Vegetarian Era


If we are not compassionate enough, what is the use of us becoming a saint? If our compassion is coarse and we are apathetic when others suffer, how can we attain sainthood? Even if we can, we are useless and can only harm others. That is why Shakyamuni Buddha said that those who eat meat cannot become a Buddha; they can only become Maya because they are not compassionate enough. They may have the power but not the compassion, so they cannot be called "Buddhas." They may have the same power as the Buddha but not the compassion. That is why they are Maya. If we delight in eating meat, it means that we are not compassionate enough. Then we do not have to make any excuses at all. We know where meat comes from, but we still destroy a life to nourish our own bodies.

Animals suffer pain when they are killed. If we can eat meat happily regardless of that, there is no need to measure our compassion. Some people look merciful. They recite the sutras, prostrate to the Buddha's statue, keep the precepts, and do not kill; but their subtle compassion has not developed. That is why Shakyamuni Buddha said that those who eat meat cannot become a Buddha. He said that very clearly, but it is we who do not understand.