Lobster Liberation

First, let me say this is not an attack on Buddhism.

Far from it.

My policy in this blog is to steer away from religion or politics, those delightful subjects that have caused a good deal of history’s misery.

But I read recently that a group of Tibetan Buddhists purchased 600 pounds of live lobsters – that’s 534 actual lobsters – and released them back into the Atlantic ocean where they had been caught by Massachusetts lobster, uh, catchers.

It must have been a sight to see. According to the story on msnbc.com, the monks chartered a whale-watching boat and took the lobsters out into the waters off Gloucester. At dusk, they sprayed the lobsters with blessed water, clipped the bands holding their nasty claws and gently released them into the ocean depths.

According to the story, the Buddhists got extra credit for releasing the crustaceans on Aug. 3, known as Wheel Turning Day on their Tibetan calendar, because good deeds are multiplied many times that day.

So, something in it for the lobsters and something in it for the Buddhists.

One of those present was quoted as saying the liberation – although it may be only temporary in view of local lobster fishing’s constant trapping in the area – was a positive action.

“Even if they get captured again, they’ve had a longer life,´ said a yoga instructor who led a ceremony of prayers and mantras before the lobster drop.

Another lobster liberator expressed it most eloquently, summing up the Buddhist philosophy.

“It’s rethinking the way you normally see these creatures,” she said. “You’re supposed to view them equally. Their happiness is as important as your happiness, and their suffering is as important as your suffering.”

I like that. Buddhists are generally peaceful, gentle souls and their perspective on life is often refreshing.

For me, the lobster liberation made me focus again on my never-ending battle with meat consumption. And the animal pain and suffering that goes with my meat addiction.

I wish I had the spiritual strength of my wife, who is a committed vegetarian. Oh, she eats fish once in a while but that’s about it. No fellow mammals ever.

I always seem to revert back to that old meat-lovers’ line: “If we weren’t supposed to eat animals, then why did God make them so delicious?”

Not all Buddhists are vegetarians and not all vegetarians are Buddhists. But I do admire their philosophy of empathy with other living creatures.

Sometimes I’ll drive by a pasture and see a cow tenderly licking its wide-eyed baby and realize how much these animals can resemble humans. Especially if treated with dignity and love.

I wish meat grew on trees. I wish I didn’t enjoy its taste so much. To my credit, I probably eat less than half what I used to eat – thanks to my wife – and I carry around a stronger sense of guilt when I do.

But I remain weak in the presence of a cheeseburger and often crumble when offered a ham sandwich.

Like the Buddhists, I need to be a liberator.

But in my case, it’s not lobsters.

It’s my mind.
  

on Facebook on LinkedIn