Buddhism for Meat Eaters: Simple Wisdom for a Kinder World

by Josephine Moon

For many years Josephine Moon struggled with the question of eating meat, fervently wishing to live as a vegetarian yet requiring meat in her diet. From Josephine’s philosophical, spiritual and physical battle with eating meat came, Buddhism for Meat Eaters – a book for animal lovers, the environmentally and ethically conscious, and generally thoughtful people who eat meat but perhaps aren’t entirely comfortable doing so.
 
Open, honest and utterly without judgement, Buddhism for Meat Eaters encourages readers to be more mindful about their choices, rather than berating themselves for them, and offers ways for people to live ethically, honestly and guilt-free, whether as a carnivore, vegetarian or vegan. This highly practical guide also includes workbook-style activities and topics for consideration to guide you in your own journey to making wiser decisions on how you consume, how you live, and how to change the world around you.

 
 

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction, Spirituality

192 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2019

About the author

Hello! I live in the Noosa hinterland in Australia and now have the great pleasure of writing warm-hearted, feel good, contemporary fiction books for adults and now kids too! I am published in Australia, NZ, UK, Ireland, Norway, Greece and Germany. I'm so grateful to everyone who buys and reads my books. Thank you!

Reviews

[Jason Winkle · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is no such thing as environmentally friendly or ethical meat eating.

This book is here to make you feel good about the unethical and environmentally destructive choices you may be making.

[Theresa Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review at:
https://theresasmithwrites.com/2019/0...

[Julie Garner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book.
Did you know that the Dalai Lama eats meat? Talk about timing! I have been going through some crazy thoughts lately around food due to my wife being vegetarian (trying to be vegan) and me trying to support her but still finding ways and means to justify eating meat. Josephine's book has just helped me put it all in perspective.
The author takes us through her journey that brought her to her current position on how to be Buddhist and eat meat without feeling guilty. She goes through various components of Buddhism and brings those practises back to meat, feelings and the overall environment. Of course, her way is not for everyone and we all need to find our own 'Middle Way' but her story is one that can guide you in to your own story.
This is a great book for anyone who is looking for ways in which they can help their world and their environment, whilst still being the loving, caring people they are. Everyone will get a different take away from this book and I believe that this is her aim. Our reasons for eating/not eating meat all different, as do our bodies and the way that they process foods. In using these Buddhist principles, you can start to release the emotions behind your eating practises and realise that whatever you do, you are still a good person. Not everyone is made for living one way of life...in fact, in Buddhism, there are 3 different thought practices towards the way they view food and what goes in to your body. You just need to work out which one suits you.
If you are considering a new dietary path, then this book could be for you. I am not religious in any way, shape or form, but through reading this book, I have found that my practices and thoughts share many similarities with the Buddhist practises. Now that, for me, is Food for Thought!

[Colin Simonds · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you want to learn about Buddhism, find something else to read. It unfortunately misinterprets key concepts like karma and the priorities of Buddhist practice (ex: the author states that the goal of Buddhism is to help yourself before you help others which, in the Mahayana lineage of the Dalai Lama who is the only Buddhist she cites in the book, is incorrect), ignores the conversations that Buddhists themselves have had about meat across its long history (such as how to interpret the canonical rule of threefold purity which this text doesn’t even acknowledge), and cites Eckhart Tolle as its example of a meditation master (who is not Buddhist). There is a clear lack of engagement with the tradition that has this read simply as an apologetic text for both author and reader to feel better about choices that the Buddhist tradition explicitly states are wrong.

[Sharah McConville · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a Buddhist nor a Meat Eater but I loved the ideas and thoughts in this book. I enjoy Josephine Moon's fiction so it was nice to read one of her non-fiction books.

[James Ryan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Real bullshit

[Rhoda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia for sending me a copy of this book!

The author had struggled for much of her life with wanting to follow a vegetarian diet, but due to her health problems was unable to do so and live healthily. So she set out to educate herself on what other ways she could contribute to animal welfare and shares her findings and her journey in this book.

