Showing posts with label Life Liberation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life Liberation. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

原来,十二个宗教都劝导我们吃素

原来,十二个宗教都劝导我们吃素
(I am so adorable,  please Don't eat me...)

不管你是什麼信仰,上天都告诉我们不杀生不食肉, 十二个宗教的经典都如此说明,整理出来了,值得深思。
这是多位宗教家与素食主义家的分享资料,不是为推广某某宗教,而是撇开人为的思想,站在超然的角度来让大家明白【持素】的真谛,没有断章取义,也不是牵强附会。

为什麼不同宗教都有不同的上帝/上天?(上帝一词也只是代名词,也可称为如来、真主、主宰者)

爱因斯坦说:“我们就像是个进入一座大型图书馆的小孩。图书馆裏藏满了许多由不同语言写成的书籍。这个小孩知道,这些书一定是由某(些)人所写,只是不知道他(们)是如何写成的,或依据什麼规则排列成的。”
所以上天只有一个,是本来存在也永远存在(就像科学里的能量)。只是在不同地区、不同时代里,大家都给了它不同的名字。而宗教之间的矛盾,都是人为的太执著於表面不同文化习俗、不同方式、不同文字,才产生了误解。

各类宗教经典里说明了什麼?

各类宗教经典,都是当初圣人在世时留给人们的智慧语录,也是上天的旨意,目的都是教导人们恢复善良的心,与万物和谐相处。因为它有绝对的价值,所以才能历经岁月的洗刷,而永垂不朽。只是年代不同,语言翻译不同,所以多少会有些出入。而众多位宗教家也都发现这些文物内记载了上天告诉人们的话:不杀害动物,要人们吃素(或称斋戒等)。

1. 佛教

佛教相信三世因果、六道轮回,而杀生更是五戒里的首戒,杀生也是造成入地狱的恶果。

“众生吃肉,就是吃自己的亲属。”
~楞严经。卷六七一

“大慧,凡杀生者,多为人食,人若不食,亦无杀事,是故食肉与杀生同罪。”
~楞伽经

“杀动物并以其肉供养神灵,如同杀孩子并以其肉供养母亲,这是可悲的错误。”
~ 藏传佛教,《弟子最高法则》:古鲁的格言,13过失

2. 道教

“一者不得杀生,二者不得荤酒。”
~《初真戒》

“勿食含血之物”
~《云笈七签》卷三八,老君二十七戒

“勿登山而网禽鸟,勿临水而毒鱼虾,勿宰耕牛。”
~文昌帝君阴鸷文

“老君曰:戒之不食肉,心当莫念之,含血有形类,元气所养活 ”
~《老子化胡经》

3. 儒学/儒家思想

儒家的素食观念,在孔子的语录里并不明显,但孟子说得很明白。据推论原因,孔子并不是一出生就是圣人,他是在七十岁才达到“从心所欲而不逾矩”,也就是后期才成为素食者。孔子在51岁时拜见老子,后有“游龙之叹”,说明老子的学问很高深,是孔子学习的榜样,所以道家的天地和谐,与儒家的中心思想——仁很接近。

孔子很看重祭拜先人时,先要斋戒沐浴。斋,是约束自己的饮食,不纵欲,使身心清净。

子之所慎:齐、战、疾。
有三件事情是孔子谨慎的:斋戒、战争、疾病。战争与疾病都造成无数人伤亡,所以要谨慎防备。但孔子把斋戒排在前面,说明了,口斋与心斋的重要性。

颜渊问道於孔子。孔子曰:汝斋戒,吾将告汝。颜渊曰:回贫,唯不饮酒、不茹荤久矣。孔子曰:是祭祀之斋,非心斋也。……」
意思是说,颜渊向孔子拜师求道,孔子则要求他先斋戒,颜渊回答说他很穷,已经很久都没有喝酒或吃肉了。孔子则进一步要求颜渊要「心斋」,意即净化心灵。由此可见,孔子向弟子传道时,也遵循规矩而要求弟子持戒。

