[Buddha-l] Re: on eating meat and pets

[Hugo]

Hello Laura,

On 10/23/05, Laura Castell <laura.castell at jcu.edu.au> wrote:
> The issue of pets is a very interesting one.  We can't blame the animals
> for their actions, they are being their true selves when they go out and
> hunt.

How is it different from Humans?

Aren't humans being their true selves when they go out and hunt?


> Even the sometimes apparent cruelty of their behaviour I believe is
> natural (something about nature I struggle to understand ).

Aren't the cruel acts of humans also natural?


Why do you think you like certain things and not others?

Why do you think you do certain things and not others?

If certain conditions are present you will like this and not that, if
certain conditions are present you will do this and not that.  But all
conditions are "natural", thus all reactions are "natural".

If you have been conditioned to think that in order to be happy you
have to accumulate money, you will like to save money, you will think
that accumulating money is "The Right Thing" to do.

Your reactions, your likes and dislikes are conditioned, they come out
of supported by something, they are not self-inherent.


> are you serious? (I am really not sure! so I may be silly in my reply to
> this but I'll have a go anyway). If the cat was a wild animal and catching
> birds to survive, then I think one can feel compassion for both, the cat
> and the birds, but when we talk about cats that receive lots of love and
> attention and food, I think the only recipients of our compassion should be
> the poor birds!

What about the case when you see somebody angry, screaming and yelling
to another person.  Should we feel compassion only for the one being
screamed at?

Why is the angry person screaming and yelling?  Because he is
suffering, otherwise he wouldn't do it.

If he is suffering, then, shouldn't we feel compassion for him too?

Greetings,
--
Hugo