Buddhism is widely known to advocate a stance of total pacifism towards all sentient beings, and because of this, it is often thought that Buddhist doctrine would stipulate that non-violent food practices, such as vegetarianism, be mandatory. However, the Pali source materials do not encourage vegetarianism and most Buddhists do not practice it. Using research based on ethnographic evidence and interviews, this book discusses this issue by presenting an investigation of vegetarianism and animal ethics within a Buddhist cultural domain.
Focusing on Sri Lanka, a place of great historical significance to Buddhism, the book looks at how lay Buddhists and the clergy came to understand the role of vegetarianism and animal ethics in Buddhism. It analyses whether the Buddha preached a view that encouraged vegetarianism, and how this squares with his pacifism towards animals. The book goes on to question how Buddhist food practices intersect with other secular activities such as traditional medicine, as well as discussing the wider implications of Buddhist animal pacifism including vegetarian political movements and animal rights groups.
Vegetarianism and Animal Ethics in Contemporary Buddhism, James Stewart, Routledge, Paperback, 240 pp, $49.95
James Stewart is a Research Associate at the University of Tasmania. He recently completed his PhD in Buddhist Studies and Philosophy. His main area of research is Sinhala Buddhism, especially animal ethics in Sri Lanka and the effect it has on food and dietary practices. He has previously lived in Sri Lanka and makes frequent visits there to conduct fieldwork. His website is http://srilankaobserver.org/.
Introduction 1. The Lion and the Cow: Food, Ethics and Non-violence towards animals in Sinhala Myth and History.
2. Eating, Drinking, Killing � Vegetarianism and animal welfare in Sinhala literature.
3. Food of Compassion: Vegetarianism in modern Sinhala Buddhist lay communities.
4. The Disciple�s Diet: Clerical views on vegetarianism and animal ethics.
5. Milk of Life: Cow Veneration and Milk Consumption in Sinhala Buddhist society. 6. Meat Aversions: Vegetarianism, Health Food and Medicine in Sinhala Society.
7. Food Politics: Ethnic Conflict and Halal Abolitionism in Sri Lanka.
8. Conclusion
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