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

[John Whalen-Bridge]

Much thanks to Peter Junger for his response.  I should say that the
protagonist David Lurie is a person who, one would argue, moves from
disgrace to non-disgrace, and his compassionate action (the euthanasia
of animals) is a paradoxical expression of how far he comes. Some
readers might disagree with that interpretation, but the line of
thought, nonetheless, is that the character's redemption is that he is,
in some ways, able to become more like your friend Tim McCarthy.

I highly recommend the book.  Vegetarians on the list should also read
THE LIVES OF ANIMALS, which includes a response to Coetzee's animal
rights heroine by Peter Singer.

All best wishes,
John Whalen-Bridge

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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 11:05:03 -0400
From: "Peter D. Junger" <junger at samsara.law.cwru.edu>
Subject: Re: [Buddha-l] 
To: Buddhist discussion forum <buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com>
Message-ID: <200510261505.j9QF540b020179 at samsara.law.cwru.edu>

"John Whalen-Bridge" writes:

: The situation Peter Junger describes parallels the ending of Coetzee's
DISGRA
: CE very closely.  Could I know, on-list or off, the name of the Soto
Zen teac
: her, and how widely known is his/her activity? Am wondering if it is
coincind
: ence or influence/analogue.  Thanks--John Whalen-Bridge

His name is Tim McCarthy and his transmission is from Kobun Chino Roshi.
He is the founder and head of the Kent Zendo in Kent, Ohio, and keeps a
very low profile.  (He won't even let me call his "Sensei.")  He is also
a collector of master degrees and teaches or has taught at many
universities and colleges in the Northeast Ohio region---and he
regularly conducts introduction to Buddhism classes at the Cleveland
Buddhist Temple (which is a Shin Temple) and also conducts biannual
memorial services for animals there.

I gather that far more cats than people are resident at the Kent Zendo
and that most of the people who are resident there are in especial need
of loving kindness.

I am not familiar with Coetzee's DISGRACE, but after a quick check of
reviews on Amazon, I can assure you that Tim in no way resembles the
protagonist of that work.  Tim's compassion and loving kindness for
animals is something that, from what he has told me, he has always had.

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



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