Non-living 'life releases' in Liaoning condemned

The Buddhist Association of China has condemned recent reports of people in northeastern China's Liaoning province performing the traditional practice of "life release" — the act of saving the lives of animals destined for slaughter — but using "non-living items" instead, such as rice or water.

The association said in a social media post on Friday that this activity contradicts Buddhist doctrines and could harm the natural environment.

It follows recent reports from Liaoning province of people pouring rice into the sea in the name of life release.

In Guangdong province, there have been reports of people "releasing" bottled water.

In Buddhism, the practice of life release traditionally involves rescuing animals that are at risk of being slaughtered or are in danger, and setting them free in environments where they can thrive, thus preserving their lives.

The practice is rooted in the spirit of "unconditional compassion" and the precept of "not killing" in Buddhist teachings.

As rice is a plant seed without consciousness, and bottled water is lifeless, they are considered inanimate and don't fall under the category of sentient beings.

Therefore, the notion of "releasing" rice or bottled water contradicts Buddhist doctrines, the post said.

Furthermore, such actions not only violate the traditional Chinese virtues of frugality but also waste food and resources, potentially harming the environment, it said. The Buddhist community firmly opposes such practices and urges the public not to misinterpret or misuse the concept of life release in Buddhism.

"Improper methods of life release can contradict the original intent, potentially causing harm to more lives, disrupting ecosystems and damaging Buddhism's reputation," said the post.

Similarly, releasing terrestrial animals into water or domesticated animals into the wild can lead to their inability to adapt and survive. Introducing non-native species or pathogen-carrying animals poses ecological threats, the statement said.

It added that conducting life releases in protected areas, urban water bodies, or near residential zones can disrupt local environments and violate laws, impacting residents' lives.

Very often, large-scale life release activities can foster a market for capturing and selling animals for release, leading to more wildlife being hunted and contributing to the commercialization of Buddhism, which harms social ethics.

In recent years, efforts have been made to promote rational life release as the actions of a few have either disturbed people's lives or caused harm to the natural environment.

The association passed a directive on June 30, guiding the Buddhist community toward civilized and rational practices. It stated that life release activities must comply with laws and regulations, and be subject to guidance and oversight by environmental, agricultural, forestry, marine and quarantine authorities.

Organizing release activities in groups outside Buddhist venues requires approval by relevant departments regarding species, quantity, specifications, timing and location.

Life release activities must also not disrupt local residents or harm the environment, nor should they be conducted for profit. Such activities are prohibited in protected areas, urban water bodies, transportation routes, residential zones and water source protection areas.

By incorporating civilized and rational life release into teachings, the community can guide followers to understand the true meaning and correct practices of Buddhist life release, the association said.