Hamburgers and the monks

 In Buddhism it is often assumed no meat is ever eaten by a 'real' Buddhist. This is very far from the actual truth. In the Majjhima Nikayas (The middle discourses of the Buddha) MN (Chapter) 55 is the Jivaka Sutra. (Jivaka was the physician of the Buddha and helped him when his foot got cut by a stone rolled down a hill by his step-brother Devdutt as he intended to kill him, and at the end of the Buddha's life when he lie with pain (Some say from eating meat {pork}). (Here is a link to the sutra if you like... http://www.suttas.com/mn-55-jivaka-sutta-to-jivaka.html) Here is a real paraphrased paragraph...

Jivaka was talking to the Buddha and told him he had heard that animals were slaughtered prepared and cooked for him. The Buddha told Jivaka that there was no way that could happen as it was not the practice! There are specifically three reasons meat should not be eaten; An animal was seen to be taken to or slaughtered for you. You hear or heard that an animal was prepared, taken or slaughtered for you, and third you suspected an animal was cared for, bred, prepared, slaughtered or cooked for you. (I added 'cared for, bred, prepared' as that is how I was taught about it). Then the Buddha explained there are even certain types of meat that should not be eaten (Elephant, Horse, Human, Dog, Snake {I cannot remember if there were more}),

The Buddha did go on to explain about compassion and that if a mendicant (monk or nun) is given any food, they should not be repulsed nor rejoice in it no matter the type. As long as the family or person offering it is doing so of 'dana' (Generous hospitality care of the monk or nun). A receiver of generosity should be thankful but not give preferential treatment to them in the way of teachings, blessings etc. Service is for all regardless of offerings. Then the Buddha explained that there are many things that are unclean, but not eating of flesh... i.e. killing, beating, cutting, stealing, lying, treachery, anger, pride, etc... (Amagandha Sutta)... http://buddhaguna-chant.blogspot.com/2017/02/jivaka-great-physician-personal.html

So what do you think?

Making a choice to eat meat or not is certainly your own. For sustenance is it allowed? Do you have choices? How hard is it to make these choices?

In our household some were raised on lots of meat, myself included. I spent a long time at a monastery where we ate not animal products at all, (no eggs, milk, cheese, honey etc)... It was great but a difficult thing to plan and make food at times. Now I try and limit the animal products because it is not only a good practice, but getting easier and easier... 

http://tibetanbuddhistencyclopedia.com/en/index.php/Jivaka