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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 47
The Practice
of Universal
Compassion
By Venerable Prof. Geshe Thupten Phelgye
Geshe Phelgye with HH The Dalai Lama
Benny: Are there specific sutras in Tibetan
Buddhism where the Buddha instructed his
followers to be vegetarians?
Geshe Phelgye: First of all, the Buddha’s teachings
(sūtra in Sanskrit, or sutta in Pali), were translated
into Tibetan in the eighth century by great Indian and
Tibetan scholars and zealously preserved in Tibet.
Similarly, Chinese scholar monk Xuan Zang and his
team translated the sūtras into Chinese. Therefore,
these sūtras are found in both Tibetan Buddhism and
Venerable Professor Geshe Phelgye joined Sera Chinese Mahāyāna Buddhism. Yes, there are numerous
Monastery in South India in 1973 at the age sūtras where Buddha instructed his followers to
of 17 after his family moved to India. In 1984, go for a vegetarian diet instead of consuming meat.
seeing animal suffering at a slaughterhouse, he These teachings are found in the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra,
started campaigning for vegetarianism, taking Saddharmalaṅkāvatāra Sūtra, PariNirvana Sūtra,
various steps over a decade including seeking Angulimala Sūtra, Vinaya Sūtra, and many other sūtras
support from H.H. the Dalai Lama to transform and Tantras.
the monastic diet into vegetarianism. In 1997 I understand the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra is a key
he started the Universal Compassion Movement discourse that is strongly against meat eating. Can
(UCM) and was able to close meat shops on the you explain more about this Sūtra?
temple road in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala. From
2001-2011 he served as a Member of the Tibetan
Let me quote a few lines from the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra on
Parliament in exile under H.H the Dalai Lama. In what the Buddha said about meat eating: “Intentionally
2011 Gonzaga University invited him to teach, and eating meat is violating Buddhist principles. I have
he also taught at Eastern Washington University never approved, do not approve, and will never
as a lecturer till 2023. In 2017, Geshe-la started approve a meat diet.’ “ He further declared: “My
the Buddhist Institute of Universal Compassion in followers must not eat meat.” Buddha then explained
Spokane, WA. On behalf of Eastern Horizon, Benny that since Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Sravakas have
Liow interviewed Geshe-la about vegetarianism all condemned meat eating, one who still eats meat
in Tibetan Buddhism, his organization UCM, the without shame will be reborn into insanity. Likewise,
importance of compassion in Buddhist practice, killing animals for profit or buying meat are prohibited;
and the four divine abodes. whoever does it will be reborn in the woeful states.
