All tremble before violence,
All fear death
Having done the same yourself
You should neither harm nor kill
~ Dhammapada
updated March 26, 2017
Adopting a vegetarian – vegan diet is not difficult. There are many tasty, convenient alternatives that are easily found at your local grocery stores. By reducing or abandoning a meat-based diet, you are taking immediate action to prevent the suffering of many animals. Plus you will have a longer, healthier life.
The following list provides examples of: 1) Dharma teachings specifically related to eating meat, 2) Vegetarian – vegan food resources including local groups, shopping and recipes, 3) Animal rights groups – these have recipes as well as compelling information about the compassion, health and environmental benefits of a veggie-based diet. In addition, many of these groups also provide educational resources about what’s involved in the production of animal-derived clothing and other items such as wool, silk, down, and leather and other animal rights concerns.
This is not intended to be an exhaustive list but merely a starting point. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact: Losang Tendrol (aniTendrol@guhyasamaja.org).
- DHARMA TEACHINGS ABOUT GIVING UP MEAT
Chatral Rinpoche. The Benefits of Saving Lives. Lotsawa House.
A Plea for the Animals by Matthieu Ricard article published in Lion’s Roar. A Plea for the Animals – book available
The Buddhist Attitude to Animal Life Documentary – an excellent video with interviews of Buddhist leaders from all traditions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GntEWS317ls&feature=youtu.be produced by Dharma Voices for Animals http://dharmavoicesforanimals.org/eating/
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Spiritual Director, FPMT
http://fpmt.org/edu-news/on-being-vegetarian/
https://wordpress.com/post/guhyasamajacenter.wordpress.com/2935 – how to eat meat if you have to
Orgyen Trinle Dorje, Karmapa XVII – His Holiness has taught extensively about the importance of adopting a vegetarian diet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFKThlCpnTo
http://www.kagyumonlam.org/english/lectures/20071224_hhk_advice_vegetarianism.html
Geshe Thubten Soepa, FPMT registered teacher – Geshe la has researched and written about the history and benefits of giving up meat.
Protecting the Lives of Helpless Beings – Protecting the Lives of Helpless Beings is a must-read for all Buddhists and especially for those who wish to support and advocate for vegetarianism.
http://fpmt.org/mandala/archives/mandala-issues-for-2011/january/nine-questions-about-vegetarianism/
Nick Ribush, Director, Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive – a personal reflection http://fpmt.org/mandala/archives/mandala-for-2013/july/on-becoming-a-vegan/
Norm Phelps. The Great Compassion: Buddhism Animal Rights Lantern Books: 2004. – a comprehensive examination including quotes from Buddhist scriptures and the arguments used by some to justify eating meat.
Alexander Berzin. An interfaith study of the being vegetarian and the environmental benefits. http://studybuddhism.com/en/advanced-studies/history-culture/interreligious-dialogue/improving-the-environment-through-vegetarianism
EXAMPLES OF BUDDHA’S TEACHINGS RELATED TO KILLING FOR MEAT
Lankavatara Sutra http://zen-ua.org/wp-content/uploads/lankavatara_sutra_english.pdf – free, pdf download
Arya Asanga. The Bodhisattva Path to Unsurpassed Enlightenment: a complete translation of the Bodhisattvabhumi. Translated by Art Engle. Snow Lion: 2016
FOOD OFFERING PRAYER
DAG SOG KHOR CHA TSHE RAB THAM CHA DU
May we and all those around us, in all future lives,
KON CHOG SUM DANG NAM YANG MI DRAL ZHING
Never be separated from the Three Jewels,
KON CHOG SUM PO GYUN DU CHO PA LA
Continuously make offerings to the Three Jewels
KON CHOG SUM GYI JIN LAB JUG PAR SHOG
And receive the blessing of the Three Jewels.
TON PA LA ME SANG GYE RIN PO CHE
To the supreme teacher, the precious Buddha,
KYAB PA LA ME DAM CHO RIN PO CHE
To the supreme refuge, the supreme Dharma,
DREN PA LA ME GE DUN RIN PO CHE
To the supreme guides, the precious Sangha,
KYAB NA KON CHOG SUM LA CHO PA BUL
To the Triple Gem, the objects of refuge, I make offerings.
Source: FPMT
2. RESOURCES
LOCAL VEGETARIAN/VEGAN GROUPS
Information about great restaurants, shopping and cooking tips. Contact: Victoria Foote-Blackman (vfooteblackman@verizon.net)
Vegetarian Society of DC – www.vsdc.org
Vegans of Fairfax – organizer: Victoria Foote-Blackman http://www.meetup.com/Vegans-of-Fairfax-Virginia/
Vegan For All Seasons – recipes and much more – http://veganforallseasons.com/#
examples of vegan products
WHERE TO SHOP
-
- Giant and other large supermarkets, for the basics
- Trader Joe’s, which carries quite a few vegan and vegetarian options
- Whole Foods, which offers a wide variety of foods
- MOMS Organic, for the most comprehensive selection of vegan and vegetarian options
VEGAN COOKING RESOURCES
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine – The Physicians Committee is leading a revolution in medicine—putting a new focus on health and compassion. The Physicians Committee combines the clout and expertise of more than 12,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of 150,000 members across the United States and around the world. www.pcrm.org and www.ThePowerPlate.org – recipes to prevent heart disease, diabetes, cancer prevention and survival and weight control
www.TryVeg.com – free recipes, meal ideas, tips, nutrition info
Vegan Society – 30-day vegan pledge, daily email with recipes and advice https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/take-vegan-pledge
World Vegetarian Day — http://www.worldvegetarianday.org organized by the North American Vegetarian Society
3. ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUPS
These groups offer free vegetarian-vegan recipes as well as extensive collections of information related to the compassion, health, and environmental benefits of a veggie-based diet. 
Action for Animals — www.afa-online.org – “AFA operates under the simple principle that animals do not exist for humans to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment. We promote a Vegan lifestyle. AFA strives to end animal suffering through educational outreach, demonstrations, and media involvement.”
Compassion Over Killing – http://cok.net Working to end animal abuse since 1995, Compassion Over Killing exposes cruelty to farmed animals through undercover investigations and promotes vegetarian eating as a way to build a kinder world in part through its yearly DC VegFest, This locally-based national organization has its headquarters in Takoma Park, MD.
The humane league – www.thehumaneleague.com – We are working relentlessly to reduce animal suffering through grassroots education to change eating habits and corporate campaigns to reform farm animal treatment.” Especially aimed at the college crowd.
United Poultry Concerns – www.upc-online.org based in Machipongo, VA, works to expose factory farm practices, and offers recipes and cookbooks including tips for replacing eggs.
Farm Animal Rights Movement – http://www.farmusa.org/ is a national organization based in Bethesda, MD. that also offers a meat-out Monday program: http://www.livevegan.org/meatout-mondays
| Meatless Mondays By going meatless on Mondays you can…
Source: Compassion Over Killing |
4. A FEW RECIPES
Vegan truffles http://www.health.com/recipes/orange-chocolate-energy-bars recipe for vegan “truffles” (not bars despite the online title).
May all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering
May I free them from suffering and the causes of suffering.
Guhyasamaja Center Blog 