“人皆有恻隐之心。君子见其生,不忍见其死。闻其声不忍食其肉。”
~孟子。梁惠王篇第四章

孟子曰:「……虽有恶人,斋戒沐浴,则可以祀上帝。」
意思是说,即使是很坏的人,只要能斋戒并沐浴,则也可以礼拜上帝。可见斋戒是很好的行为规范,甚至可以说能洗刷罪恶。

4. 基督教

“但凡有生命带血的食物,你们不可吃。我一定会追讨害你们生命的血债;向一切野兽追讨,也向人追讨;向每一个人我将追讨他兄弟的灵魂。”
~旧约创世纪9:4

“肉为了肚腹,肚腹装满了肉,但神要叫这两样都毁掉。”
~圣经。歌林多前书6:13

“天主说:看,全地面上结种子的各种蔬菜,在果内含有种子的各种果树,我都给你们作食物。至於地上的各种野兽、天空中的各种飞鸟,在地上爬行有生魂的各种动物,我把一切青草给它们作食物。”
~创世纪1:29,30

“动物是创造来陪伴人类的。”
~圣经

“你们不要求我,不要向我祈求,因为你们的手沾满无辜的血腥,你们杀牛杀羊来供养我,我并没有叫你们杀牛宰羊来供养我,你们应该纤悔,不然我不会听你们的祈求,也不会原谅你们的业障。”
~圣经

“人吃野兽肉,将会变成他自己的坟墓。我告诉你们实话,那杀人者将杀了自己;那杀生吃肉者,就是吃死人的肉。”
~圣经

“圣经之中,人类活得最久的时候,是在他们吃素的时候。”
~理查.史华滋《犹太教与素食主义》

“虐待这些从来不会伤害人类、没有抵抗能力、完全受人类掌控的动物,是可怕的恶魔行径。”
~ 约翰.亨利.纽曼(John Henry Newman)主教

圣经上记载:远在洪荒时代,人类只吃五谷米、麦之类的素食,进而才吃蔬菜,慢慢地可以吃清洁的肉类。在此以前,只吃五谷的人类寿命可活到几百岁,而在人类开始吃清洁的肉类后,寿命慢慢地减低到八、九十岁。

5. 伊斯兰教

伊斯兰教是极为慈悲的宗教,格外重视动物的福利,尤其并不排斥素食主义。

《可兰经》有许多章节论及动物的生命是神圣不可侵犯的,而且动物也享有祥和生活、追寻上帝以及朝上帝意识发展的平等权利,与地球上的人类极为相似:

“在大地上行走的兽类和天上飞翔的鸟类,跟你们一样都是群体的一部分。在天经里我没有遗漏任何事物,一切众生终将蒙主所召。”
~可兰经(6:38)

“难道你不知道凡天地间的众生和空中展翅的群鸟,莫不颂扬对真主的赞美?他们各自明了自身祈祷和赞颂的方式,真主全知他们一切所为。”
~可兰经(24:41)

《可兰经》强调动物和人类一样,得以同享大地的各种资源(25:48-49、32:27、79:31-33),并指出在上帝眼中,动物与人类是平等的;祂与动物之间的沟通,就像祂与人类的沟通一样。例如在第16章68节提到:「你们的主曾对蜜蜂启示道:『筑你们的巢在山中与树上,也在人类的居所中。」

“不要让肚腹成为动物的坟墓。”
~哈迪斯圣训

“善待动物的功德,可比善待人类;残害动物的罪孽,犹如残害人类。”
~哈迪斯圣训

“众生皆为上帝的家人,任何人最爱护祂的家人,必得祂的钟爱至宠。”
~哈迪斯圣训

“凡怜悯雀鸟且不伤其生命者,真主将於审判之日慈悲以待。”
~哈迪斯圣训

“唯有悲悯其他众生者,才能获得真主的悲悯。”
~哈迪斯圣训

“蔬果丰足之处,天使将成群降临。”
~哈迪斯圣训

“禁吃死的动物血及肉”
~可兰经

6. 印度教

“既然你无法使动物死而复生,就要为杀死它们负责,杀生者会下地狱,无法脱罪。”
~原初逍遥时光

“好好想想肉食是从何而来的,那残酷的脚镣和对生命的屠杀,让人们戒除吃肉吧”
~ 吠陀经

“买肉的人用他的财富制造了暴力,吃肉的人用他的口欲制造了暴力,屠夫则捆绑杀害动物,所以有三种形式的屠杀。”
~ 吠陀经

“人无法不伤害生物而得到肉食,一个伤害有知觉生物的人,将永远得不到天佑。所以避开肉食吧!”
~ 玛奴(印度教规创始人)

