Just eat it

I found an interesting Buddha related story during the Thanksgiving holidays that I've been musing over for the last few days that I wanted to share. As a three year old vegetarian the story really shook home for me:

'Buddha, a vegetarian, went to a dinner in his honor and the centerpiece was a giant piece of dead flesh. He accepted it and ate it. The attendants were aghast. “You broke your vows,” they said. “It was a gift given with kindness of the heart,” he answered.'

To understand and take on the whole message from the teachings however I can't help but wonder if Buddha (in today's modern world) would not have two minds about the matter, if he could see just how unkind modern factory farming and the abuses that go with it are.

A few years ago my wife and I were in the (deep) US south attending a music festival and I was offered some Catfish which is a bit of a delicacy in the region. We stayed with an amazing couple at the time, but the similar situation left me feeling quite perplexed. As a newbie practicing vegetarian (and Yogi) the offer wasn't quite so straight forward for me. At least one year earlier for example I would have jumped at the chance to eat something so delicious. Should I turn down a gracious host who wants nothing more than to share a favourite meal with us or do I turn him down and let my ego/views spoil a fleeting moment and such a generous offer?

I accepted the meal and enjoyed it (ala Buddha). However the next day I had a terrible upset stomach and vowed never to eat meat again (again), I just can't do it anymore, I've got to a stage that I'm visualising the poor animal and the smell of meat just makes me want to barff. I appreciate Buddha's teachings but perhaps if more people followed the Eightfold Yogi path then something less violated might be served out of kindness.

PS: Turning down my grans Sunday dinners is the hardest

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