Wesak ....An important Buddha teaching

Sacrifice Of Animals At Yajnas - An Episode

"Man undertakes Yajnas (sacrifices) and Yagas (rituals) without realising the innate divinity of all beings. While traveling from place to place, Buddha came across a group of people in a village performing a ritual sacrifice. This sacrifice required the killing of animals. Buddha protested. He told them that omnipresent God was indweller of all living beings. Therefore, it was improper to sacrifice living beings. The person conducting the ritual said that the sacrificed animals would attain liberation. Buddha laughed at this and said, 'You want to give liberation to these animals, which have not desired for it. Why don't you apply the same principle and give liberation to all these men who are yearning for it? I do not accept your argument that these sacrificial animals will attain liberation. Which Upanishad or the Veda recommends animal sacrifice? How can you think of anybody's liberation when an animal is killed? This is utter falsehood. This animal has not expressed any desire for liberation. But your mother, father, wife, children, relatives and many others desire liberation. Why don't you sacrifice them and fulfill their desire? In fact, why don't you start with yourself? Nobody can attain liberation by violence on living beings.' In this manner, Buddha propagated the principle of Ahimsa (non-violence). The love that is inherent in human beings is present in birds and beasts also. Share your love with birds and beasts and fellow-beings. Absolute love is true liberation."

Eating meat is no different...the animals suffer needlessly.....think about it