[Buddha-l] Re: "Nature" and eating meat

[Peter D. Junger]

Stefan Detrez writes:

: Cases of Westerners eating human flesh are scarce as far as I know.

The case most often discussed in law schools in Common Law countries
is the 19th Century Case of Dudley v. Stevens.  There several sailors
were shipwrecked, and one---a cabin boy---was killed and eaten.

The survivors were rescued and then tried in an English court for
murder.  The defense of "necessity" was rejected; but, as I recall
the defendants got a very light sentence.

Note however that the offense was in the killing, not in the 
cannabalism.

More difficult problems arise with "mercy" killings.  The United
States Supreme Court is shortly going to rule in a case where
the Federal government seeks to treat as criminal acts that
are permitted under a state's "assisted suicide" law.

A case---not a law case---that is more relevant to Buddha-L is that
of a Soto Zen teacher who is, I believe, the most compasionate
person whom I have ever met and who works for a local humane society,
where his duties include being an "euthanasia officer."  He
has killed many a rabid raccoon and cancerous cat and in my
estimation is as close to being a true Bodhisattva as is possible
in these degenerate times.  (And, being allergic to all wheat
products he does occasionally eat meat---even Bodhisattva's cannot
live by rice crackers alone.)

--
Peter D. Junger--Case Western Reserve University Law School--Cleveland, OH
 EMAIL: junger at samsara.law.cwru.edu    URL:  http://samsara.law.cwru.edu