Kill life to get long life?

****************

"杀生求生，去生远矣。"

sha sheng qiu sheng, qu sheng yuan yi.

"Kill lives get lives, near life far off."

****************

If we kill animals and eat them to nourish our own bodies, then we are actually further away from the righteous concept of  'life', and thus our health deteriorates and life gets shortened.

****************

In the preface of SUN Si Miao's book 《备急千金要方》 (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies), he said:

"Many great ancient physicians used animals to treat acute and dangerous illnesses of emergency. Even though it's said that animals are inferior and human beings are superior; when it comes to appreciating lives, humans and animals are the same. Hurting others and benefiting oneself is commonly disgusted by all animals; let alone human beings. When we save ourselves by killing animals, we're really departing away from the definition of 'life'. This is the reason why I don't use animal products as herbs/medicine in my prescriptions."

In short,

eating animals to nourish our bodies will simply make our health worse and shorten our lives... 

PS:

-- 孙思邈, SUN Si Miao, SUN SiMiao, 581-682, Tang dynasty, China. Renowned physician and Taoist. A great medical physician and herbalist. Well regarded as “药王” (Yao Wang, The king of medicines). Main achievement: Author of 《备急千金要方》 and 《千金翼方》.

-- The book 备急千金要方, Bei ji qian jin yao fang, Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies.

-- The book 千金翼方, Qian jin yi fang, Supplement to the Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold.

-- By the way, he spent 10 years on 《千金要方》, from age 60-70 years old. And he spent another 30 years finishing 《千金翼方》, at the age of about 100 years old...

-- Original explanation: (simplifled characters): “自古名贤治病，多用生命以济危急，虽曰贱畜贵人，至于爱命,人畜一也。损彼益己，物情同患，况于人呼!夫杀生求生，去生更远。吾今此方所以不用生命为药者，良由此也。”(《备急千金要方》)

-- Original explanation: (original characters): "自古名賢治病，多用生命以濟危急，雖曰賤畜貴人，至於愛命，人畜一也。損彼益己，物情同患，況於人乎！夫殺生求生，去生更遠。吾今此方所以不用生命為藥者，良由此也。"(《备急千金要方》)

Survival of Life: Einstein and Hawking

Survival of Life: Einstein and Hawking

My family and I were at a vegetarian restaurant a month ago and I came across a quote that got my attention very much. It was actually printed on the restaurant menu, most likely to convince people to try out vegetarinism. Is it powerful and convincing enough? And how it got my attention that much? Simply because it's quoted from Albert Einsterin and it goes:

"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." - Albert Einstein

And I went online to check if it's truly from Albert Einstein and, it seems it is; Many websites acknowledge that but none so far gives the detail source of the quote. A few more checkings show that many websites and organisations have used the quote for encouraging vegetarian diet or simply kept it as their quote database. I was thinking how I could make the quote more marketable and meaningful.

So I decided to highlight the two aspects in the quote:

1. Human health: Basically the statement means if we take vegetarian diet, our health will be kept very optimal. Vegetarianism is the number one contributing factor to good health and guess what, nothing else beats that, i.e., if you believe in Mr. Einstein's wisdom.

2. Chances for survival of life on earth: Are human beings and other life forms going to survive on earth? Are we using science and technology for creation or destruction? Are we living in harmony with all creatures? Is our enviroment getting better or getting worse? Has the earth got enough resources for everybody to live materialistically happy? Why do we seem to pollute our mother earth all the time?... How will vegetarian diet do good for survival of life? Again, if you have faith in Mr. Einstein, vegetarianism is also the number one helping factor to survival of life on Earth.

To put it in short, if you are a person who care about your health and our mother Earth, come and become a vegetarian.

And interestingly enough, Stephen Hawking wrote about survival of human beings on Earth roughly 2 weeks ago:

“We are entering an increasingly dangerous period of our history. Our population and our use of the finite resources of planet Earth are growing exponentially, along with our technical ability to change the environment for good or ill. But our genetic code still carries the selfish and aggressive instincts that were of survival advantage in the past. It will be difficult enough to avoid disaster in the next hundred years, let alone the next thousand or million." And he continued: “Our only chance of long-term survival is not to remain lurking on planet Earth, but to spread out into space."

