Supplement：The Benefits of Saving the Lives of Other Beings: A Teaching by Kyabje Chatral Rinpoche

Glory to the Buddha Amitayus （132） and numerous Bodhisattvas!

The unimaginable benefits of such noble deeds are described in the different sutras and tantras taught by Lord Buddha. The practice of such acts has been recommended by all the siddhas,（133） both Indian and Tibetan Buddhist pandits （134） in various scriptures. Compassion, being one of the main tenets of the Mahayana, also forms the foundation of the Hinayana (135) sect, which sets great store by abstaining from harming any living being. The Tantrayana, on the other hand, has one additional facet; it lays great emphasis on maintaining a moral relationship, samaya, between saviour and saved.
    
Behind all these teachings, there is one single fact of cardinal importance: that on this earth, a human being can commit no greater sin than taking the life of another living being. By implication, there is no greater source of accumulating merit than saving life.
   
To obtain real peace and happiness in this world, one has simply to follow the path of ahimsa (136), which naturally is common to all the religions of the world. If we do not like to experience any pain or suffering of any kind, how can we expect any other creature, whether big or small, to feel otherwise?
   
There is no better prayer or means of worship we can offer to the Lord Buddha than by being thoughtful, kind and compassionate, and abstaining from taking the life of any other fellow human being, animal, bird, fish or insect. Trying to save any life from imminent danger or to mitigate their pain and suffering is one step further in the active practice of loving other living beings.
 
The next logical step is to say prayers for those who die owing to another person's thoughtless cruelty. Following this path automatically puts an end to any conflicts and obstacles within ourselves. Furthermore, it generates spontaneous happiness and bestows absolute inner peace. If your deeds flow from a genuine pure heart and are imbued with selflessness, they will enable you to attain enlightenment in the future.
   
Consciously abstaining from hunting and killing living beings not only inspires others to do the same, but is the moral duty of the kind-hearted and pious. In its most basic form, human kindness requires us not to harm creatures. Therefore, we should neither cast stones or nets, nor shoot migratory birds while they rest for brief moments in the course of their long journey from one continent to another. On the contrary, we should provide them with all possible assistance to safely reach their destination.
    
A renowned Buddhist scholar from Bengal, Pandit Atisha Dipankara, said that giving compassionate love to the helpless and the poor is as important as meditating on emptiness. This virtue of compassion is the principal foundation stone of Mahayana Buddhism.(137)
——————————————————————
(132) The Buddha of Eternal Life.
(133) Someone who has attained the fruit of Tantric practice.
(134) An abbreviation of the word ‘pandita’ - a Buddhist scholar.
(135) Often used interchangeably with the term Theravada to describe the school of Buddhism prevalent in South East Asia.
(136) Skt. lit. Non-harming.
(137) Chatral, Light of Lotus: 31. (contains minor editing changes).

Source Of Information:
《Releasing Life: An Ancient Buddhist practice in the Modern World》, by Shenphen Zangpo (Stephen Powell), distributed by: Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Amitabha Malaysia, 90 & 92, Jalan Pahang, Gombak, 53000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.)
*** The information provided above does not contain personal opinion of this blog.