in design or expression
2 : personal integrity"

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=chastity

So, for the Five Precepts applicable to lay Buddhists, the first definition
of chastity is correct. I think few Christians would deny chastity of that
sort is a good idea, although even that can be difficult to practice. But,
to examine your quotation further,

"bhikkhu [bhikkhu]: A Buddhist monk; a man who has given up the
householder's life to live a life of heightened virtue (see sila) in
accordance with the Vinaya in general, and the Patimokkha rules in
particular."

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/glossary.html#b

So, in this case, the Buddha was addressing monks, not laypersons. In
addition to the universal five, Theravadin monks are bound by some 272
addional precepts. In the case of monks, the second definition of chastity
applies.

To return to the original discussion, the Buddhist monastic code defines the
staple food for for monks, including:

"5) Meat. The flesh of any biped or quadruped, except for that which is
unallowable. The following types of meat are un-allowable: the flesh of
human beings, elephants, horses, dogs, snakes, lions, tigers, leopards,
bears, and hyenas (panthers). Human beings, horses, and elephants were
regarded as too noble to be used as food. The other types of meat were
forbidden either on grounds that they were repulsive ("People were offended
and annoyed and spread it about, 'How can these Sakyan contemplatives eat
dog meat? Dogs are loathsome, disgusting'") or dangerous (bhikkhus,
smelling of lion's flesh, went into the jungle; the lions there were
offended and annoyed and attacked them).

To eat human flesh entails a thullaccaya; to eat any of the other
unallowable types, a dukkata (Mv.VI.23.9-15). If a bhikkhu is uncertain as
to the identity of any meat presented to him, he incurs a dukkata if he
doesn't ask the donor what it is (Mv.VI.23.9).

Fish or meat, even if of an allowable kind, is unallowable if raw. Thus
bhikkhus may not eat steak tartare, sashimi, oysters on the half-shell,
etc. (Raw flesh and blood are allowed at Mv.VI.10.2 only when one is
possessed by non-human beings (!)) Furthermore, even cooked fish or meat of
an allowable kind is unallowable if the bhikkhu sees, hears, or suspects
that the animal was killed specifically for the purpose of feeding bhikkhus
(Mv.VI.31.14)."

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/bmc1/ch08-4.html

In other words, a Buddhist prodigal son would not eat the fatted calf killed
in his honor. A lamb chop from the supermarket? Depends on the person; if
it bothers you don't eat it. A leftover lamb chop in a monk's begging bowl?
Eat it; nobody likes fussy monks.

I believe Jesus had similar advice about food.

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