Mr. Hawking is talking about survival of human life from the physical perspective, I presume. Venturing out into outer space helps create more resources for human consumptions. When more resources are available people will be busy venturing out rather than fighting over limited resource back home on Earth. But it most likely doesn't help with the 'selfish and aggresive instincts' of human beings. As long as this 'selfish and aggressive instincts' are still with us, we'll always use force to solve conflicts and problems. And 'it will be difficult to avoid disaster' in the remote future too.

Many people believe, and I believe, that vegetarian diet helps cultivate love for all living beings, thus helps diminishing 'selfish and aggressive instincts'. It's all so important to recognise the root cause: the selfish and aggressive instincts of human beings. Thank you, Mr. Hawking.

Mr. Einstein and Mr. Hawking have both provided their insights and solutions as to the survival of life on Earth. Mr. Einstein's approach seems covering all life forms and more of a change of personal actualization; whereas Mr. Hawking's idea is more outward and in line with scientific adventure.

If you ask me (well, nobody asks though, ha!), I'll say: "What about both? And many others too." Many times we human beings are looking for just one answer to a complex question and situation. There are many methods and approaches to solve many things. I'm sure many people are quietly and brilliantly doing their parts for the people and mother Earth they love.

We should all become vegetarians to preserve more natural resources and protect all life forms.

And at the same time some of those more adventurous people will go to the outer space for resources on other planets. There is no contradiction whatsoever.

PS: --------------------------------

+) Albert Einstein (1879-1955), widely regarded as the greatest scientist of the 20th century and a lifelong promoter of peace, who said, “Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” On a similar note he stated, “Our task must be to [widen] our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” And on the day he became a vegetarian, Einstein wrote in his diary, “So I am living without fats, without meat, without fish, but am feeling quite well this way. It always seems to me that man was not born to be a carnivore.” - Info from the Florida News Group, USA

+) Mr. Hawking's excerpts published by the Winnipeg Free Press: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/human-survival-depends-on-space-exploration-says-stephen-hawking-134135238.html

+) More about Stephen Hawking at here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking

+) “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.” - Albert Einstein. I find this quote very amusing and can't help laughing after reading it for the first time and everytime! I'm laughing because it's very sure that human beings are stupid and those that are smart enough will know that humans are stupid; these smart people are humans too and therefore stupid too. And those that are stupid will believe they are very smart indeed. Human beings' stupidity is infinite! Ha ha!

Releasing lives gets fortune

Releasing lives gets fortune

(Click on the pictures for larger views)
or for convenient viewing at:

http://www.lews.info/blog/Releasing-lives-gets-fortune-100-sparrows.html

http://www.lews.info/blog/Releasing-lives-gets-fortune-100-sparrows.html

******************************** ********************************

One hundred sparrows: Benefits of protecting lives

During the Qing dynasty in the city of Jing Kou, Jiang Su province, China, lived a ministry councilman, Fan.

One day, Mr Fan got back home excitedly.

Mr Fan: "Chun Mei, is madam's illness getting better today?"

Chun Mei: "Madam isn't eating anything at all."

Mr Fan: "Oh!... Never mind, tell madam I'll be seeing her soon."

Chun Mei: "Yes, master."

Shortly after, 5 cages of sparrows were sent in by a bird shop.

Mr Fan: "A-Cai, bring these sparrows to the backyard."

A-Cai: "Yes, master."

A-Cai was wondering: "Why is master buying so many sparrows?"

After which Mr Fan rushed to see his wife in her room.

"Sweetheart! Good news! Dr Wang told me a secret ingredient of treating Lung TB this morning," said Mr Fan excitedly.

"He taught me to make medication from brain marrows of 100 sparrows, and to be consumed in 21 days."

