Today is another day for more than ten classmates to get together. Along the stone path, stepping on the small bridge over the stream, I vaguely heard the familiar sound of laughter and conversation, it seemed that I was late.
Entering the private room, everyone looked at me in unison and laughed in unison, "Say Cao Cao Cao has arrived."
"What do you say about me?" I asked.
Xiaohong said: "Let's order food, everyone says you are vegetarian, and you want to order a vegetarian dish." Before I could say my thanks, Liang Zi answered, "The wine and meat have passed through the intestines, and the Buddha has left it in his heart." If you learn Buddhism, you can't eat meat, this is difficult, I should eat meat. “
I asked with a smile, who told you about this theory? Come on, today I will popularize it for you and let you know more. In Buddhism, monks cannot eat meat or meat, and laypeople who study Buddhism at home can choose to eat vegetarian or meat according to their own living habits, but they must eat three pure meats to eat meat.
Liang Zi asked: "What is the three pure meat"? ”
I replied: "Three pure meats" are: first, not seeing the killing, that is, not seeing the miserable scene of the animal dying; second, the ear does not hear the killing, that is, the sound of its screams is not heard; Third, do not kill for yourself, that is, not for what you want to eat.
For example, when we go to the market, we happen to see vendors killing chickens and fish, or the vendors tell you that this is freshly slaughtered fresh meat, which is not "three clean meats", and if we buy meat that has been slaughtered livestock and poultry or frozen seafood, it is "three clean meats"; For Buddhist disciples like me, who are currently not completely vegetarian, they can eat this kind of meat temporarily.
For another example, when visiting the homes of relatives and friends, they specially kill chickens and ducks to entertain them, and these chickens and ducks die because of me, which is not Sanjing meat. Or today at our class reunion, everyone ordered the fish that was killed for the sake of a banquet, which is "killed for oneself", and I dare not eat such fish.
Liang Zi said: "I see, it seems that we have misinterpreted the meaning, thinking that learning Buddhism means not allowing meat to be eaten." “
Yes, many people immediately think of "vegetarian" when they hear about Buddhism, as if they cannot learn Buddhism without being vegetarian, or they must be vegetarian to learn Buddhism. Such misinformation makes many people who cannot be vegetarians temporarily dare not learn Buddhism. Of course, it is best to be a vegetarian, but if you do not have the conditions to be a vegetarian for the time being, you can still learn Buddhism by eating "three pure meats". I replied.
Juanzi interjected, "Actually, I also want to learn Buddhism, but I think that there are so many rules and precepts of Buddhism, and I can't do this or that, which will cause great inconvenience to work, life and social entertainment." Life is very constrained, I still don't learn"
I replied, just as you misunderstand that you need to be vegetarian to learn Buddhism, you have misunderstood the precepts of Buddhism. In fact, for us beginners in Buddhism at home, we only need to keep the "Five Precepts", and these precepts are not to bind us, but to protect us. It is an indispensable normative behavior for us to create a good social order and harmonious interpersonal relationships.
Juanzi asked, "Which five precepts are you talking about?" ”
I replied that the "five precepts" of Buddhism are: one is not to kill, the second is not to steal, the third is not to commit adultery, the fourth is not to lie, and the fifth is not to drink, which is generally corresponding to general social laws and even social morality. If someone violates some of the provisions of the Five Precepts, it will also cause some trouble to his normal life and work.
Juanzi immediately said, you see, I can't do the first point of "not killing", I am in the seafood business, "don't kill", I have to "drink the northwest wind", how can I live a good life?
I asked her, Juanzi, how is your hotel's business? She said: "Originally, the business was very good, and I opened two chain stores, but after giving birth to my second child, my daughter was born in poor health, and even my lover persuaded me to give up at that time, but I spent a lot of money to save my daughter after several rescues." For this reason, the two chains have also closed one after another. Now, even its own main store is closed due to demolition and relocation. ”
Looking at the haggard Juanzi, I asked pitifully: "Do you know why your daughter was born in bad health?" ”
Juanzi stared at me with wide eyes. I said, "It's related to your seafood business." Your restaurant is in the business of live seafood, although you don't kill it directly, but the chef you hire is killing it, and you open your door to make money, ignoring the pain of those killed seafood lives and their wives, children, and family members when they are separated. Just like "planting melons and getting melons, planting beans and getting beans", what cause is planted, you will feel the fruit. Killing is caused by many diseases, short lives, hell, etc. Therefore, you have to use the money you earn from your seafood business to treat your daughter. Isn't this what I said earlier, as long as you violate the five precepts, it will bring trouble to your life and work? ””
The Buddha said: "If you want to know the cause of the past, you will receive it in this life, and if you want to know the results of the next life, the author of this life is." In the worldly law, personal morality, family happiness, social tranquility, etc. are also closely related to the practice of the Five Precepts.
At this time, the students said word by word, "From this point of view, we really need to pay attention to the five precepts in life, which are integrated into life and cannot be ignored." ”
Juanzi said: "I understand, it turns out that I can't find the reason, my lover and I are in very good health, after learning that I am pregnant with my second child, I pay more attention to nutrition, and I open a restaurant with conditions, what is really nutritional to eat, how to eat fresh, so it is a crime of killing, the killing karma is too heavy and affects the child, we are all ignorant parents, what can I do?"
I told her that if you know your mistakes and correct them, you must repent of the killing karma you have committed, do more releases, do more good deeds and dedicate your merits, take refuge in the Three Jewels, and practice Buddhism to change cause and effect, and your child will slowly get better. Looking at Juanzi's relieved expression, I was also much more relaxed.
Whether you are a monk or a layman, a Buddhist or a non-Buddhist believer, you also need to practice the precepts, because both the worldly Dharma and the Dharma are based on the precepts, which is the rule of the game for us to live together in the world.
In such a relaxed conversation, we ended a short gathering, and I believe that everyone will be useful from practice, so as to persevere and gain great benefits.
