Ahimsa: Buddhism and the Vegetarian Ideal

by Bodo Balsys

Ahimsa means "harmlessness," carried out in thought, word or deed. A major precept of Buddhists of all denominations is to practice harmlessness. Such activity is not supposed to be theory, but a practical fact, a sacred pledge (samaya) integrated into the fibre of one's every mode of conduct on the path to enlightenment and liberation from the samsara. However, as this text elaborates, all good intent along this line falls flat in the light of the practice condoned by many Buddhists of meat consumption. Harm is thus caused to the animal butchered, to the consumers of the flesh, and to the environment we all live in. It is also a decidedly gross act of adharma to all in the society wherein the Buddhist practitioner that consumes animal products resides, as clearly explained in this book. It is time that Buddhists whole-heartedly spurn all considerations of meat toxins in their bodily environments, to actively espouse the cause of true harmlessness in all that they do; and to act as Bodhisattvas by teaching all how to be compassionate through not killing or harming their animal brethren. The reasons are clear as to the way to be truly compassionate, as all Buddhists should be. Read, learn and observe your true motives in everything you do; desist from harmful actions, and thereby grow and become Bodhisattvas and Buddhas at the end of it all.

Hardcover

Published January 1, 2004

About the author

BODO BALSYS is the founder of The School of Esoteric Sciences. He is an author of many books on subjects centred on Buddhism and the Esoteric Sciences, a meditation teacher, poet, artist, spiritual scientist and healer. He has studied extensively across multiple traditions including Esoteric Science, Buddhism, Christianity, Esoteric Healing, Western Science, Art, Politics and History. His advanced esoteric insights, gained through decades of meditative contemplation, enable him to provide a rich understanding of the spiritual pathway toward enlightenment, healing and service.

Reviews

[Fernando Mortara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I dropped the reading on chapter four. There was so much repetition, and a lack of line of thought that i was not able to follow.

There is some philosophy - the reason i went for the book - but mostly is it a series of complaints and finger pointing to players on the food industry, the buyers and anybody else that have touched meat anytime on their life.

I really expected a lighter reading.

[Greg Schmidt · Rating 2 out of 5]

As this book has been out of stock on Amazon, I ordered from India and have just finished my second read-through. It will be more useful for my thesis than for deepening my own understanding and convictions. While Balsys presents a number of convincing and logical arguments, he also presents a number of thin and poorly argued Mahayana positions to refute any contradictory Theravada doctrines and practices.
The tone of the text trends to the aggressive and thus is unlikely to succeed in its stated purpose of convincing meat-eating Tibetan Buddhists of the error of their ways.
It is also selective in its review of the Pali canon and biased in its refutations.
It also refers to veganism as an extreme view while mis-stating the vegan position and presenting arguments of dubious logic.
On the whole, a Buddhist and a vegan I find this book more damaging than helpful.
It's tone is certainly not one of ahisma. Rather it's self-assured and polemical. It presents opinions as facts. It alternates between over-stating its case and stating the obvious.
I'm afraid that anyone who takes this book as support for their vegetarian ideas will themselves be grasping at extreme views that lack balance and will not withstand any real scrutiny.
For a more measured approach to this subject, grounded in Buddhism but not argued from a Buddhist perspective, please read Mathieu Ricard's A Plea for the Animals. For a book presented fully from the Buddhist perspective, please read Norm Phelp's The Great Compassion.