[Buddha-l] "Nature" and eating meat

[Mike Austin]

In message <02fd515f489dfa12562d57f7ee62ff91 at mindspring.com>, Jim 
Peavler <jpeavler at mindspring.com> writes
>
>I'm likely to get in trouble for this, but people often excuse things 
>because they are "natural". Why is it more natural for a mountain lion 
>or a coyote to kill for food than it is for a human. Humans spent a few 
>million years evolving as hunters, as the long history of artifacts of 
>weapons, scrapers, etc. attest. Perhaps virtue lies in the strength to 
>overcome "nature". But, then, why would that be true?
>

Some words are, I feel, loaded. Words such as 'blame' smack of guilt and 
punishment. If one thinks more in terms of causes and conditions brought 
about by mistaken ideas, it would be less of a pejorative.  And the word 
'natural' sounds somehow good and right. 'Habitual' or 'instinctive' may 
be nearer the mark. In this ugly mess of samsara, it is 'natural' to act 
habitually in a deluded and unskilful manner.

>(This here is a whole new subject line of which I tremble to imagine 
>the repercussions.

Hehe! I hope this repercussion wasn't worth trembling about!

-- 
Metta
Mike Austin