The History of Buddhist Thought c10.87

c10.87

The question of meat-eating also led to differences in practice. There is a Vinaya rule (Mahāv., vi, 23) which forbids the eating of the flesh of elephants, horses, dogs, and certain other kinds. Evidently the usual kinds are not forbidden, and a little later (vi, 31) there is the story of Buddha accepting meat from a Jain general. He justified himself on the ground that the ox had been already killed, and not specially for him. This was the occasion for the promulgation of the rule that “no one shall knowingly eat meat intended (for the recipient). I prescribe that fish and meat are pure in three particulars: when it has not been seen, heard, or suspected (that it was intended for the recipient)”. The word *macchamaṃsa* naturally means “fish and flesh”, though it has been translated merely “fish”, but the whole context shows that meat is permitted. A similar story is told in the *Majjhima* (i, 368), where the same three restrictions are mentioned referring only to meat.