Hunting (
migavā) is the stalking, chasing and killing
of wild
animals. In prehistoric times and even today amongst
some primitive tribes, people have hunted to provide
themselves with food or to supplement their diets. In later
periods hunting was sometimes seen as a way to train for
war. Today nearly all hunting is done for
sport, entertainment or as proof of courage.
Buddhism has always disapproved of hunting because it
involves cruelty and killing and is in most cases
unnecessary. The Buddha said that fowlers (
sākuṇika),
deer stalkers (
māgavika) and fishermen (
macchaghātaka)
might all have an unfavorable rebirth (A.II,207; S.II,256).
The early Buddhists also criticized using animals, e.g.
dogs, hawks, cheetahs, etc. to hunt other animals
(Ja.V,270), and using one animal as a decoy to catch another
(Ja.V,375). Buddhist
kings rarely indulged in hunting and few palaces or
royal residences in Buddhist countries are decorated with
hunting scenes, as are those in many other cultures. Several
Jātaka stories criticize hunting for sport and try
to evoke
sympathy for the victimized animals (Ja.I,145-54).
See
Blood Sports.
