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For fear of causing terror to living beings, Mahamati, let the Bodhisattva who is disciplining himself to attain compassion, refrain from eating flesh.
Gautama Buddha
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes the importance of compassion and kindness towards all living beings, advocating for a vegetarian lifestyle.

In this quote, Gautama Buddha teaches that in the pursuit of compassion, one should avoid actions that may harm others, including eating flesh. The essence of the message is about practicing empathy towards all forms of life, which reflects a deeper moral responsibility towards nurturing a benevolent and caring disposition.

Themes

CompassionKindnessVegetarianismNonviolenceEmpathy

In practice

Example use cases

During a speech on environmental ethics, one could reference this quote to highlight the impact of dietary choices on animals.

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The tongue like a sharp knife ... Kills without drawing blood.
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