Publication details
Jídlo a jeho role v buddhismu
| Title in English | The Role of Food in Buddhism |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2005 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | Tomáš Bubík - Martin Fárek (eds.) Náboženství a jídlo |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Philosophy and religion |
| Keywords | Buddha Shakyamuni; food in Buddhism; Mongolia |
| Description | The contribution deals with the role of food in the life of Buddha as well as with the more general phenomenon of food in Buddhism. With respect to the figure of the Buddha, we point out two dishes that according to canonic texts had religious significance: the first and the last of the Buddhas dishes, which are connected with two important moments of his life, the former relating to the awakening and the latter to death. Contribution discusses the erroneous western understanding of Buddhism as a religion strictly prescribing vegetarianism. With help of examples from Mongolia, we illustrate the impossibility of vegetarianism in the nomadic society as well as the fact that this dietary system has no support in the sacred texts. What the texts deal with are various forms of punishment for meat-eaters. Thus, the Buddhist conception of hell reserves one special compartment for meat-eaters. Compared to other transgressions, meat eating represents the least misdeed in the Buddhist ethics. |
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