The book offers practical tips for being more mindful about your every day choices and choosing what Buddhism refers to as "the Middle Way", which is finding moderation between extreme self-pleasure and extreme self-denial......and practising non-judgement of yourself and others!

This book is not religious or preachy and is very inclusive. It has given me some useful resources and I am definitely going to be implementing some of the suggestions into my own life.

[Mallie Rydzik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book for someone like me who loves animals but struggles with vegetarianism due to health issues and, honestly, just the overall difficulty of it. I'm sure true Buddhist vegetarians would disagree with a lot of this book, but I am interested in Buddhism from a philosophical rather than religious perspective, and I appreciated the author's take on this tricky issue. Quick read, especially via audiobook.

[Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

201 very easy to read pages which give a huge amount of advice and make some very interesting and valid points. The Buddhism explanations are pretty light, but do give a basic kind of outline of some of the Buddha's directions and explain the point that many people probably don't understand about Buddhism: killing a sentient life is killing a sentient life - wether it's a mosquito, a cow, another human being in a combat situation. As the author has a protein problem, she needs to consume meat for health, just like H.H the 14th Dalai Lama. So the author delved deep into how she could reduce the suffering of as many other animals as possible by opening and running a horse rescue charity, gives advice on what brand of chocolate and toilet paper have the least environmental (and therefore animal killing) impact, even noting that there are coffee growers in Australia, so I can reduce the amount of carbon pollution I am partly responsible for. Has certainly made me more conscious of how I can improve my spending to help reduce suffering in the world.

[Lista Gough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buddhism for Meat Eaters sets out to help inform the reader and help the reader make more ethical choices. From ethically sourced foods to plastics, tales and strategies to entertain and help us find more harmonious ways of living with the wold around us.

There were several things I liked about this book. For one, I found the readability and flow really suited my reading palate. Secondly, being an Aussie myself, I found her Australian humour and way of writing very relatable.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in Buddhism and/or an interest in living with the world instead of apart from the world.

[Joji]

A perspective reading mixed with faith, Buddhism and the thoughts of the author to stop eating meat considering the suffering of animals and her inability to do so due to her health condition. While Budhism helped her to see different dimensions of eating meat, she tried to take a middle path considering the ethical choices. The book talks about the harm of the plastics and the need of avoiding using the same. Talks about attachment and how it can hurt the individuals

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could be considered a controversial book that goes from discussing animal lovers who are meat-eaters to make broader observations about the world of suffering around us. Interesting concepts from Buddhism are applied throughout with the overarching message being to find your own middle way in life, don't be so hard on yourself, and be compassionate to others.

[Ming's fantasy myth library · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars (audio)

This book is not really resonated with me, however I feel the author's anxiety. Somehow I have felt it too as a Buddhism practitioner. This book give experience as a personal journal by the author than universal Buddhism practitioner

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very readable, even for me, who only manages to read a non-fiction every few years. I don’t know if I learned much, but the message of the middle way is useful for every aspect of life.

I thought the author might have gone a bit far with her advice on how to help your pet be reincarnated into a higher form…. But I have to admit the word Buddhism is in the title!

[Tanya Crompton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick read but a little repetitive and not the best read I have had recently

[Michelle Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay read but could have been summarised in a paragraph.

[Naomi Clair · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

I found this book nice and easy to read as well as very informative. I would recommend this book for anyone who just wants to live a more mindful lifestyle.

[Antonia Greville · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really spoke to me as someone who has long struggled with loving animals and the desire to be vegetarian with my bodies needs. I think this will also speak to a lot of people who like me have felt guilty for years we couldn’t be someone else.
I love Josephine’s story and style of writing - it’s so authentic and not at all preachy. Her book is really inclusive. It is a valuable read for everyone. Buddhist’s atheists Christian’s vegans omnivores - we are all on the human spectrum and we can all make a difference with the way we approach food and our perception of ourself and others choices . This book will make you think and feel more positive and compassionate about yourself and the world. We need more books like this! Highly recommend.