Does Investment In Animal Trade Break The First Precept?

Mar. 30 | Question: I try to observe ‘no killing’ whenever I can,  even though I did not take up the precept via a formal ceremony and am not a vegetarian. However, I have investment in the fishery business. Does this make me ‘break’ my...

Why Are There Wars?

Sep. 6 | How can we wish for world peace for all our lives, while we wish to feed on victims of violence for all our lives? - Stonepeace A disciple once asked the Buddha, “Why are there wars? When will there be no more wars? When will there be no more wars?...

Does Meat-Eating Break The First Precept?

Aug. 23 | Question: When the buying of meat stops the killing will stop. Hence, how is buying or eating meat ever be in the grey area of whether it breaks the first precept? Worse than that, it is an attempt to cover up murder by paying someone else to do the dirty...

The ‘Wu Xia’ Koan Of Forgiveness

Aug. 2 | ‘Wu Xia’ is an entertaining and nuanced study of the tension between the need for forgiving one who has resolved to turn over a new leaf, versus the danger of forgiving one who turns out to be thoroughly unrepentant. Since we cannot read...

Buddhist Reformation & Rehabilitation Of Criminals

May. 23 | Rebirth is for reformation and retraining. ~ Stonepeace Buddhism holds the view that a person is good as soon as he refrains from doing evil. The Buddhist attitude towards criminals is focused in a way so that they may be reformed and rehabilitated to...

Should Sick Babies Be Aborted?

Apr. 21 | Question: Some Buddhist teachers say those who engage in abortion, which is the killing of a human life, creates negative karma that is so immense that unless they repent and have remedial action in time, they will be reborn in hell.  Some other teachers...

What If Plants Feel Pain Too?

Nov. 17 | How then, can those who practise great compassion feed on the flesh and blood of living beings? - The Buddha (Surangama Sutra) A common yet inadequate argument against a meat-reduced or meat-free diet is the speculation that plants might experience...