“食肉者啊!你是魔鬼,不是人。不要和食肉者为伍,和他一起也会损害对上帝的侍奉。朋友们,相信我!食鱼食肉纵酒的人们终必被根除,有如肥田中的野草被摘除,丢进暗谷深处。所有血身同属一躯,不论是飞鸟、鹿、牛。食肉之人将瞪著眼直堕地狱。”
~卡比尔,印度圣人

7. 犹太教

“凡以色列家中的人,或你们周围陌生人,若吃什麼血,我将对那吃血的人掉头而去,不再视他为我的子民。”
~圣经。利未记 17:10 (血:意指“肉”)

耶稣曾说:“人吃进的野兽肉,将会成为他自己的坟墓。我实话告诉你们,那杀人者,将杀了自己,吃被杀动物的肉,就是吃死人的肉。”
~犹太教和平福音

“亚当与他后代的许多子孙,都是严格的戒食肉类者。”
~犹太法典

“能够彰显上帝对动物的慈爱和了解动物不该受苦的重要性,是伟大的表现”
~犹太百科全书

“虐待动物不但是绝对禁止的,而且上帝明确要求人类要以仁慈善良之心善待动物”
~犹太百科全书

“对待动物仁爱的原则便是 - 上帝怎样对待人类,人类就该怎靡对待动物。”
~犹太百科全书

“上帝不允许亚当和他的妻子去杀害任何生物并食其肉,他们能吃的只有各种绿色的药草。”
~罗西 闻名的犹太圣经注解者

“造物主的原意是要人类严格吃素的。早期的犹太历史记录了人类对低等动物的人性对待…很明显地显示出古希伯来人当时就已经了解动物有感情、会受苦的道理,而他们也可能是第一批了解这个道理的人。”
~赛门.葛雷泽教士(Simon Glazer)

8. 巴哈伊教 (Bahá'í Faith)

巴哈伊教(旧译大同教)由巴哈欧拉创立于十九世纪中叶的伊朗,其著述言论构成了被认为是满足人类现阶段、即迈向成熟阶段之需要的最新启示体系。它的最高宗旨是创建一种新的世界文明,真正实现人类大同。其基本教义可概括为“上帝唯一”、“宗教同源”和“人类一体”。

“对於禁止吃动物的肉,应该清楚知道,上帝在造物之初,决定每种众生的食物,不遵照上帝的决定是不被允许的。”
~巴哈伊著作选集

9. 锡克教

“凡吸食大麻者、吃肉、喝酒的人,不论是否朝圣、守斋、行仪、都会下地狱。”
~格阑斯沙希伯。1377页

10. 琐罗亚斯德教(Zoroastrianism)

基督教诞生之前中东和西亚最具影响力的宗教,古代波斯帝国的国教。曾被伊斯兰教徒贬称为“拜火教”,在中国称为「祆教」

“这些植物是我(上帝)为大地降下雨水产生食物,餵养忠实者,餵养乳牛。”
~阿维斯塔

11. 高台教 (Cao Dai)

高台教是20世纪起源于越南的一种新兴宗教,它与和好教(Đạo Hòa Hảo)是越南特有的两种宗教之一,也是这个国家的第三大宗教。

“最重要的是就是停止杀生,因为动物也像人类一样,有灵魂,有知觉,因为如果我们杀生,并吃掉他们就等於欠下了血债。”
~圣人的教理

12. 艾塞尼派经典

艾赛尼教派(Essenes),为自西元前2世纪至1世纪流行於巴勒斯坦的犹太教派。

“我来终止祭奠与宴会,如果你们不停止献祭与喝肉饮血,上帝将不会停止震怒。”
~十二门徒福音

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=950443428309533&id=100000316540885&ref=bookmark
photo from internet

