still more on eating
On the second day of the waning moon in the third
month of 1979, Luang Pu was staying at Prakhonchai
Forest Monastery. After 8 p.m. a group of monks who
liked to wander around, pitching their tents near populated
areas, came to the monastery to spend the night
there, too. After paying their respects to Luang Pu, they
talked about what they felt was the outstanding feature of
their practice, saying, “Those who eat meat are supporting
the killing of animals. Those who eat only vegetables
show a high degree of compassion. The proof of this is
that when you convert to eating just vegetables, the mind
becomes more peaceful and cool.”
Luang Pu responded,
“That’s very good. The fact that you can be vegetarians is
very good, and I’d like to express my admiration. As for those
who still eat meat, if that meat is pure in three ways—in that
they haven’t seen or heard or suspected that an animal was killed
to provide the food specifically for them—and they obtained it in
a pure way, then eating the meat is in no way against the
Dhamma and Vinaya. But when you say that your mind
becomes peaceful and cool, that’s the result of the strength that
comes from being intent on practicing correctly in line with the
Dhamma and Vinaya. It has nothing to do with the new food or
old in your stomach at all.”
Sumber:
Gifts he left behind
The Dhamma Legacy of Phra Ajaan Dune Atulo (Phra Rajavuddhacariya)
compiled by Phra Bodhinandamuni
translated from the thai by Thanissaro Bhikkhu