"Then your illness will all be healed."

"I've already bought 100 sparrows and they're at the backyard now."

After hearing what her husband said, Mrs Fan got up angrily.

She started talking but can't help coughing breathlessly:

"In order to save my life, that's to sacrifice the lives of 100 sparrows."

"Hmm!" Mr Fan exclaimed.

Mrs Fan: "I'd rather die of the illness than to do this."

"Chun Mei, help me to the backyard."

Chun Mei: "Yes, madam."

Mr Fan: "Sweetheart, what are you doing?!"

"I just don't want 100 sparrows die because of me," said Mrs Fan.

Chun Mei helped Mrs Fan to the backyard; Mr Fan followed closely.

Mr Fan: "Sweetheart, please don't be angry. Okay, I promise I won't kill them."

Mrs Fan: "No. I have to set them free myself or I'll be worrying about them."

Mrs Fan opened the cages and talked to the sparrows with full of compassion: "Go fly! Go fly! Don't let people catch you again."

One hundred sparrows flew out from cages, chirping loudly and cheerfully.

Mrs Fan saw them leaving; and her face smiling.

They all witnessed the magnificent vibrancy of life forms.

Mr Fan was a bit disappointed:

"Sweetheart, let's get in the house, or you'll get cold again.”

“Please take a good rest. I'm going to the doctor for other medication.”

Mrs Fan: “Hmm, thank you.”

But Mr Fan was worried there might not be better medication to treat her wife.

“Chun Mei! Take special care of madam!”

Chun Mei: “Yes, master.”

As time went by, surprisingly, Mrs Fan got better and was eventually completely healed.

Furthermore, she gave birth to a baby boy the following year.

Mr Fan: “Ha! Look at this baby, smart look with clear eyebrows and sparkling eyes, he must be somebody one day.”

Mrs Fan: “Darling, you see here. There is a birthmark on his arm. Does it look like a sparrow?”

Mr Fan: “Ya! It's so much like a sparrow!”

And Mr Fan said, thoughtfully: "Sweetheart! Do you remember what we did with some sparrows 2 years ago?"

Mrs Fan: "Of course I do."

Mr Fan: "Did this baby come as a result of your kindness to living beings?"

Mrs Fan: "Maybe!"

"I deeply believe in "Accumulate-kindness-one's-family, sure-have-extra-celebration". We must do more good deeds from now on."

The couple looked deeply at the baby in their hands. And they smiled happily.

******************************** ********************************

积善之家，
必有余庆。

ji shan zhi jia,
bi you yu qing.

Accumulate-kindness-one's-family,

sure-have-extra-celebrations.

A family that accumulates good deeds will always have extra good health, wealth and happiness.

******************************** ********************************

人人咸欲达期颐，
不必寻思觅巧医。
戒杀放生若作得，
愈汝顽疾添麟儿。

ren ren xian yu da qi yi,
bu bi xun si mi qiao yi.
jie sha fang sheng ruo zuo de,
yu ru wan ji tian lin er.

Men women all desire reaching expected health,
No need search worry look-for talented doctors.
Abstain killing freeing lives if doing so,
Cure your tough illness getting kirin baby.

Everybody wants to heal and cure their illnesses fast and have a healthy body. There is no need trying so hard to look for talented doctors. If you can stay away from killing living beings and promote freeing lives, you can then cure your illnesses and even be able to bear intelligent and beautiful children.

******************************** ********************************

The message is simple:

Be kind to animals and all living beings,
good fortunes will bestow on you.

Whenever possible, spare and release lives.
Good fortunes and more lives will come back to you.

******************************** ********************************

PS:

+) Contributors: Story adapted by 慧长(Hui Zhang); comics drawn by 牧谷(Mu Gu); Comic version presented in 护生漫画集 (Hu Sheng Man Hua Ji, Protect-Lives-Casual-Drawing-Collection or Protection for living beings). English translation by www.lews.info.

+) Story: adapted from 故事图说(Gu Shi Tu Shuo; Past stories illustration narration).

