Buddhist Tradition of Releasing Animals Concern Naturalists.

May 11, 2003

Source: Newsday

http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/ny-thureachq3278122may11,0,5992717.story

On May 11, 2003 Newsday reported that a "phenomenon that has begun to concern naturalists is a Buddhist tradition of releasing animals (often turtles) which might otherwise end up sold for food or in captivity. Releasing or freeing the animal is done out of compassion, said Gen Kelsang Sangkyong, a Buddhist monk and teacher at the temple New Kadampa Tradition in Glen Spey in upstate New York. Prolonging a life, he said, is a good deed... What may seem a humane act is actually cruel, [Naturalists] say. It's not so much releasing animals into the wild, but dumping. Sending non-native species out into Long Island's natural world can be dangerous to native species. And most often, these farm-raised, store-bought animals cannot fend for themselves... Putting these animals in danger is unintentional, and Buddhist leaders said their philosophy is to respect all living creatures. Gen Kelsang Shenden, a nun at the Dipamkara Meditation Center in Huntington said her temple has not released animals, and its members constantly help animals injured along roads."