Geoffrey Barstow joins us for this in depth discussion of vegetarianism, ethics and specifically the debates about it found in the Tibetan Buddhist traditions.
Learn more about Geoffrey Barstow at

https://thelostyak.com

Find his books at:  

https://cup.columbia.edu/book/food-of-sinful-demons/9780231179966 
https://wisdomexperience.org/product/the-faults-of-meat/


Partial List of Topics in Chronological Order:
0:00 Introduction
3:34 Introduction to Geoffrey Barstow
7:25 Conversation with Geoff begins

Geoff's background
Studying Tibetan language
How Geoff is both a Scholar and a Practitioner
No one believes in myth of academic impartiality
2 Books on Vegetarianism and Buddhism
First book is an Attempt to make sense of vegetarianism in the Tibetan context
Using Buddhist positions to critique idea of lone gun man doing ego driven science
How he got interested in vegetarianism
How he went to Kham, Eastern Tibet and interviewed scholars and monks about eating meat
3 Levels of Vows in the Tibetan Buddhist traditions: Individual Liberation, Bodhisattva, Tantric.
How vegetarianism was an issue in Tibetan for at least 1,000 years
Being Vegetarian was seen as unhealthy - and seen then as an ascetic practice that someone could choose to do for the dharma but was a kind of sacrifice.
Separation between buying and killing animals - and debate about this
Not causing harm by eating less - or mitigate the harm through buying more 'humanely' raised meat
Most chickens never see day light - they have very difficult lives
Role of family and culture and tradition in eating meat
Value in reducing the amount of meat you eat
How we can't escape causing some harm
The View sometimes expressed in Tibetan Buddhism that eating meat can be part of being a dharma practitioner because one forms a karmic connection with the animal and Geoffrey's response to this view.
The question of the conceptual division between 'human' and 'animals'
How neuroscience has shown that animals and humans are not actually so distinct biologically.

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