+) Quote: "Accumulate-kindness-one's-family, sure-have-extra-celebrations." is from "积善之家,必有余庆." in the book of 周易(Zhou Yi) or 易经(Yi Jing), more known as "I Ching" in the west; an ancient philosophical book in Dynasty Zhou, BC 1066 - BC 256.

+) Names of people/places/events involved: 范(Fan), 清朝(Qing Chao; Qing dynasty, 1644-1911), 京口(Jing Kou) city, 江苏(Jiang Su) province, 放生得福(Fan Shang De Fu; Releasing-lives-gets-fortune).

+) Right and wrong? To seek help or not? It seems I'm going to be in trouble by translating and publishing the poem here in my blog; it will then mean I agree to what it says about not necessary to look for good doctors for medical complications. The fact is that I believe in doing the right things right. The right thing to do in this story is we must not kill the sparrows for their brain marrows as medication. All lives are precious; it's not like we can take others' lives to save ours (Even if we can, that's a bigger price to pay ahead). And the other right thing to do is to seek for medication which is herbal based or which we don't harm living animals. Therefore, at the time we're looking for medical help, we need to ask ourselves: "Am I doing the right things right?" If the initial approach has been wrong and inhumane, how can we expect the outcome be right and beneficial to humanity?

Ants move house

Ants move house

This is children's naughty act? Small stools lined up as road barriers blocking pedestrians? Or some sorts of children games? The boy and the girl use stools acting like daytime soap series? For behaviours of children, many adults who are busy making a living usually don't care, don't notice, don't understand about what children do.

Oh you, busy walking by, please bend down your body and take a good look. Underneath the row of stools is a team of living life force full of discipline and marching spirits. Ants are moving family/house! Up front are leaders with sharp destination in mind; no distractions get in the way. And follow by soldier ants of strong forces, many of whom carry heavy loads of grains.

These two children are setting up corridors from stools in order to protect the ants crossing the middle of the street safely. In the world of tens of thousands of climatic scenarios, there are many 'normal scenes' which get ignored by human beings. And thus many small and minute lives get jeopardized. In the journey of life, the weak life forms need to be protected. And that the sacred hearts of children, and children's behaviours that are full of love and care, need more nurture and encouragement!

Please praise and encourage children games such as this one that helps ants move house!

NOTE:
+) Comic: Comic drawn by the late Mr. 丰子恺 / 豐子愷 (FENG Zi Kai) in his book 《护生画集》; hu sheng hua ji; Protecting-lives-drawing-collections. Original writing in the comic: 蚂蚁搬家, Ma-Yi Ban Jia, "Ants Move Family/House".
+) Writing: Original writing in Chinese edited by 宋慧燕 (SONG Hui Yan), Sin Chew Plus， July 20th, 2011, of Sin Chew Daily, a Malaysian daily newspaper in Chinese language.
+) Translation: By John Lew, trying to keep the original tones and grammar patterns intact.

Cows and dogs are friends

Among the six domestic animals (pig, ox, goat, horse, fowl and dog), cows and dogs are the most useful and harmless animals for human beings.

In the ancient times, Oxen and cows were around to help us transport goods, plowing for farming, their milk as our drinks and their flesh as our foods too. Dogs were around for protection of premises, helping in hunting other animals, as well as our dishes on dining table. They've always been loyal to human beings. They're obedient and hardly complain. To these days, we benefit from their company pretty much the same.

A small change though; dogs have since escalated her status as pet too. Many different breeds of dogs are human beings' favorite pets and some are as close as family members. The same probably can't be said for cows, pigs, goats, deers, chicken; they've all become human's favorite foods.

In order to make them foods for our mouth and stomach we need to make them dead. To make them dead we need to slaughter and kill them. Who would wanna be slaughtered to death? What kind of pains involved in slitting one's throat to death? Do we believe animals have no sensory perceptions? So they don't see, hear, taste, smell, touch and therefore don't feel any pains?

