The Lamp of Scriptures and Reasoning, A Tibetan Buddhist perspective on the faults of eating meat, by Lama Phurbu Tashi (1973) is one of the more recent books on Buddhism and vegetarianism. Without doubt this publiciation is a must read for all (Tibetan) Buddhists, meat eaters or not.

The little book, published in 2006 by Vajra Publications in Kathmandu, Nepal, is written by Lama Minyak Phurbu Tashi from East Tibet of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. In a foreword both H.H. Dalai Lama XIV and H.H. Karmapa Orgyen Trinle Dorje recommend the book and underline the importance of the message of the author.

Phurbu Tashi expresses himself in a frank and clear manner. Already in the beginning of the book he asks the reader: "In general, regardless of the tradition, religions teach beings the means of searching for hapiness and truth. Suppose, if some should teach that one should kill and eat meat, need it to be said that this would be a perverted path?"

For Phurbu Tashi it goes without saying that a Buddhist is vegetarian. About craving for the taste of fellow sentient beings, he says: "There is no need to mention how this contradicts the view and conduct of the Mahayana where one is to cherish others more than oneself. It also contradicts the training of the shravakas and pratekyabuddhas of the Theravada tradition." And about vegetarianism within Tibetan Buddhism he explains that, "since the majority of the previous great beings of Tibet not even would wear cloths and shoes made with leader and skins", and (...) avoided riding animals such as horses, there is no need to mention that they did not eat meat."

It is a paperback of 67 pages only, however without doubt the The Lamp of Scriptures and Reasoning, A Tibetan Buddhist perspective on the faults of eating meat, is a must read for all (Tibetan) Buddhists, meat eaters or not. As the author explains on the backside of the cover: if one is already a vegetarian, the content should prove confirming. If one is not, perhaps the book will inspire a reduction in consumption.

André Kalden
Shabkar.Org

ORDERING THE BOOK
Outside Asia this item seems not easily available (for a fair price). Amazon does not have the book in stock. The publishers bookshop, Vajra Books, ships from Nepal and is not able to accept online credit card or PayPal payments. However, fortunately there is an easy, swift and reliable way to order it and that is via Namse Bangdzo Bookstore in Woodstock, USA. Costs: $4.95 plus shipment.
If you live in Nepal, the book can be bought both at the Tibetan Book Store in Kathmandu at Thamel taxi stand and at Vajra Books, which is also in Thamel. Costs 200 Nprs.

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