Campaign to make Bodhgaya, the Most Holy Buddhists Land, into a vegetarian society
Patron-in-Chief: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Patron: H E R.Venkataraman (Former President of India) With all humility and prayers, we seek your kind help in transforming Bodhgaya, the most sacred land for all the Buddhist communities worldwide where Buddha Sakyamuni attained supreme enlightenment and turned the wheel of dharma, into a vegetarian zone.Please help us realize this dream and encourage dharma disciples and others to not to eat, buy, or sell the flesh of innocent animals within the zone of this very holy site. Please voice your support and write letters to the concerned authorities. If we all activate our sense of responsibility, no matter how large or small the contribution, we can together achieve this noble goal for the betterment of all living beings.
The following are the chief reasons to make Bodhgaya into a vegetarian zone:
- Bodhgaya is the holy land where Buddha Sakyamuni attained enlightenment and rediscovered the path to nirvana. As the esteemed venerables know it is the place where Buddha founded the Buddha Dharma and commenced its teachings based on compassion and reverence to ALL forms of life. A vegetarian Bodhgaya zone would therefore be in accordance to true teachings of the Buddha and dharma.
- Bodhgaya is the world%u2019s holiest Buddhist pilgrimage destination. The essence of pilgrimage is to turn towards dharma, purify one%u2019s mind, earn as much merit as possible, pay tribute to the ancient holy site, seek blessings, and be inspired to live a virtuous positive life. So it is necessary that Bodhgaya emanate the right mental conditions to practice dharma, and our dharma practice becomes more fulfilling and meritorious in accordance with the Buddha Dharma. Thus a vegetarian zone will help create such favorable condition and promote world peace.
- Bodhgaya is also an important tourist destination, where many non-Buddhists visit and pay homage. We believe it is very important that this revered site send the right dharma message, with a compassionate understanding to all those who visit there. Everyone who visits will experience a more positive vibration of dharma all around the Bodhgaya zone.
- A vegetarian Bodhgaya zone would inspire many monastic institutions and individuals to follow in these same kind footsteps. It would also save tens of thousands of innocent animal lives killed every year, for those who reside in or visit Bodhgaya, by no longer engaging in eating, selling or buying the flesh of helpless sentient beings in this zone. In this way, we would be helping to restore the sanctity of the holy land.
- As numerous Buddhist communities around the world are observing the 2550 years of Buddha%u2019s Mahaparinirvana this is the opportune time to support and propagate an appeal toward a vegetarian (ahimsa) zone in Bodhgaya.
Please weigh and consider the benefits of a vegetarian zone in Bodhgaya, which would enable the furtherance of the true spirit of dharma.The following are few more suggestions to help attain this noble objective:
- Abstain from buying, selling, or consuming any form of meat during the pilgrimage tour in the holy land is the key to its success. So kindly encourage and appeal to the dharma and non-dharma practitioners to do the same, at least within the Bodhgaya zone.
- Writing letters to the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), the Chief Minister of the Bihar State, the Prime Minister and the President of India, or to any concerned authority deemed necessary for the objective.
- Creating awareness of, and garnering support for the cause, through signature campaigns, pamphlets, posters, stickers, and other media, and using any other innovative ideas that will help to accomplish this goal. Interacting with other dharma institutions of the world and making a concerted effort will give a tremendous boost in realization of the objective.
On behalf of Tibetans for a Vegetarian Society (t4vs) I sincerely appeal and pray for your kind help and blessings. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate your signature as well as letters of support for this campaign.With warmest regards,Yours in the Dharma,Tenzin Kunga LudingSettlor cum Managing Trustee
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