Do we want such pain and torture in slitting our throats and bleeding to death?

Please spare them the pains... especially the ones that have helped us so much.

Let's start by not eating beef... cows... dog meat...

and then pork... pigs...

and then deers, lambs, horses...

and then chicken...

and then all living animals...

and then all living beings...

Note: Comic drawn by 牧谷(Mu Gu). Original wordings translated to English: [Among the domestic animals, those that benefit mankind the most and least harmful to us, are cows and dogs; must not be eaten.]

Wild geese fly like family

Don't kill or eat wild geese. Wild geese fly like brothers/sisters/family.

Many ancient civilizations in the past respect animals with behaviors like human beings. One of those animals displaying human traits is wild geese.

Wild geese live together and fly in flock like brothers and sisters and family members. The formation they take is called V or Vic formation and it reduces aerodynamic drags from wind and helps them to fly farther with less efforts. Also, when the leading goose at front gets tired facing the wind, the trailing goose at the very back of the team will move forward and take over the role; former leader will then become the second goose in the formation, taking some rest. And the process takes turn alternating between left and right wing. This way everybody gets a chance to face the front wind and rest well long enough before taking the lead again.

There are plenty of stories from grain farmers who tell of how geese would come back to look for lost goose in between flying in flock. They seem not easily abandon their flying members, and in doing so, unfortunately fall into victims of goose hunting. Goose hunters know this well enough and that's why techniques like goose decoys and goose calling work well to attract geese for hunting.



We don't kill our brothers/sisters/father/mother; why do we then kill others' brothers/sisters/ father/mother? Just that they look so different than human beings doesn't make them less living beings. Unfortunately, again, human beings don't get this well.


Don't hunt geese, or any other animals.


Animals are just like us; albeit bearing different skins and looks.


PS:
(1) I read about wild geese flying formation long ago and if the info given isn't accurate or wrong please do correct me so. Thanks!
(2) Comic drawn by 牧谷(Mu Gu). All photoes of geese flying from internet. Do let me know if any of them are copyrighted.

White turtle repays gratitude

White turtle repays gratitude

(Click on the pictures for larger views)
or for convenient viewing at:

http://www.lews.info/blog/White-turtle-repays-gratitude.html

http://www.lews.info/blog/White-turtle-repays-gratitude.html

White turtle repays gratitude

******************************** ********************************

Once upon a time in Jin dynasty (China, year 265-420), General MAO Bao was in charge of Wu Chang town. One day, a soldier of his went to market with a few others for groceries.

When they were about done and heading back to camp, there came a fisherman...

Fisherman: Selling turtles! Turtles!

The fisherman came up to the soldiers and in his hand was a white turtle.
He said: Sirs, this white turtle is the only one left. I'll sell to you officers at cheaper price!

Soldier A: Hey! It's white? White turtle?!
The soldier: She's so cute! I'll buy her!

Soldier B: Why do you buy her for?
The soldier: So that I can raise her and set her free when she's older. It's good merit!

********************************

Soldier A: Hey, you have kind and sympathetic heart! Great!

And so he paid the fisherman and all of them got back to camp with their groceries.

Back in camp, the soldier raised the white turtle in a water tank, taking good care of her whenever he could.

As days went by, the white turtle grew bigger. They'd developed a strong bonding.

A few years went by, the white turtle could no longer live in the water tank.

One day, the soldier talked to white turtle sadly:
Oh, white turtle! You've grown up. I'll be sending you back to river. River is your real home.

********************************

A few days later the soldier brought the white turtle to a river.

He padded the turtle and said:
Go! White turtle. I hope we can meet again one day. Be careful, don't let fishermen catch you again. Take care!

White turtle swam a few strokes and turned back to gaze at the soldier, as if she missed him.

And then she continued moving forward, disappearing in the river.

The soldier was already missing the white turtle.

A few more years went by. SHI Ji Long, king of Zhao kingdom, attacked Jin dynasty. General Mao was given order to secure Zhu city.

