Buddha Nature and Animality

Book

Buddha Nature and Animality is about peaceful living. In discussions about the relation between humans and their animal relatives, a central theme is that Buddhism represents the most viable philosophical/religious alternative to the malaise surrounding us when we confront ecological problems. This recognition points to the notion of compassion. Karuna is given expression as an alternative to stewardship since stewardship too falls into the dualistic trap of privileging the human. Authors seek beyond the limits imposed by discourses of ethics and assume a more radical approach to seek the roots of the perspectives that allow the conceptual space for the problematic dialogues in the first place. Rather than viewing animals as distinct beings sharing our environs, authors attempt to give the animal soul back to spirituality. They argue for the naturally enlightened spontaneity arising in animal nature and that animal nature is Buddha-nature. This "animal-buddha" nature is fundamental to understanding Buddhism as a 21st century philosophy for living and dying. (Source: Jain Publishing Company)

Citation	Jones, David., ed. Buddha Nature and Animality. Fremont, CA: Jain Publishing Company, 2007.

Acknowledgementsv
Contributorsix
Introduction: Toward an Ecology of Compassion—Homo Specialis, Animality, and Buddha-Nature
- David Jones1

Buddha Animals Jason M. Wirth 13 Jataka, Pancatantra, and the Rhetoric ofAnimalia in South Asia Thomas A. Forsthoefel 23 Buddha-nature and Bodhicitta: Animals and Humans in Dramatic Ensembles Intent upon Enlightenment Peter D. Hershock 41 Animal Forms and Formlessness: The Protean Quality ofBuddha Nature in Chinese MartialArts Harriette Grissom 59 Does a Dog See Into its Buddha-Nature? Re-posing the Question ofAnimality/Humanity in Zen Buddhism Bret W. Davis 83 Asking the Question: Do Animals Have Buddha-Nature Thomas Pynn 127 Zen Eye Hunter, Zen Eye Hunted: Revealing the Animal Face ofBuddha-Nature Brian Schroeder 149 One Cell, Symbiosis, and the Buddha's Broken Karmic Wheel: A Legacy ofan Ancient Bacterium Keiko Takioto Miller 165 Animality and Desire in the Buddhist Monastic Code Jennifer L. Manlowe 185 Animal Buddhas David Jones 195 Index 205