In future Grapevine issues, we will explore the relationship of religions like Jainism and Buddhism to vegetarianism. We have a potluck scheduled this fall with the Jain Study Center of NC. In early March, we have a potluck with the Kadampa Tibetan Buddhist Center; Dr. Robbie Watkins, Center Director, offers this introduction:

Kadampa Center is an organization devoted to the study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism as taught in the Gelugpa tradition. We are part of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, a worldwide organization of over eighty city and retreat centers, monasteries, publishing houses, hospices, and healing centers. We sponsor a full spiritual program, including visiting teachers from around the world, biweekly meditation and discussion sessions, and regular retreats. As in all Buddhist traditions, we place tremendous emphasis on the development of compassion for all living beings, and are interested both in making compassion a real force in our lives, and having our actions be a reflection of this compassion.