********************************

In year 340, King SHI sent his top general with tens of thousands of troop to attack Zhu city.

General Mao and his troops defended the attack for a few days before being defeated due to poor back-up. He then led his troop to fall back and flee.

Enemy kept pursuing and Mao and his troop had no choice but to jump into a river.

********************************

The soldier who bought and raised the turtle jumped too to save his own life.

The moment he landed, to his shock, he felt he landed on a piece of big rock.

"This is strange! Why's the river so shallow?" He thought to himself.

And when he looked more carefully, it's the white turtle he saved and raised many years ago. He was in pleasant surprise.

The white turtle swam swiftly toward the opposite shore.

He tilted back, everywhere he saw was soldiers screaming and struggling in rapid flows.

And arrows from the enemy came down as if it was raining.

********************************

At last the white turtle managed to carry him to the opposite shore.

He said, appreciatively:
Thank you, white turtle. If it wasn't you, I would've died without doubt.

The white turtle looked at him, eyes to eyes, seemingly understanding the soldier.

Then the white turtle slowly turned around and swam back to the river. The soldier waved goodbye, full of thankfulness.

Jin troop suffered great loss in the battle of Zhu City. General Mao and his troop of six thousand soldiers all died in the river. Only the soldier, who saved and raised the turtle, survived because of the white turtle's help.

******************************** ********************************

军士慈悲能掷金
白龟图报岂辞辛
欲得共中不共业
放生戒杀合天心

Jun shi ci bei neng zhi jin
Bai gui tu bao qi ci xin
Ye de gong zhong bu gong ye
Fang sheng jie sha he tian xin

Army officer's compassionate mercy can throw gold
White turtle desire repay won't avoid difficulty
For getting living together not sharing karma
Release life abstain killing suit God's heart

********************************

It doesn't seem easily or readily understandable what the poem says; basically it means:

The compassion and humanity of the army officer can create miracle.
White turtle wanted to repay gratitude regardless of how difficult the situation could be.

In order to live together (and thus probably or unavoidably creating bad merits) but not sharing bad merits, preserving life forms and abstaining from killing is in line with God's will.

The individual merit of the soldier who saved and raised the turtle helped himself to be rescued when things were bad. Bear in mind that he most probably had done much more good deeds than just saving the turtle, with a heart of compassion and sympathy as he had. And in God's will he be saved and continued his good deeds and merits making, helping all living beings on earth.

And yes, we're gonna be just like him, if not more!

******************************** ********************************

PS:

+) Story modified by 慧长(Hui Zhang); comics drawn by 牧谷(Mu Gu); English translation by www.lews.info.

+) Story modified from 晋书(Jin Shu; JIN Book / Book of Jin Dynasty), 廿五史/二十五史(Nian Wu Shi / Er Shi Wu Shi; Twenty Five History / Two Ten Five History; "Twenty-five Official Dynastic Histories")

+) Some names of people/places/events involved: 毛宝将军(MAO Bao sergeant general), 武昌(Wu Chang, name of a city), 赵国(Zhao Kingdom), 石季龙(SHI Ji Long, king of Zhao Kingdom), 邾城(Zhu Cheng; Zhu City), 东晋咸康五年(Dong/East JIN Xian Kang 5th year, the year 340), 白龟报恩 (Bai Gui Bao En; White turtle repays gratitude).

Don't shoot the birds

谁道群生性命微？
一般骨肉一般皮；
劝君莫打枝头鸟，
子在巢中望母归。

shui dao qun sheng xing ming wei?
yi ban gu rou yi ban pi;
quan jun mo da zhi tou niao,
zi zai chao zhong wang mu gui.

Who says bunch creatures life forms worthless?
Same type bones flesh same type skins;
Advice you don't hit branch-tip birds,
Chicks at nest-in waiting mother home.

