Wise words from Buddha Jayanti Celebrations, May 26 2021

Friends, these messages are part of the Parliament of the World's Religions' Vesak Celebrations video "Healing the World: Prayers and Reflections for All Sentient Beings," May 26, 2021

https://parliamentofreligions.org/video/healing-world-prayers-and-reflections-all-sentient-beings

"As we think about the world's sentient creatures, too many of whom - particularly animals - have no say whatsoever in the way in which they are treated, it's important that we all commit towards adopting more compassionate, plant-based diets. ... It's also time for us to say that if the mistreatment of any sentient creature is wrong, then it's also wrong for us to profit in any way from that mistreatment, and to add the major corporations that are responsible for untold suffering of animals around the planet to the list of companies from which we must divest our holdings. Only in this way, by connecting personal integrity with the alignment of our finances with our most cherished values, will we take a step towards the kind of enlightenment that this special day represents. Thank you." -- Rev. Fletcher Harper

 

"The first precept of the Buddha's moral code is the training rule to abstain from destroying life, from the destruction of all sentient life, whether humans or animals. This precept has far reaching implications. The Buddha says that we should refrain from destroying life ourselves; we should encourage others to refrain from killing; we should speak in praise of abstaining from killing, and rejoice when we hear that others abstain from destroying life. The reason the Buddha gives so much weight to this precept is because the most basic urge of every sentient being is to love and to thrive. All beings fear death, all fear violence. So, taking oneself as the standard, we should not kill or encourage others to kill." -- Ven. Bikkhu Bodhi from "Healing the World: Prayers and Reflections for All Sentient Beings," May 26, 2021

 

"Let us follow the precepts and unite together. Let us love and protect all plants and animals. Think about it. Humans are animals too. Everything on this world is a natural part of the universe. Humans are given the right to live, and yet humans hurt, torture and kill animals for food and clothing. Seeing this, we call on everyone to give rise to a loving heart. Let animals come and go naturally with the law of karma. We also need to safeguard our mind. With the laws of nature, our thoughts go through endless cycles of arising, abiding, changing and disappearing. These take place inside our mind. So we have to focus on giving rise to kindness. Together with people of the same aspiration, we give to serve the greater good. Now is the time to suggest a plant-based diet to everyone. Plant-based diets can help. We have to put our hearts into it and talk to people we meet. By serving as a role model, we can also spread the power of love to really care for and protect all living beings." -- Ven. Bhikshuni Shih De Yuan from "Healing the World: Prayers and Reflections for All Sentient Beings," May 26, 2021

May all beings be well.