[A] question that [Chinese Buddhist] vegetarians are frequently asked is, "Why can't you eat scallions, chives, onions, and garlic?" This … relates back to purity. The Surangama Sutra says: "All living creatures seek the 'three kinds of wisdom,' and should refrain from eating the 'five pungent.' These five pungent foods create lust when eaten cooked, and rage when eaten raw." It goes on to say that "Even if someone can recite twelve sutras from memory, the gods of the ten heavens will all disdain him if he eats pungent foods in this world, because of his strong odor and uncleanliness, and will give distance themselves far from him." This means that pungent foods arouse lust, and give one an explosive temper and one's body a bad odor. These foods are unclean, and if a person's body and mind are not clean, how can he succeed at purifying himself through Buddhism?The idea of avoidance of pungent-but-tasty foods for American Buddhists seems as coming from a backward time. Nowadays, we have breath mints and deodorant so that pungent odors don't offend. It is also true for the current day that pungent words -- like those coming from the satirical website Onion -- are purposeful. They give us a different perspective to alert us to hypocrisy, narcissism, and self-righteousness.
THUS, in an act of disobedience to the Surangama Sutra, and in tribute to Onionesque sarcasm, satire, and lampoonery, BUDDHIST CHIVES is launched to bring laughter and pain to the community.
No comments:
Post a Comment