PS:
1. Poem by 白居易（BAI Ju Yi, year 772～846, 唐朝, Tang dynasty）. The name of the poem is 《护生诗》 ("Hu Sheng Shi", or "Protecting Life Poem"). Comic drawn by 牧谷(Mu Gu); Translation by John Lew.
2. Thought of explaining further on the poem but it seems pretty self-explanatory.

The world is full of smart people who shoot the birds (or something similar to that nature) for fun, for pleasure, for killing time, for revenge, for money and etc; we just need more wise people who know what's more important in life...

Happy Mid Autumn Festival!
(Lunar August 15th; Sept 22, 2010)

It's a time of
family reunion!

Deer's intestines broken in inches

Deer's intestines broken in inches

(Click on the pictures for larger views)
or for convenient viewing at:

http://www.lews.info/blog/Deer-hunting-intestines-broken-in-pieces.html

http://www.lews.info/blog/Deer-hunting-intestines-broken-in-pieces.html

Drawing: 牧谷 Mu Gu;
Modified by: 慧长 Hui Zhang;
English: www.lews.info

There was the time of Jin dynasty (265 AD - 420 AD) in China. XU Xun, a resident of He Nang province, was skillful at archery. He enjoyed animal hunting. One day, he was again getting ready to go hunting.

Zhang: Good morning, Mr. Xu. Are you going hunting again?
Xu Xun: Yes! Mr. Zhang. Do you want to come along?

Zhang: Sure! We can have some Barbecue. Just a sec, let me go get my gears.
Xu: Okay.

After Mr. Zhang got his bow and arrows, the two of them went straight up to the mountain for hunting.

When they got to the mountain...
Xu: Hey, Mr. Zhang. There are two deers right over there.

**********************************

Zhang: We'll go beneath and against the wind; let's not scare them away.

They moved slowly and hid behind a big rock downstream.
Xu: Look like mother-son they do.

Zhang: Hey, we'll shoot them at the same time. You shoot the little guy; I go for the mother.
Xu: Alright.

They then aimed and shot their arrows at the deers...

Zhang's arrow missed the mother deer and landed near her legs. The mother deer quickly reacted and ran away.

**********************************

The poor baby deer got shot and wounded badly, collapsing after uttering a loud whine.
Xu: Haa Haa! Great shot!
Zhang: You're good. Too bad I missed the mother deer.
Xu: It's ok, Mr Zhang. Let's go over and take a look.
Zhang: Ok.

Suddenly there was movement.
Xu: Hey, Something's moving. Let's stay away first.
They hid themselves behind some bushes and noticed the mother deer came back to the baby deer.
Zhang: Alright! I must get it this time.
Xu: Wait a sec, Mr. Zhang. See...

**********************************

They saw the mother deer in tears and licking her baby's wound again and again.
And she went around her baby wailing in great sadness...
After a while, the mother deer collapsed and dropped to the ground too.
Xu: Hey, what happened to the mother deer?
Zhang: Hurry, let's take a look.
Xu: The mother's dead.
Zhang: Impossible. Let me see.

**********************************

Zhang: Hey, really, she's dead. She must've felt too sad!
Xi: Really?

Xu Xun was curious and full of doubts, and he asked Mr. Zhang:
Xu: Why don't we cut her open and see what happened?
Zhang: But why?
Xu: I just wanna know how she died.
Zhang: Okay, let's find out.

And so the two of them cut her abdoment open.

Suddenly Xu Xun let out a sharp cry:
Xu: Oh! You see, Mr Zhang, her intestines are broken into 1-inch pieces. How horrible!

Out of control, Xu Xun felt a sense of deep sadness and regret.
Xu: I think the mother deer must've been too sad over her baby's death and caused her intestines to break into pieces. How I regretted killing the baby deer.

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Zhang: Sigh, who would've thought of such thing. Please don't blame yourself.
Xu: I didn't know animals and human beings are alike in our love of children; even though we look so different.

Xu: Mr. Zhang, let's bury them, shall we?
Zhang: Okay. Hopefully it helps lessen our sins.

And so they buried the mother deer and the baby deer.

And Xu Xun broke his bow and arrows and vowed never to hunt again.

