[Buddha-l] Re: on eating meat

[Richard Nance]

On 10/23/05, Michael Paris <parisjm2004 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I wonder if Buddhist ethics and morality can be discussed in English
> terms, without reference to "karma" and other semi-metaphysical terms.
> That might clarify the arguments.

The Sanskrit noun "karman" means action, though people tend to forget
this. Hence, the term itself is really not any more metaphysical than
the English "action".

In discussions like the one we're having, the following test might
prove useful: when you run across (or feel tempted to make) a claim
employing the term karman/karma, replace each instance of the term
with the English "action(s)" (or, given that this is a list devoted to
Buddhism, "intentional action(s)").

Does the claim still makes sense? If not, then it probably ought to be revised.

Best wishes,

R. Nance