Buddhist Bird-Freeing Ritual

I deconstructed a Muslim ritual sacrifice a couple of weeks ago, when the sacrificers injured themselves while trying to slaughter the sacrificees, and I noted that I didn’t find Muslim feasts any more or less objectionable than that of any other religion.

Well, in the interest of being equal opportunity, let’s deconstruct several issues brought up by "Buddhists Free Birds Despite Flu Worries," by Dikky Sinn (AP).

• If there were a gun to my head and I had to choose an organized religion to be affiliated with, I’d choose Buddhism (probably Zen). However, without a gun to my head, I’d probably say: "I’ll opt out of all of them." I was raised by a man who was 5-minutes away from being a Roman Catholic priest, and a woman who taught me to learn about all religions. Then, when I studied theology in college it became clear to me that religious texts are man-made stories that were used by institutions to prescribe behaviors and morality. And because the texts (particularly the Bible) were changed many times, by many people, over many years, it’s impossible to determine one version that anyone should base any kind of decisions on.
• Then there’s the matter of ritual and tradition. Just because something was done hundreds or thousands of years ago, in some kind of supersitious way (or not), or to commemorate an important moment in history, doesn’t mean you should keep doing it–particularly if it involves harming anyone (human or not).
• Some Buddhists believe that if they free hundreds of birds, their karma will improve. They practice this ritual 1-18 times each year (that could be 1.5 times per month, for those of you playing at home), releasing as many as 3,000 birds each time. Oh, and there are also people who buy and release birds individually.
• The birds in question, called scaly breasted munia, "are usually transported to Hong Kong from the mainland in boxes. If one of the birds is sick, the rest are likely to be sick as well since they are crammed in one box."

So, let me get this straight: They jam thousands of birds into boxes, and transport them, during which time some or all might get sick and die, not to mention are probably terrified and maybe injured, to release them after transport (at least the ones who survived, and "it may take 150 birds to provide 100 birds for release"), and they think that whole system is good for their karma? Even if you don’t know much about karma, does that sound like a nice thing to do? Does it sound like something that might help you rack up points with the universe or the Almighty (if there is one)?

I think not.

Because of several reported cases of bird flu, the ritual groups are questioning the nature of bird-releasing and wondering if perhaps it’s not a karma-enhancing activity now releasing hundreds of fish–after they’ve captured and/or purchased and transported them–into the sea each month. "We believe releasing life can build up one’s benevolence and life belongs to the nature," said a spokeswoman for the Hong Kong Buddhist Cultural Association."

Maybe. But I believe that to traumatizing, capturing, transporting, and putting the animal’s life at risk cannot possibly increase your own benevolence. It’s not an act of benevolence.