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Original story from 警心录 (Jing Xin Lu, Alert-Heart-Records);
Comic version presented in 护生漫画集 (Hu Sheng Man Hua Ji, Protect-Lives-Casual-Drawing-Collection or Protection for living beings).

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呦呦双鹿戏林阴
you you shuang lu xi lin
Bell bell two deers play forest shades

裂帛一声悽母心
lie bo yi shen qi mu xin
Break silk one sound hurts mother heart

寸寸断肠真实语
cun cun duan chang zhen shi yu
Inch inch broken intestines real concrete words

千秋闻者泪沾襟
qian qiu wen zhe lei zhan jin
Thousand autumns hear beings tears soak shirts

Eating meat is eating human beings?

Eating meat is eating human beings?

Chinese characters are combinations of symbols (pictographic: drawing), sounds (phono-semantic: shape and sound) and meanings (ideographic: ideology and concept). Of the three, what makes the characters stand out most visually interesting is the symbolic and artistic nature.

Take the word 肉(“rou”, meat / flesh) for example, the special thing about this word is how it's constructed from. There seems to be two 人(“ren”, man / human being) inside the character 门(“men”, door). Two men inside a door is meat? What does that mean?

The way I would interpret the character 肉(“rou”, meat) is quite similar but with a simple twist. My idea was inspired by the concept of universal love. You shall see why below:

人(“ren”, man / human being): The character looks like a man walking with two legs.
门(“men”, door): The character itself resembles a door with hinge.
內(“nei”, inside): A man inside a door means 'inside', quite graphical too.
肉(“rou”, meat / flesh): There is actually a 'human being' (the lower character 人) hidden 'inside' meat.

This is the conclusion: There is a human being inside meat. If you eat meat, you eat human beings. How do we come to comprehend this? This simple conclusion is in line with the concept of reincarnation, that all living beings keep incarnating to other living forms depending on how well (or how bad) they've contributed during their life time.

What we are really eating? This piece of chicken could have been a grandmother of your friends in previous lives. That piece of red meat (cow) could have been your own grandfather who passed away many years ago. Killing and eating each others have created deep hatred and curses. No wonder the world is full of vengeance wars of all kinds.


PS:
1. This is one perspective to look at why eating meat is wrong. If you find the idea comfortable and useful, you can help to spread the message or even translate it to your own language for a good cause.
2. The concept of 肉(“rou”, meat / flesh; 'Human beings' are 'inside' meat) includes beef, chicken, turkeys, pork, pigs, chicken eggs, cows, fish, lobsters, crabs, horses, sheep, dogs, cats, cattle, goats, swines, mules, birds, donkeys, rabbits, leopards, giant pandas, owls, pigeons, crayfish, octopus, deers, eagles, hawks, ostriches, penguins, gooses, salmon, tuna, eels, snakes, snails, frogs, turtles, ducks, calves, steaks, puppies, kittens, ponies and so on.

Life forms, souls, on earth.

Life forms come to material world with bodies wrapped around the soul. Using bodies as a tool or vehicle to carry out earthly activities to fulfill destinies, whether to pay debts or to seek debts, life forms shed the bodies when the time is up for another journey.


Lessons learned. Souls move on.

Coming from the earth, going back to the earth. This is what it is for material world.

Jobs done. Souls move on.


These ants help the fly to decompose the left-over body which is no longer necessary. The soul, which previously took the life form as fly on earth, has moved on to another journey. The soul has her path to go. All life forms help each other to progress and to alleviate to higher regions; some, unfortunately, get lost, confused and jeopardize the process, hurting oneself and therefore others.


Quick, hurry, come back to the righteous path.

Note:
1) Photograph by John Lew. All rights on photographs reserved. More nature shots at http://www.lews.info/wallpaper/index.html
2) Click on the Photo No. 2 for a complete 1024x768 wallpaper.
3) Photo No. 3, title “Beautiful Earth – What are we doing?” by David Lewis-Baker.