TheDarkTrumpet.com

The Great Compassion: Buddhism and Animal Rights was one of the few books I found, when I was researching the opinion/subject, that attempted to tackle the issue related to animal rights. What’s interesting is the line related to the question of animal rights is very fuzzy at best in the Buddhist world.

So before I begin with the specific report, I’ll tell my personal story. This story will hopefully hopefully illustrate the fuzzy line in regard to some animal rights. I’ve been a vegetarian for nearly 10 years of my life. The issue regarding consumption of a meat hasn’t been an issue to me, but I currently work in a Bioinformatics lab. For those unfamiliar with this field, we take data generated from various human and animal experiments and attempt to find scientifically relevant information. For much of the last year I’ve been doing this type of work, my analysis has been done on mostly consenting human subjects (non-lethal of course). The data generated from my analysis is generally confirmed, what are called, “mouse models.” Essentially, all this means are that mice are bred in such a way to exhibit a particular phenotypic quality we’re looking for. In shot, causing the disease we’re interested in looking for. Recently, I’ve been asked to analyze some mouse data that was done for mice with types of eye damage. To do the analysis, the mice are killed. The question I had was if this breaks the precepts – because there is potentially suffering of the animals.

The Good

There are a number of good parts to this book. The primary message is that we should have compassion toward all living beings. This compassion is primarily not consuming meat, but also includes not causing any suffering – as in, keeping a vegan lifestyle. The author references a number of traditions, teachers, and arguments for being both for and against the consumption of animals. Furthermore, the author does reference the animal testing in the medical sense. She is right on the money about how mice are being used in laboratories, and has references. This accuracy makes me feel a little better about the accuracy of the remainder of the text – although I found some areas that were incorrect.

One very interesting thing she discussed is who is attracted to Buddhism in the first place. “Americans attracted to Buddhism tend to fit the same broad profile. We were raised Jewish or Christian and first came to Buddhism between our mid-twenties and mid-forties; we are white, middle-class, college educated, often with graduate degrees, work in professional or managerial careers, and, unless …” From whom I’ve seen go to the Zen Center tend to fit this, mostly.

The discussion about the Dalai Lama (around page 154) is one of the best parts of the book. She discussed why he eats meat, and what his feelings have been on the matter. To those unaware (which I was unaware), the Dalai Lama had some health issues that forced him to start eating meat again. There’s a lot more for it, but I’m sure Wikipedia has it. Nonetheless, this portion of the book was excellent.

The discussion about “Engaged Buddhism”, which Thich Nhat Hanh started promoting is also very interesting. This is around page 163, and the gist of this portion of the book is for Buddhists to not wait for enlightenment to begin helping others, but to be active and help while working to attain enlightenment. Personally, I agree with this totally.

The Rosary of Life (page 167) is by far the best area of this book. It’s, finally, where the author calmed down enough to not sound like a ranting lunatic. It sums up the whole book’s theme very concisely. She compares the “Rosary of Life” with the “Rosary of Death”, which is a counter of how many animals live or die as a result of our choices and actions. I found this worthwhile to read.

The Bad

There are a lot of problems with this book. I’ll start with the most obvious one, that you’d encounter right away – she preaches, a lot. It’s taking one idea and pounding and pounding it until one gets to the point thinking “Is this book over yet?” Sadly this happened, for me, around 1/3rd the way through the book. It’s unnecessary to go on as much as she did with these points, and it made the text much more difficult to read. What’s amusing is at 1350 (kindle location) of the book, she says “One last point, or rather one more repetition of my endless theme: ..” No kidding, right?

With the preaching in mind, she comes off as purely dogmatic in nature. I know people, and I’m sure everyone knows people, whom are like this. They just have to be right and will cite everything and then some to be right. Fortunately, she calms down the further you get into the book – but it’s something to be aware of. Personally, I can’t stand people like this, which made parts of the book very difficult to read.

In the beginning portions of the book, the author tries using very graphic stories to illustrate what’s happening to these animals. I count this as a negative of the book mostly due to the fact I’ve seen Christians on the side of the road holding up anti-abortion signs that weren’t far from this. With that said, it’s not a pleasant read – but is informative at least.

During portions of the book (but redeemed later), the author forgets that the precepts are guide posts to be worked toward. Not everyone can be “perfect Buddhists”, but the point of the precepts is to try and stretch one’s living to be closer to the ideal. To the non-Buddhists readers out there, the ideal is compassion toward all living beings. Much of the book, I felt, she cast these as rules and outwardly would condemn spiritual leaders for not living as precisely as she wants them to. Again, a symptom of one’s ego in needing to be right about something.

Around page 164, the author makes a claim that rabbits are blinded by caustic chemicals, without anesthesia. While this may be true in some places in the world, it’s not exactly true in the U.S. I spent considerable amounts of time reading regulations related to animal use, and I don’t remember anything like this popping up. It’s true that rabbits (or any animal) can be blinded through various methods, but it’s done with anesthesia, and confirmed as research-necessary by quite a few people before anything happens. There’s a lot in these regulations.

Conclusion

/Rating:/ 2 out of 5

There are a few good parts of this book, but they are overshadowed by the near egocentric ranting that occupies most of the book. I’d recommend reading it if you’re at all on the fence on the issue of animal rights or if you consume meat and want a reason to possibly quit.

Have you ever picked up a book at a library, while just glancing through a few pages and couldn’t put it down? Have you ever ended up buying the book, even after reading it, because it was that good? Everyday Suchness is the first book this has ever happened to me.

Everyday Suchness is a book written by Reverence Kubose. This book on dedicated to the art of mindfulness – but with a bit of a twist. While the author was Buddhist, this book isn’t so much about Buddhism as much as it is about everday life. Because of this, people of other religions should find this, hopefully, an interesting read. While the book is only about 140 pages, and each section/story around 2-6 pages or so a piece, the book is written in a way to be incredibly concise and full of wisdom.

Much of the structure of the book is revolved around short stories, sometimes koans, but short stories about specific areas of life. These areas range from how to deal with limitations, accepting what is thrown at us, how to look at life, and how to live life. There are a few chapters dedicated to Buddhist specific topics, such as who the Buddha is – but even more important is what Buddhism actually is. I’ve done my best at times to explain Buddhism to people. This book has a mere 4 pages dedicated to the question, and it’s answered very concisely.

“True happiness is not given to us – we create it. If you are unhapy, do not blame others or your environment. It is your mind, your attitude, that make you miserable. Changing place, or work, may help, but that is not the complete cure for your trouble and unhappiness. The right attitude, and a clear and right mind are the way to happiness”

The above quote is from the book, page 7. Much of the book is written with this quality.

I really do recommend this book. It’s a great and quick read, and well worth the time. I’m feeling up to going through it a second time soon since the first time was so much worthwhile.