Is meat eating prohibited ?

by Dr. D. P. Atukorale

Living beings (animals including men) can be classified into three categories according to what they eat for survival:

Most carnivores eat meat or flesh; Most herbivores eat only herbs or vegetables; Omnivores eat both flesh and herbs.

Uncivilised people in the ancient times were mostly omnivores. Some in fact practiced cannibalism. On becoming civilised, people improving on their human qualities, gave up eating flesh of others and learnt to live on herbs.

The evolution of modern religions gave an impetus towards this end. Ancient religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism gave pride of place to religions way of life by doing away with evil deeds. However, Buddhism became the most compassionate religion of all. All for other monotheistic religions or revealed religions which proclaim the creation of everything by Jehovah/Lord God/Allah were given herbs for meat (food) at the beginning.

If Jews, Christians and Muslims truly believe in their Holy Scriptures (1) Torah (2) Gospel (3) Al Qur’an and understand, they must invariably be pure vegetarians, but not Buddhists who may partake.

(a) flesh of animals that meet with natural death

(b) remnants of carcasses of animals left behind by carnivores who kill the animals for their prey or

(c) flesh of animals killed not for the purpose of obtaining flesh for sale or consumption.

Buddhists who observe the first precept that “they will abstain from killing” do not endorse wilful killing of beings in any manner under any circumstances.

The original food (a vegetarian diet) for sustenance given to the above three categories of adherents of monotheistic religions is described in unwavering terms in the Holy Bible or chapter “Genesis” vide Genesis :1:30: “To every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creeps upon the earth wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat “(food)”.

Men in their ignorance had sacrificed animals to unseen imaginary Jehovah/Lord God/Allah in the past, but did not partake such scarified meat, as food until Noah after the great Biblical deluge ate such meat of the sacrificed animals containing blood without prior permission of Jehovah/Lord God/Allah as everything on earth was destroyed by floods that prevailed over 200 days.

This incident compelled Jehovah/Lord God/Allah to make flesh of animals devoid of blood lawful for the man to eat. The question is that it is impossible to obtain flesh devoid of blood by draining the blood completely.

Scientifically it is impossible for any person to get meat (flesh) without blood as, even after cutting the neck vessels (carotid arteries and jugular veins), all the blood of the animal (e.g. Cow) cannot be drained away according to the present day methods of slaughtering as far as I am aware.

In the olden days some people believed that all the blood of animals can be drained by cutting the neck vessels but now even a second year medical student or a veterinary student knows that a significant portion of animal’s blood e.g. that is contained in small blood vessels such as capillaries arterioles and venules can never be expelled from the muscles and other organs even after squeezing the organs with the help of a machine.

As such a significant portion of the blood will be there in the animal’s organs and muscles after so called complete draining of blood.

In the olden days many uneducated people believed that when an animal gets an infection all the organisms (bacteria etc.,) were found only in the blood and this may be the reason to drain some of the blood of an animal.

When animals and man develop an infection due to certain organisms such as bacteria, Veterinary Surgeons and doctors know that the bacteria are present in almost all the organs including the blood of the animals and men.

For Jews, bloods, carcasses of animals that die of natural causes and flesh of unclean animals are prohibited. For Muslims, the following four things are prohibited according to Al Qur’an (a) blood (b) carcasses of animals (c) swine flesh (d) flesh of animals not sacrificed to Allah. So for Muslims swine is the only animal that falls into the category of unclean animals. As far as I am aware dog flesh, flesh of cats, flesh of crocodiles or even flesh of elephants can be consumed by Muslims as only pork has been prohibited.

According to Buddhism, (a) alms containing flesh of animal carcasses that die of its own through accidents and other natural causes where there is no intention of killing for consumption of their flesh (b) Carcasses discarded by hunters after obtaining their skin or horns or tusks where killing was done not with intention of supplying flesh to satisfy hunger, (c) Eaten and left overs of the carcasses of animals killed by carnivorous, beasts like lions, tigers, leopards, whose motive is only to satisfy their hunger are suitable to be partaken by individuals (except for Muslims, Jews and Christians who are prohibited even to eat carcasses). The above three items (a), (b) and (c) are suitable to offer for alms for

(i) The Enlightened Buddha and the Arahants who have already eradicated craving not to be born again.

(ii) Suitable for householder laymen for consumption as consumption will not tarnish the first Precept they have undertaken to observe as a life long pledge.

The Buddha had admonished the followers not to deal in five trades (buying and selling) as it would encourage killing (destruction of life) or harming or causing death to animals and mankind.

(a) Sale or buying of animals for slaughter (killing);

(b) Sale or buying of flesh of animals killed;

(c) Sale or buying of arms and ammunitions that will be used for killing;

(d) Sale or buying of poisonous harmful drugs (as insecticides used for killing);

(e) Sale or buying of intoxicants (alcohol, heroine, hashish, opium).

Is selling of flesh by Muslims allowed according to Al Qur’an?

It is interesting to note that according to Al-Qur’an or Holy Bible, there is no provision to slaughter animals (or catch fish) and sell their flesh to disbelievers or even to believers and earn money. Therefore, those who engage in such trades (i.e. buying or selling) are not true followers of Jehovah/Lord God/Allah.

Although Buddhists cannot be classified as pure vegetarians in consideration of the above-mentioned facts, to be the safe side, it is prudent to become vegetarians, remembering the foundation laying, first advice that was given to Sri Lankan King, Devanampiyatissa by Arahant Mahinda to build up a great nation of Sinhala Buddhists that has lasted for over 2552 years.

Our Great King who ruled over three decades banned killing of any sentient being, which meant that there was no flesh obtained by killing. In other words our Great King Devanampiyatissa instituted all citizens of this country by force on the First Precept, using his regal powers to make Sinhala Buddhists a great Nation.

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