Protecting the Lives of Helpless Beings: The Udamwara Lotus Flower

Geshe Thubten Soepa

Sep 2016 · Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive

About this ebook

Geshe Thubten Soepa offers a detailed explanation of what Shakyamuni Buddha said about eating meat as presented in the Buddhist sutras of the Hinayana and Mahayana vehicles including tantra. The explanation begins with an extensive look at the various sutras in which the Buddha discusses why Buddhists should not eat animals, includes a question and answer section addressing topics such as tantric practice questions and whether animal owners should neuter their animals and ends with a discussion of why eating meat or otherwise exploiting animals is completely contrary to the core Buddhist practice of compassion. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, read through Geshe Soepa's explanation from cover to cover and said "It is well written. It would be nice if more equally useful texts were written for people to read." This is a must-read from Buddhists who wish to support their practice of and advocate for vegetarianism.

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About the author

Geshe Thubten Soepa was born in Zanskar, India in 1955. At the age of fourteen he entered the monastery of Dromo Geshe Rinpoche in Kalimpong. At the age of 19 he was sent to Sera Jey monastery in South India. He took his novice vows before the Serkong Tsenshap Rinpoche and his full vows before Kyabje Ling Dorjechang, the 97th head of the Gelug tradition (Tib: Ganden Tri Rinpoche). He also received many teachings and initiations from them, as well as from Ganden Zong Rinpoche.

After three years as resident teacher at Dzongkha Chöde monastery, Lama Zopa Rinpoche of the FPMT invited Geshe Soepa to be the resident Geshe of Aryatara Institut in Munich, Germany, where he has taught for nine years.

Geshe Soepa composed the first of these two texts on animal rights, The Udamwara Lotus Flower in 1995, and the second, Compassion is the Root of the Teachings in 2005. They were published together in a book in 2007 by Sera Jey Monastery in India.

From Geshe Soepa: The author is the ordained Geshe Thubten Soepa of Sera monastery. He composed this advocacy of animal rights in Germany after about 2550 years had passed since the birth of Buddha Shakyamuni and about 648 years after the birth of Lama Tsongkhapa in the year 2005 according to the Western calendar. May this text be like a cloud of offerings gladdening the buddhas, bodhisattvas and all those possessed of compassion. May it also further the wishes for health and a long life of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso so that his wholesome activities for the benefit of living beings may continue for hundreds of eons. Also, may all masters of the Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana have a long life. May all their wishes come true. May the holy masters of religions believing in a creator god and religions with faith in the law of karma interact in harmony and continue to develop mutually beneficial relations now that this is of vital importance. May all their shared practices of non-violence, compassion and love be allowed to increase and deepen more and more.