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吃肉咒语😘

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=855227087995875&id=100005257744695

Sunday, May 18, 2014

放生问答

很多人对放生有误解,以下在面簿读到了一篇解得极好的问答转分亨。
——————————
放生问答
■問:你們一邊放生,別人一邊捕殺,有什麼意思?
□答:天地萬事皆相對存在,有善必有惡,有忠必有奸,放生有放生的善報,捕殺有捕殺的惡果,我們放生的人作自己的功德,人家捕殺造自己的罪過。不能因為有惡人捕殺之罪過,我們便放棄了放生之善行善念。


■問:很多人批評「放生就是放死」,這有什麼意義?
□答:1. 死亡只是其中的少數,絕大部分的放生物命均得以重拾生命,回歸自然。若非放生,百分之百的物命均將遭受宰殺烹煮之苦,實在不能因為少數物命死亡,而完全否定放生的善舉啊!

2. 死亡的物類至少能死得其所,回歸於大自然的懷抱中,也千萬倍強於被割被炸,經過火燒水滾之酷刊而死。

3. 對於放生存活的物命,我們滿心歡喜其能重拾生機,對於不幸死亡的物命,我們更寄予真誠的祝福。因為今朝在千載難逢的放生因緣中,已經皈依了佛門,今生報盡,永不再墮入三惡道中,並且已親聞「南無阿彌陀佛」六字洪名,必成道種,早日畜生報盡,早日轉世為人,早日念佛修行,早日成佛證果,早日再回娑婆度眾多苦難眾生。
Ref: 
https://m.facebook.com/vanyu32/photos/a.372297339475892.80888.238558509516443/671618862877070/?type=1&theater&refid=52

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Life Liberation

Rejoice! Another life liberation event by Venerable Hai Tao & his centre

 Hugh "Long Dan Yu" (龍膽魚) eager to be back to freedom

 Rainbow appeared as auspicious sign but look carefully at the shapes of clouds for your imagination...

Dedication of Merits to All Beings. Rejoice _/|\_

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Compassionate Ven. Hai Tao Dharma talk & Life Liberation event in Singapore




Wow so close and good shot on Venerable!


Compassionate Venerable Hai Tao in Singapore.
Look at his schedule! http://www.lifetv.org.tw/calender.htm
Giving Dharma Talks or holding retreats or travelling on the road, in the air or sea almost everyday. His schedule is so packed for all sentient beings.
It is so good to see him, we rejoice on his deeds but we pain to see him tiring himself.

With palms together, we earnestly request , may he remain in good health to stay and teach us for eons, for the happiness and well-being of all wanderers in samsara.
Amituofo    _/|\_

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Fish Liberation










Received sms from my India trip buddies that they are joining bro Benny's May Fish liberation and I gladly accepted the invitation to join them.

Weather in Singapore is getting unbearably hot in the afternoon & it is really Sunny this few days. This round, there is no boat ride but release of fishes at a sea-sports club with a man-made slide for the fishes to swim into liberty.

Pictures from left top:
Bro Benny giving speeches and leading in the chant under the hot sun to us in the shade:P
Long queues of people under the heat, excited for their turn to release the fishes personally
4 hugh cartons of fishes, hundreds of them waiting for their turns to liberty
Volunteers helping adults and children to release the fishes safely
Simple Man-made slide to liberty for the fishes.

Saving for the boat ride this round, Bro Benny is hoping to charter for the hugh cruise ships during future trips which would cost much more than the $12 per person boat fare that he is collecting so that the events would be affordable to more especially to those who wanted to attend with family.


Rejoice also that he had just published a book on QnA on Life liberation which will be good reference to clear the myths that people usually has on Life Liberation. Having attended his explaination of myth clearing during his events, I am sure his books would be beneficial to all.

Was impressed with the quality of book which is hardcover (limited edition) and really salute him for his effort to print such a wonderful book.

