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AHIMSA
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monk at that time take blameless food ?" "Even so Lord.”.
. . The teaching is the same in the Vinaya, where Buddha is said to have accepted a meal from the Jain general Siha, who had provided meat. The report went about that he had killed an ox for Buddha, but the fact was that he had sent for the meat already killed in order to furnish the meal. The Vinaya forbids certain kinds of flesh, human, that of elephants, horses, dogs and certain wild animals. (F. N. Vinaya l. 218-237; Macchamamsa is expressly allowed; This is usually taken to mean 'flesh of fish.'
Pali books state in one or two places that Goutama Buddha ate flesh-Whether this was true or not is to be properly considered.
Buddha Charya P. 148 M. N. 8. 1. 2. 2. Siha Sutta.
“It appears that Jain Commander-in-Chief Siha of Vaisali served meat to Goutama Buddha.”
Note. It seems to me quite impossible that a Jain minister or King could have served Buddha with meat. Neither it seems to be possible that the compassionate Buddha who preached for the protection of immobile and mobile beings would have accepted flesh. More over he was so kind that he did not eat even at night and prohibited his disciples from taking food at night. .
Buddha Charya Page 433. Chulla Vagga 7.
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