Ahiṃsā: Buddhism and the Vegetarian Ideal

The book begins with a Preface in which Bodo Balsys states that the purpose of the work is to inform Buddhists who consume animals why they should refrain, framing the text as a compassionate plea for ethical change and as a call to purify Buddhist practice from inconsistency between doctrine and conduct. Chapter 1, “The Harmfulness of Meat-Eating,” argues that eating meat cannot be reconciled with compassion, mettā, ahiṃsā, karuṇā, or the arising of bodhicitta, and discusses the suffering of animals, the modern meat economy, and Buddhist arguments surrounding the Jīvaka Sutta. Chapter 2, “War upon the Animal Kingdom,” compares the organized slaughter of animals to a form of war and interprets meat consumption through karma, violence, and collective responsibility. Chapter 3, “The Merchandising of Animals for Products,” examines the commercialization of animal bodies and the moral consequences of treating sentient beings as commodities. Chapter 4, “The Psychic Perspective,” presents a more esoteric interpretation of meat-eating, energy, and consciousness. Chapter 5, “The Story of Animal Rebirth,” connects animal suffering with rebirth and karmic continuity. Chapter 6, “Slugs versus Cows,” reflects on degrees of sentience and the ethical evaluation of different life forms. Chapter 7, “The Highest Yoga Tantra,” addresses tantric contexts and the question of whether advanced practices can justify meat consumption. Chapter 8, “An Extract,” provides supporting textual material. Chapter 9, “Environmental Considerations,” expands the argument to ecological damage and planetary responsibility. Chapter 10, “Conclusion,” restates the book’s central appeal for Buddhists to embody harmlessness through vegetarian practice, followed by appendices on the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra, karma, meat-eating, and levels of tantra.