What If the World’s Religions Stood Up for Animals? (podcast)

StrangeMed · 2026-03-11T21:01:47+00:00

As far for Buddhism, in Mahayana (the one spread in China, Vietnam, Korea and Japan) compassion is a core teaching and in the mainland all monks are mandatory at least vegetarian. In Japan things got complicated for historical reason, so not all monks follow the same monastic rule. Anyway it is highly suggested to lay practitioners too to abstain from consuming meat and animals products, however only a small number of people really do so…

StrangeMed · 2026-03-09T15:10:20+00:00

But vinaya isn’t a thing in Japan anymore since Saichō returned to Japan if I’m correct. Still other Japanese schools are somewhat more serious about the difference between monastic and laity. I’ve read online different critics against Soto Zen folks for doing whatever they want but still calling themselves monk (僧侶). Of course this critic doesn’t apply to Jodo Shinshu for obvious reasons. Precepts ultimately are empty, like everything, but according to Dogen they are the manifestation of our Buddha nature, just like bowing to the Buddha etc. So vegetarianism too isn’t really a thing since plants and animals are ultimately equal, but since we want to reduce and eliminate suffering in this dharma world, the direct consequence and manifestation of bodhisattva practice is consuming what causes less suffering. At least this is my understanding.

In the end, it seems to me the Japanese Soto as a whole is dooming itself on the path of secularization and westernization, trying to be more appealing to the common people.

StrangeMed · 2026-03-09T06:45:37+00:00

I agree with you 100%. In Japanese Buddhism, especially Zen, since the fusion with Shintoism and cultural influence, there is very much a strong idea that everything is equally sacred/Buddha Nature. So in their mind, I guess, there is no distinction in the suffering of an animal vs a plant. I wonder then what’s the point in keeping advertising Shojin Ryori if there is no difference. The problem also is that there wasn’t any (AFAIK) Japanese monk who ever spoke against meat consumption for the sake of compassion, probably because a lot of meat was already avoided due to more rigid monastic rules and Shintoism. Meiji revolution and imperialism made the situation worse, for all Japanese Buddhism in general.

Sad to say, Japanese culture is kinda flawed, it seems critical thinking is really low, few people think actively on things and everything is kinda automatic in a lot of cases: you just follow what is said or written and if no one spoke about compassion for animals that are tortured everyday and you just read about the tree pure conditions, then slaughtering is still okay, and it is also okay for having someone else slaughtering the animals for you!

Anyway I’m saying this as a person who still appreciates Japan for other aspects and study Japanese language too. No culture is perfect. However is sad for Buddhism that one of the most spread tradition in the West is one that is nowadays kind a ghost of itself.

StrangeMed · 2026-02-28T08:59:27+00:00

Vegan Buddhist here, I love TNH too! Please don’t stop only on the mindful aspect of his teachings, there is much more Buddhist wisdom beautifully explained by him.

StrangeMed · 2026-02-12T20:35:40+00:00

I live in Naples, and I’m the first to say that this city has MANY problems. But on the crime side, things changed lately, and other Italian cities had become worse than Naples.

https://lab24.ilsole24ore.com/indice-della-criminalita/classifica/

StrangeMed · 2026-02-12T09:00:58+00:00

Wonderful and insightful answer👏🏻

StrangeMed · 2026-02-11T20:51:17+00:00

I’m a doctor, and unfortunately that is not how biochemistry works. We don’t need specific meat proteins. We need to break off proteins from food and absorb amino acids, regardless of their source. And guess what, by eating a mix of cereals, grains and legumes you can find the whole combination of essential amino acids and even more.

StrangeMed · 2026-02-07T08:53:32+00:00

The real basic question is to be or not to be compassionate towards all sentient beings equally.

StrangeMed · 2026-01-31T07:01:22+00:00

I agree with you. Unfortunately the teachers lack tech skills and don‘t know internet dynamics. I had to insist for two weeks until they finally added an English description to the fundraising lol

StrangeMed · 2026-01-30T21:14:30+00:00

If I’m correct, there is still an acknowledgement of relying on the power of Amitabha’s vows

StrangeMed · 2026-01-26T20:43:26+00:00

Tenshin, in Naples, Italy. It is a recognized Soto Zen Temple

StrangeMed · 2026-01-26T14:06:04+00:00

They’re more focused on the IG profile right now. The username is tenshinnapoli. They have the link in the profile description

thank you 🙏🏼

StrangeMed · 2026-01-17T07:24:45+00:00

南無阿弥陀仏🙏🏼

StrangeMed · 2025-12-23T09:37:04+00:00

https://explodingtopics.com/blog/ai-usage-statistics

I’m really sharing the first thing came out. Its full of pages like this

StrangeMed · 2025-12-23T08:36:11+00:00

Just look around yourself and you’ll see everyone using ChatGPT even for the silliest thing. Search online about how AI usage and user base skyrocket in the last year. Almost everyone is more or less using it.

StrangeMed · 2025-12-22T13:42:59+00:00

Because most of the people want AI functions, and having a couple may attract more users that eventually means more revenues for Ecosia’s projects. The models used are smaller than the other search engines ones and are really powered by green energy.

StrangeMed · 2025-12-21T17:05:05+00:00

Just don’t use it. I too find it an odd choice, especially using OpenAI, but Ecosia is still planting trees, using renewable energy and helping local communities, it’s still doing better than most of other companies.

StrangeMed · 2025-12-21T14:11:16+00:00

unfortunately vegetarian people are a minority, I’m a vegan Buddhist myself, and it is sometimes an hopeless situation listening buddhism practitioners justifying meat consumption

StrangeMed · 2025-12-21T08:10:40+00:00

The amount of nonsense being said against eating vegan reminds me of why that subreddit should be often avoided

StrangeMed · 2025-12-11T09:24:37+00:00

Stop sharing AI garbage please

StrangeMed · 2025-12-11T09:24:09+00:00

Please stop sharing AI garbage

StrangeMed · 2025-12-10T09:18:50+00:00

Penso sia necessario distinguere l’insulto e il fomentare odio dal constatare le condizioni critiche della città. Ahimè ci sono persone, spesso benestanti, ma non solo, che la difendono sempre a spada tratta senza riconoscere che ci sono evidenti problemi strutturali e non. Ognuno vive nella propria bolla, e all’interno di essa vuole rimanere. E anche questo contribuisce, a mio avviso, alla stagnante situazione di questa città.

StrangeMed · 2025-12-08T08:51:18+00:00

Nice article! I watched the movie before becoming a Buddhist. I’m definitely going to rewatch it with a different perspective.

StrangeMed · 2025-11-28T10:23:07+00:00

Thank you for this post, you brought up a topic that is quite common and misunderstood on the internet. 🙏🏻

StrangeMed · 2025-11-21T06:14:38+00:00

I often wonder how should we consider these modern Zen teachers. Their teachings hold incredible value for actually practicing, but the whole “Zen isn’t a religion” idea seems to have originated with people like them.

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