In Episode 4 of the Dakini Conversations podcast, Adele Tomlin speaks with Dr. Geoffrey Barstow, one of the leading scholars and writers in the world today on the topic of vegetarianism and eating animals in Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism.  Dr. Barstow spent significant time studying Tibetan language and Buddhist Philosophy in Nepal and his PhD from the University of Virginia (2013) entitled 'Food of Sinful Demons: Meat, Vegetarianism, and the Limits of Buddhism in Tibet' was later published as a book. He is currently an Associate Professor at Oregon State University. Barstow's work looks to the lives and examples of great Tibetan Buddhist masters, such as 8th Karmapa, Kunkhyen Dolpopa, Jigme Lingpa. Zhabkar, and more recent masters such as Khenpo Tsultrim Lodro Rinpoche and their writings and example of vegetarianism prior to the Chinese invasion of 1959. His most recent book, 'The Faults of Meat: Tibetan Buddhist Writings on Vegetarianism' (2019) is an edited compilation of new and original translations by such Tibetan Buddhist masters on eating slaughtered animals. Dr. Barstow also considers how gender ideas of masculinity have informed meat-eating in Tibet and the recent surge in vegetarianism in Tibet not only due to Buddhist ethics and philosophy on eating slaughtered animals, but also as identity resistance to Chinese domination and cultural hegemony and the mass breeding and slaughter of yaks. In this podcast discussion, Dr. Barstow talks about how he became interested in Buddhism and vegetarianism and some of the great Tibetan Buddhist masters who were strict vegetarians in Tibet as well as the 'three-fold' purity rule said to have been created by Buddha for monastics who had to beg for alms/food. As well as discuss the all too common human 'disconnect' of people who say they are Buddhists but who do not follow the Buddha's teachings on eating animals. He shares some of his favourite writings on the subject, including that of a Bon master, showing that vegetarianism as an ethical, philosophical movement were very much 'alive and kicking' in Tibet both prior to and after the Buddhist teachings spread there, and prior to 1959 when the Chinese communists took over political control and power in Tibet. For more research and translations on the topic of Buddhism and vegetarianism, see here.