Teachings on Vegetarianism from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

The Unchanging Spirit in Changing Forms

The spirit may be reincarnated into any of the six realms. While the physical form may change, the spirit remains constant. Many of the creatures we see today were once human beings. It is only because of the heavy karma they accumulated in past lives that they have fallen into the animal realm. The chicken crows, signalling the dawn; the pig rolls in the mud, plump and tender; the cow lowers its head to graze; the fish and shrimp swim leisurely in the water; the shellfish open and close their shells in quiet contentment; and the crab scuttles slowly, protected by its shell. How could they possibly know that they are destined to become spirits under the blade?

The Silent Cries of the Animal Realm

Their flesh and bones are devoured, and their internal organs are treated as delicacies. As the full moon of the Mid-Autumn Festival hangs in the sky, we witness the bitter sorrows of the human world. Living beings are roasted, their lives extinguished in an instant, yet people remain unmoved by their cries. Can the Moon Goddess hear them? They, too, possess spirits and fear death. How can we bear to swallow them into our bellies?

The Karmic Price of Meat Consumption

Consuming meat brings the retribution of illness. The calamity of war and violence manifests, leading to bodily harm and death. I counsel you to embrace a vegetarian diet and refrain from eating meat. Let go of these habits and stop eating meat to avoid having sentient beings come to seek revenge, as this creates immense obstacles on the path to rebirth in the Western Pure Land. If it is inconvenient, you may eat the vegetables around the meat, adhering to the principle of not eating meat that you have seen killed, heard killed, or had killed specifically for you. By doing so, you cultivate compassion and maintain a healthy body.

The Abundance of the Western Pure Land

In the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, when you have a desire for food, you need only hold a bowl of the seven treasures in your hand. Hundreds of delicacies appear before you, each perfect in colour, aroma, and taste, fulfilling your every wish. Practitioner Su and the kitchen staff at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre skillfully prepare these meals to fulfil everyone's wishes, and the fragrance of the vegetarian meal will linger on your lips forever. This teaching was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.