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Was the Buddha a vegetarian?
- Thread starter MountainPine
- Start date
If you are referring to my post above yours, I would never argue for not eating vegetables because they can feel.
A completely unnecessary and ridiculous statement. Let's not alienate each other because of difference in belief. This has been one of the more civil discussions on this topic, so let's not let that go to waste..
I just took back my words, I didn't change my belief. I just didn't know how to explain it further and that my so far explanation was flowed. I already expect that plants have their own nature that we humans still cannot fathom (except we already know they are alive). Humans have always been smug about the knowledge they acquired and completely ignored that of other stuff they still haven't acquired. Just because we still can't explain that plants have their own way of life, does not mean they don't have any. No worries
My sources of such beliefs:
"The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing that does not exalt God by His praise, but you do not understand their way of exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving." Quraan 17:44
"And they ask, about the soul. Say, 'The soul is of the affair of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little.' " Quraan 17:85
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Doesn't this clearly point to plants not feeling pain?
Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
If Buddhism was just another religion based on ideology, personal or otherwise, I would have never even considered nor wanted it.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Islamic food prayer is "in the name of God" to start eating and "thank God" after finishing it. There is a longer prayer for the latter, but that one is the basic one.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Bismillāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm
I like the sound and surprise people by reciting it at the table (though as you know I am an atheist). I may not be pronouncing it correctly. Does that make me a Muslim?
I think not sufficiently. I am missing on the Prophet (salla llāhu ʿalayhi wa-alehe wa-sallam).
I like the sound and surprise people by reciting it at the table (though as you know I am an atheist). I may not be pronouncing it correctly. Does that make me a Muslim?
I think not sufficiently. I am missing on the Prophet (salla llāhu ʿalayhi wa-alehe wa-sallam).
Kartari
Active Member
Hi buddhist,
Thanks for the link, I'll have to check that out when I get a chance. I'll see what some of these articles have to say.
The claims I've read to date though essentially point to events that are easily explained by simple chemical reactions rather than anything akin to neural activity as far as plants "communicating" with one another. I've heard one argument that since plants tend to grow towards the sun, they must be aware of the sun's presence and are trying to angle themselves better to receive its light. In fact, I know that photosynthesis explains this phenomenon. Sunlight inhibits growth in plant cells, energy is instead used to convert sunlight into energy to feed when plant cells are hit by sunlight. This is why plants tend to grow towards the sun. The plant cells which are less directly exposed to sunlight spend less time converting energy to food and therefore grow faster, such as plant cells on the darker side of the plant, causing the plant to bend towards the sun. This boils down to a chemical reaction, not a conscious act. That's also why plants grow a lot more at night time (they do not grow during the day as much).
Out of curiosity, do you think it's less bad to consume plants than animals? Or is it no different to you?
Your thoughts on this matter remind me of Jainism, btw. Jains believe all matter is infused with reincarnating souls, including rocks, and rate all beings on a scale from one to five senses (i.e. we have five, rocks are believed to have the sense of touch only, plants are generally maybe three for them, etc.). From what I understand (which is basic), the most advanced practitioners are called "sky clad" monks (i.e. clad in the sky, or naked, so as not to kill cotton or other plants for attire), and they essentially starve themselves to death as a final act of ahimsa towards other beings. But they have different rules for laypeople, prescribing vegetarianism as better than an omnivorous diet since five-sense beings (animals) are not harmed at least.
Thanks for the link, I'll have to check that out when I get a chance. I'll see what some of these articles have to say.
The claims I've read to date though essentially point to events that are easily explained by simple chemical reactions rather than anything akin to neural activity as far as plants "communicating" with one another. I've heard one argument that since plants tend to grow towards the sun, they must be aware of the sun's presence and are trying to angle themselves better to receive its light. In fact, I know that photosynthesis explains this phenomenon. Sunlight inhibits growth in plant cells, energy is instead used to convert sunlight into energy to feed when plant cells are hit by sunlight. This is why plants tend to grow towards the sun. The plant cells which are less directly exposed to sunlight spend less time converting energy to food and therefore grow faster, such as plant cells on the darker side of the plant, causing the plant to bend towards the sun. This boils down to a chemical reaction, not a conscious act. That's also why plants grow a lot more at night time (they do not grow during the day as much).
Out of curiosity, do you think it's less bad to consume plants than animals? Or is it no different to you?
Your thoughts on this matter remind me of Jainism, btw. Jains believe all matter is infused with reincarnating souls, including rocks, and rate all beings on a scale from one to five senses (i.e. we have five, rocks are believed to have the sense of touch only, plants are generally maybe three for them, etc.). From what I understand (which is basic), the most advanced practitioners are called "sky clad" monks (i.e. clad in the sky, or naked, so as not to kill cotton or other plants for attire), and they essentially starve themselves to death as a final act of ahimsa towards other beings. But they have different rules for laypeople, prescribing vegetarianism as better than an omnivorous diet since five-sense beings (animals) are not harmed at least.
Bismillāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm
I like the sound and surprise people by reciting it at the table (though as you know I am an atheist). I may not be pronouncing it correctly. Does that make me a Muslim?
I think not sufficiently. I am missing on the Prophet (salla llāhu ʿalayhi wa-alehe wa-sallam).
Sounds about right, yes. That's the long version of it. The one I mentioned was for bismillah only.
Well, the short answer is what you provided, yes. Remember that what matters the most is believing in what's said, not only saying it. Just in case, and I believe you already know, the prayer to eat does not include the part of the Prophet. Only God is to be worshiped. But I think you already know all of the above
Where did you read about tiny ears connecting to little brains? Pollan says this in the linked article:
No, dude. I simply asked you a question about the source for your claim. I ask a second time, where did you read Pollan saying that plants have tiny ears that connect to little brains? The quote I provided from him has him saying that plants do not have brains.
it was a joke, silly!! must we be so serious??
buddhist
Well-Known Member
Yes, I believe it's less kammically negative.
In that case, I am sorry for being rude. I also half-wondered if he really had said something like that.
