To Cherish All Life: A Buddhist View of Animal Slaughter and Meat Eating

Roshi P. Kapleau does an amazing job of cracking the shell placed around contemporary Buddhism. He is adept in expanding its compassionate core to encompass the cruelty involved in consuming flesh (meat) and other animal products. This little book is very easy to access and understand. Its core is one of compassion for all sentient beings. How can this not be clearer? By consuming today's slaughtered (harvested) animals served up for people's taste buds, we consume their intense suffering and become what we eat. I highly recommend reading this for all people interested in cherishing all life as Roshi not only talks the truth but also walks it.

This was an excellent book on the attributes of vegetarianism. The author covered all bases in a clear, concise and to the point manner. I recommend it for anyone thinking of adopting a vegetarian lifestyle or just wanting more information about vegetarianism, whether or not they are Buddhist.

I highly reccommend this! One of the more convincing books I've read on the subject of vegetarianism. Kapleau provides reliable sources to say what he's trying to say, including members of the Buddhist religion, nutritionists, and meat inspectors. He even includes a list of many well-known writers and celebrities who are vegetarians, as well as some great quotes from them. Kapleau describes the Buddhist vow to not take life, and how some people consider an animal's life to be different from a human being's life. Kinda silly, when you think about it. I mean, it might seem weird not to kill spiders and bugs because you feel bad for them, but where exactly do you draw the line between a sentient being, and a "mindless" animal? *is* there even a line? The author discusses how different branches of Buddhism regard meat-eating, information on how meat is digested by the human body as opposed to vegetables, the long-standing claim that "vegetarians don't get enough protein," and the conditions in slaughterhouses in the u.s. as well as in other places, and what exactly is involved in getting a cow or a pig from the farm to your dinner plate. it's not horribly, grotesquely detailed (such that you wouldn't be able sleep at night), but it will certainly encourage the reader to develop an opinion on the issue. meat-eaters may regard it as a simple book describing Buddhist views on meat-eating, while others may realize just what they put into their bodies from day to day and choose these things more wisely. An especially helpful book for almost-vegetarians like myself.

One of the best books I have ever read on the relationship between Vegetarianism and Buddhism. This book avoids the pitfalls of many related books by gently describing the role of vegetarianism in Buddhist practice rather than "preaching" it's necessity. Roshi Kapleau also does an excellent job of addressing the many issues and misconceptions encountered by today's Buddhist traversing this often misunderstood path of practice.I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever asked the question, "What the heck does vegetarianism have to do with Buddhism?"