Amituofo! May All be Well & Happy! :-)

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Animal Paradise

Next Animal liberation related event is today's tour of the Animal Protection farm, Animal Paradise, started by ex-Mediacorp actor, Xie Shao Guang, in JB, Pekan Nanas, . I think it started with a place for abandoned/ill-treated cats & dogs to today's operation to include horses, cows, goats, pigs, monkeys, guinea pigs, porcupines and even deers is impressive.

I was surprised that mum was interested in the trip when I just briefly mentioned about the activity organised by the temple as mum is not one who will encourage her children to touch animals. I believe it must be with blessings of Buddha & Bodhisattvas that my parents were interested and hopefully with brief contact of the Dharma teachings involved, that will lead them to more future Dharma events and also subconsciously reduce their intake of meat.

Guanyin at entrance of farm.





I was originally expecting the farm to be like a safari with all animals roaming freely but the animals are in enclosed area depending on their nature and receptiveness to human.




All the saved animals there have a story of their own.







Turkeys saved from being served on dining table during Christmas




Although the facilities are primitive, the liberated/saved animals are at least in a home under the love and care of the compassionate care-takers.


The farm does not accept just any animals but has their criteria of entry, hence the animals are there, each with a story of their own. It is still not easy to maintain the farm by one's own effort hence Donations are always welcome to support the operations of the animal protection farm and you may also opt to support any species of animals you like. :-) The farm is not open to public except on special/pre-arrangement so pls do not venture on your own without informing them of your visit. :P


More info can be found at
http://www.noahsarklodge.com/
http://noahsarkcares.blogspot.com/


May All Be Well & Happy....Amituofo.

Fish Liberation


This seems to be a month of affinity with animal liberation, 1st attended bro Benny's fish liberation at the open sea using a cruise ship from Harbourfront. It is a more convenient place to meet for me compared to Changi which is his more frequent meeting venue for his monthly life liberation, and the cruise ship will be a better arrangement to invite my family along. When received sms abt the event, I immediately ask my parents if they are interested & glad to know that they were and so was my sister who surprisingly didn't refuse the invitation.

One point I like bro Benny's session is I can be ensured he will try to find the best place to release the animals of the day depending on their nature/requirement of habitat. Another point is I like his leading of the group in chanting and helping the fishes/animals take the Three Refuge to not only benefit their physical life but spiritual life, and we sincerely wish for the liberated animals not to be reborn into lower 3 realms after this life. He will also has a Q&A session to highlight frequent myths people have abt fish liberation which I think is useful, especially for 1st timers.
If one is not available to attend the event and would like to particpate in his monthly life liberation event, one may just transfer money to his designated life liberation account, inform him to confirm receipt and by end of day, he will inform of donors how many life had been liberated for the event and let all rejoice which I think this sms info is important so that people know what the money had been spent on and will rejoice & be motivated to support future events for the many lives saved thru combined effort.
May All be Well & Happy. Amituofo.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

How to Practise Animal Liberation Wisely

This is a new DVD (produced by Wisdom Sutra Distributor) that I got from the Bright Hill Temple (BHT/KMSPKS)'s Dharma Publication Free Distribution booth at Vesak@Orchard.
I would think it is the the best video so far that I had seen that answers our doubts about Animal Liberation which is viewable in English, Mandarin, Bahasa Indonesia, Hokkien & Cantonese language.
This video could easily clear doubts for those who had misconception about animal liberation and vegetarian, it would be great if we can show it to them especially our elder generation who are Chinese educated. I think the Mandarin version is great and the dialect sessions will be appealing to the elder generation.
I was surprised to find the HK actor, Wang Xi appearing in the video....

Pls get a copy next time you visit Bright Hill Temple (BHT)'s Dharma Publication Free Distribution Booth or any free distribution booths and share it with your friends & relatives. :-)

Thanks to Zyrius (of www.moonpointer.com ), I was informed of this site
http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=12,6426,0,0,1,0

and if you have queries to clarify, the following discussion on the topics would be helpful:

Prayer for Animal Liberation: http://moonpointer.com/index.php?itemid=1394

Why Animal Liberation: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/zeph/message/465

Elaboration on Animal Liberation: http://moonpointer.com/index.php?itemid=609

Proper Animal Liberation: http://www.TheDailyEnlightenment.com/life.jpg

Cheers:-)