There are compilations of texts on longevity and daily regimens, gravely focusing their diet sections on how to consume all kinds of animals through roasting or stewing, including sparrows, wild geese, pheasants, mandarin ducks, deer, rabbits, camels, bears, and badgers, many of which even spoiled rich kids may not have tasted before.
Ancient sages already spoke with precision: “No matter how well you preserve your health, you will have to die.” Yet, why do the elderly still cling to the delusion of immortality, still zealously engage in killing and thereby leading not only themselves but also their offsprings into the hellish realms? It is exactly because of such books.
Confucius said, “Old people should live in peace.” Certainly, he didn’t recommend killing as a way to live in peace. Mencius did speak of “eating meat at the age of seventy,” yet he certainly never advocated consuming the flesh of every kind of living creature. Those who promote that meat-eating is good for health really should give it second thoughts.
by Grand Master Lian Chi (蓮池大師), the Eighth Patriarch of Pure Land Buddhism
實悟 – 錄自明末蓮池大師《竹窗隨筆》(初筆)
有集養老書，日用服食，多炮灸生物。至於曰雀、曰鴈、曰雉、曰鴛鴦、曰鹿、曰兔、曰駝、曰熊、曰猯，多豪貴少年所未及染指者。先德有言:「饒君善將息，難與死魔爭。」胡為老不息心，反勤殺害，誤天下老人並其子弟俱陷地獄者，是書也。孔子曰:「老者安之。」定不教渠殺生為安。孟子曰:「七十食肉。」亦定不教渠遍食眾生肉也。作俑者其思之。
Buddha Mind 